Since the arrival of Europeans in Australia, just over 200 years ago, there has been an extraordinary increase in the rate of environmental change and in the loss of biodiversity. Contrast that with Southwest Australia, which harbours an astonishing 7,239 vascular plant species, almost 80% of which are found nowhere else in the world(Alphen, 2016). Write an article and join a growing community of more. Bringing farmers like Bruce and Mark on board for conservation is a key step in halting biodiversity decline and an important way to link fragmented habitats. A genial Aussie with an American accent, Mike gesticulates as he meanders from one fascinating topic to another. Rather than rushing to rescue individual species, scientists are using broad-scale solutions to save our wildlife. Loss of biodiversity undermines ecosystems' abilities to function effectively and efficiently and thus undermines nature's ability to support a healthy environment. . A marsupial is born in a very incomplete state. And so, how many times have you come to arguments? When Im gone the land will look after Mark, and his kidsll say, Grandfather put all these trees in and theres a bit of me in them. Instead, he argues that the hotspot has the highest incidence on Earth 15 per cent of plants pollinated by birds and mammals, and this might explain why it is so unusual. They used fire as a land management tool long before the arrival of Europeans, and this is thought to have affected vegetation patterns. Retrieved from Department of Parks and Wildlife Service: https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/plants-and-animals/468-biodiversity-conservation-act-2016, Integrate Sustainability Pty Ltd That's a kind of fundamental underpinning for my own basis here. Biodiversity data and information management, A review of mine rehabilitation condition setting in WA, Biodiversity survey: Optimising knowledge capture, Building resilience to change: Pilbara mammals, Capturing monitoring data for subterranean fauna, Completion criteria & risk based monitoring, Digitally Transforming Environmental Impact Assessment, IBSA: Index of biodiversity surveys for assessments, Remote sensing of native vegetation extent and condition, Restoring biodiversity in agricultural lands, SAFE: Shared Analytic Framework for the Environment, SEAF: Shared Environmental Analytics Facility (Proposed), A rich endowment of minerals and petroleum resources provide a significant component of Gross State Product and provides the State Government with substantial revenues through taxation and royalties, A productive and diverse agricultural sector, A growing population demanding increased urban development, particularly in the South West of the State. In terms of bang for the buck, we get the most results for the least effort by conserving this corridor, Ian says. Australia ranks as the second worst of the group, with a biodiversity loss of 5-10%. The Act applies to environmental matters of national significance and provides for: identification and listing of threatened species and ecological communities An estimated 10 % of Perths original wetlands remain. They have a right to live here just as much as we do. The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigalpeople as the FirstPeoples and Traditional Custodians of the land andwaterways on which theMuseumstands. The report reveals a serious decline in biodiversity, an increase in habitat loss, and increasing levels of pollution. Get all the latest science stories from across the ABC. Home News Biodiversity hotspot in WA explained. But now this almighty raptor, affectionately known as The Red, has become our nations rarest bird of prey. This adds to the threat to biodiversity which has already been placed under stress by other human activities. Speaking on a panel discussing biodiversity at the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Conference in Brisbane last week (21-23 February), Sawtell-Rickson was asked for her views on how carbon and biodiversity credits should be scrutinized to . Similarly, Australia lost 5-10% of its biodiversity between 1996 and 2008 while high levels of deforestation to make way for agricultural plantations have particularly affected the species rich rainforests of Indonesia. Phone: (+618) 9468 0338 Some animals, such as cats and foxes, directly destroy native species. All of these groups need to be around the table because they all have something important to contribute. ttsdale reserve, near Canberra part of the Great Eastern Ranges conservation corridor. Australia's biodiversity is both rich and unique. Richard Fuller: We spend a lot of time studying migratory birds, species that migrate from Australia up to the Arctic and back, and that has been a fascinating line of work, looking at the amazing migration journeys of these animals, the threats that they face along the way, and what could be done about those threats. Our conservation record has been poor so far and has typically focused on national parks, he says, suggesting there has been a problem with that strategy. The states south-west, in particular, has some of the richest diversity of plants and animals on earth. Like the Tasmanian tiger, we will not fully appreciate the species until we lose it, which is a real possibility.. The research, published in the journal Science, found that human land use has driven down the population of many species to a dangerous extent across vast swathes of the planet. But the issues we face go much deeper than this. [It] also supports a lot of wildlifeand there are a lot of resources there, says Nigel. To slow erosion, Bruce and Mark have planted eucalypts and silver wattles along creek lines and have built dams that capture sediment and stop soil being washed away. Biodiversity and Conservation Science staff have expertise in animal biology, animal breeding, aquatic ecology, biological survey, collections . Land and natural resource use practices have also left a legacy of problems that have set in train a number of degrading processes which continue to impact on biodiversity. Surely thats not a greater glider? exclaims one of our small party. That's where you've had this historical change over many decades and it takes time for extinction to catch up as populations are reduced and fragmented and lose genetic diversity, then gradually fade away.". His work, starting in the 1980s, showed that birds tended to move between different trees to feed, rather than between flowers on the same tree. The UN global assessment report painted a stark picture: the decline of the world's natural support systems means that human society is in danger.. Established in 2002, we have a proven history in managing and delivering specialist environmental consulting services for . An estimated 10 million hectares (100,000 sq km . Basically we are talking about how to sensibly use a finite resource, the landscape, in support of people. Two-thirds of Australia has lost its unique birdlife.' Richard Fuller: We put citronella burners outside, how about that, as some kind of compromise. All content copyright Government of Western Australia, All rights reserved. Much like climate change, the global challenge of biodiversity loss is defined by large geographic and economic disparities. 