Queensland
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 762 of Queensland’s endangered and vulnerable flora species was modelled and mapped for Queensland. Before land clearing, habitat was widespread in Queensland for:
- 218 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 93 threatened heath and other coastal community species.
- 355 threatened rainforest and scrub species
- 25 threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland species
- 19 threatened grassland and forbland species
- 52 threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species
Before land clearing, the Brigalow Belt bioregion had the largest extent of threatened flora habitat, except for habitat for threatened heath and other coastal community species, which was most extensive in Southeast Queensland.
Pre-clearing habitat for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species, rainforest and scrub species, and grassland and forbland species was also extensive in the Southeast Queensland bioregion. The Mulga Lands and Mitchell Grass Downs bioregions had large areas of pre-clearing habitat for threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland species, and wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species.
Although most habitat loss for Queensland’s threatened flora occurred before 1997, habitat for threatened flora continues to be cleared. In 2013, additional remnant habitats for threatened heath and other coastal flora species were mapped in Southeast Queensland (see SEQ detail), but the clearing of this habitat is ongoing.
- By 2021, across the state 29% of pre-clearing habitat for most threatened flora groups had been cleared.
- Threatened grassland and forbland flora are the exception, with 60% of habitat cleared by 2021.
Between 1997 and 2021, land clearing in Queensland was primarily for pasture development.
While some threatened flora species may be able to use non-remnant vegetation, threatening processes place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitats. Threatening processes include habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management.
