Terrestrial ecosystems
Key Messages
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Terrestrial ecosystems in Queensland vary from tropical rainforests and eucalypt woodlands to arid grasslands and coastal heathlands. They provide essential habitat for animals and plants, many of which are endemic to Queensland. They provide essential ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, water filtration, and soil stabilisation, while also sustaining industries such as agriculture, forestry, and tourism.
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Remnant vegetation refers to patches of native vegetation that have remained intact despite land clearing or human development. These areas are often crucial for biodiversity conservation, as they provide habitat for native species, maintain ecological processes, and support genetic diversity.
Woody vegetation, on the other hand, is a broader term that includes all vegetation dominated by trees, shrubs, or other woody plants, regardless of whether it is native, planted, or regrowth. It can include forests, woodlands, plantations, and regrowth areas excluding grasslands.
The monitoring of both remnant and woody vegetation is important as it supports vegetation management and environmental protection laws in Queensland. The data and information also support and informs a range of sustainable land management, biodiversity, and conservation initiatives.
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Fragmentation, or the ‘breaking up’ of large areas of intact native vegetation, reduces ecological connectivity between habitats. This connectivity allows wildlife to cross the landscape for food, breeding and ultimately survival. Isolation can lead to reduced genetic diversity, lower reproduction rates, and an increased risk of local extinctions. Additionally, when habitats are broken up, species are more exposed to predators, harsh environmental conditions, and limited food availability, further threatening their survival. The opening up of surrounding areas can also introduce invasive species and human disturbances, compounding the negative effects on native wildlife and ecosystem stability.
Key Facts
State
- Extent and rate of change of remnant native vegetation
Extent of remnant native vegetation in 2021 was 138,226,296 ha. The clearing of remnant native vegetation peaked during 1999-2000, when the state lost 0.4% of the remnant native vegetation in one year. In the 2017-2019 and 2019-2021 reporting periods, remnant vegetation clearing was reduced to approximately 112,000ha and 82,000ha, respectively. The main reason for clearing vegetation in Queensland was to improve pastures.
In 2021, of Queensland’s 16 broad vegetation groups, only two retained less than or equal to 60% of their pre-clearing distribution as remnant vegetation.
- Broad vegetation groups within protected areas
Queensland’s remnant vegetation extent covers 79.97% of the state, with 10.2% of this vegetation within protected areas (national parks and nature refuges). Protected areas are spread unevenly across Queensland, and the representation of the broad vegetation groups varies widely within these protected areas.
- Extent and rate of change of protected areas and visitation
The protected area estate increased by only 616,711 hectares between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2024 and now covers about 8.6% of Queensland. Queensland’s protected area system is 66% public and 34% private, Australia's largest private protected area network.
- Extent of endangered, of concern and no concern at present regional ecosystems
The area of Queensland is 172.8 million hectares. In 2021, Queensland remnant vegetation covered about 79.97% of the state, of which:
- 1% had a conservation classification of ‘Endangered’ regional ecosystems
- 8.47% was classified as ‘Of concern’
- 70.50% of remnant regional ecosystems were of ‘No concern at present’, and
- approximately 20% is non-remnant.
- Extent and rate of change of woody vegetation
Between 2018 and 2022, land-clearing activities impacted approximately 2% (1,772,500ha) of woody vegetation, with 1,479,900ha of this resulting in full removal of the woody vegetation. The remainder was partially cleared. Regrowth added about 133,300ha of new woody vegetation to the state’s woody extent. By 2022, about 95,218,300ha of woody vegetation remained, 55% of the state’s land area.
Around 94% of the clearing between 2018 and 2022 was for land management and infrastructure associated with livestock production. Most clearing occurred in the Brigalow Belt and Mulga Lands bioregions.
- Extent and rate of change of riparian woody vegetation
Between 2018 and 2022, land clearing activities resulted in the removal of approximately 100,500 hectares (ha) (0.72%) of Queensland’s riparian woody vegetation. Regrowth mapped from 2019 onwards added about 9,000ha (0.06%) of new riparian woody vegetation. Regrowth is occurring slower than loss (due to clearing) across all catchments.
Pressure
- Invasive non-native terrestrial fauna species
Invasive, non-native (or introduced pest) animals, reptiles and insects cause damage to Queensland’s native biodiversity. The illegal trade of non-native animals as pets poses a significant risk, reinforcing the need for strict regulations and quarantine measures.
- Invasive non-native terrestrial flora species
Invasive, non-native plant species harm biodiversity. Each year, invasive plants increase in Queensland as more species escape cultivation or get imported. We have eliminated 37 high-risk invasive plant species, with others on track to be eradicated. Sale restrictions and quarantine measures have prevented many more invasive species.
- Fragmentation of remnant vegetation
The average core area of remnant vegetation patches in 2021 was 1174.1 hectares. Of the 13 Queensland bioregions, 12 had a declining average core area, suggesting increased pressure on remnant vegetation due to fragmentation. The Mitchell Grass Downs and Einasleigh Uplands bioregions had the most significant overall decrease in average core areas (6.6% and 3.4%, respectively).
- Extent of burned area
From 2017 to 2023, the calendar year with the highest total area burned was 2023, with an area 23% greater than the average for all the years from 2017 to 2023. Burned areas include all fires (planned burns and wildfires) across all tenures. A combination of elevated biomass, below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures contributed to Queensland’s fire activity during 2023.