200, pp. It concludes that the condition of Australia's environment is "poor and deteriorating". The growing demands of an expanding human population (often associated with changes in demography) and growing global markets are placing additional pressures on our natural wealth with long-lasting consequences. These include: A primary cause of biodiversity loss is a general lack of public awareness and appreciation of biodiversity and its values, this disconnect with nature often results in a lack of empathy with our natural heritage, and biodiversity. The worst thing we can do is the nonsense of wildernessthere are few places on the planet that havent had humans managing them in some way, Mike says. Biodiversity Australia is a team of Environmental Management Consultants who provide specialist environmental management services for the Resources and Infrastructure, Government and Defence Aviation and Residential sectors. This South West Biodiversity Hotspot has 8379 native vascular plants (species + subspecies), 47% (3911) of which are endemic (found nowhere else on the planet) 1. Bruce and Mark share a passion for squirrel gliders that has brought them closer together. In this section, explore all the different ways you can be a part of the Museum's groundbreaking research, as well as come face-to-face with our dedicated staff. Australia's biodiversity is in a bad way From time to time, you might hear that another animal is endangered or that more trees have been cut down to make way for new housing. There is much debate about the kind of impact Indigenous people have had on this land. Its clear that conventional conservation is not working and not lasting.. Minerals are the building blocks of our planet. This can be done in a number of ways, and can be as simple as seeding native woodland along hill tops and fencing-off creek lines. Australia among seven nations responsible for more than 50 per cent of global biodiversity loss, Catch up with The Loop, your quick wrap of this morning's news. Theyve fenced off a creek line and are encouraging native vegetation in order to protect the endangered booroolong frog. We cause global warming by releasing increasing amounts of carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere, which will alter the nature of ecosystems everywhere. Embossed with Australian Animals, these premium notebooks are perfect for Back To School. Home Topics Science & Environment Saving Australias biodiversity. Did megafauna, such as Procoptodon (the giant short-faced kangaroo) or Diprotodon (the giant wombat-like marsupial), that used to roam Australia, become extinct because of climate change or because of hunting? Robyn Williams: Apart from noisy miners, what sort of research are you doing at your lab? Biodiversity should be at the top of the global agenda alongside climate, said Anne Larigauderie, IPBES executive secretary, at a 6 May press conference in Paris, France. Fewer than 1300 breeding pairs are thought to survive. Two-thirds. DBCA Biodiversity and Conservation Science is delivered at multiple sites across Western Australia, including national and marine parks, Kings Park, Perth Zoo, Rottnest Island, and the WA Herbarium. WWF's 2020 Living Planet Report held some alarming news: The world has seen an average 68% drop in mammal, bird, fish, reptile, and amphibian populations since 1970. Robyn Williams: And that's quite an interesting example, isn't it, because if you are a bird lover or even some of those furry creatures, then if they are migratory they need to turn up in a certain place so that their timing is right for the emergence of certain insects in great numbers, and if the insects aren't there, these creatures just starve. Professor Rod Peakall is a geneticist at Australian National University in Canberra. Biological diversity or biodiversity is the term given to the variety of life on Earth. Robyn Williams: Well, who knows, the human race, if it's done anything, has increased the number of coronaviruses around the world, if not much else. Since living organisms interact in dynamic ecosystems, the disappearance of one species can have a far-reaching impact on the food chain. On 2 December 2016, several parts of the new Act were proclaimed and came into effect on 3 December 2016. Donate. Biodiversity loss disrupts many ecosystem processes, such as community structure and interactions, and can cause ecosystem malfunctioning, ranging from reduced biomass productivity to weakening ecosystem resilience (1, 2).The current loss of global biodiversity is much faster than in the paleorecord (), and it has been estimated that more than 1 million species are threatened with extinction . WERE SITTING ON a jumbled pile of cracked, moss- and lichen-covered granite boulders on top of a hill overlooking the NSW town of Tumbarumba. It wasnt always my plan to come back;but it had a lot to do with these conservation projects, the 26-year-old tells me. Fauna is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. Of the 109 countries studied, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, China and the United States (primarily Hawaii) also ranked inside the top seven as the worst offenders on conservation. However, as a country, we are among the worst on biodiversity conservation, with a loss of 5-10% as noted in study between 1996 to 2008. Deforestation, it said, totalled 430 square kilometres last month, five times higher than in January 20 21, and then, quoting a researcher at a Brazilian federal university who said, 'People might be surprised that it wasn't even more. "The impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution are being keenly felt around the globe . These findings were backed up by Siegy in 2009, when his own research showed honeyeaters flying hundreds of metres between banksias. Only this month, the University of Queensland released research, and I quote: 'Gone forever. 4. During the past 24 million years, close relatives of the mountain pygmy possum have been common throughout Australias lowland rainforests. Australia is ranked third in the world for the most species extinction, and number one when it comes to extinctions of mammals. Biodiversity is valued by people for many reasons. We see squirrel gliders the next day, but they have been trapped for an RTA-funded project monitoring highway populations and fitting poles to help the marsupials glide the 70 m needed to cross an otherwise insurmountable road barrier. First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we The prerequisites will be to establish an effective captive-breeding program [at cold temperatures] for the Kosciuszko population. The IUCN red list uses a series of categories to rank how close a species is to extinction, from "least concern" through to "extinct in the wild". Conservation, D. o. Biodiversity. excess fertiliser use and marine litter), invasive alien species and climate change (OECD, 2012 [7]; The sanctuary is a private wildlife haven. Further down the line, if the breeding program is successful, the idea is to release them into lowland rainforests. [2] Alphen, S. V. (2016, February 18). Join us, volunteer and be a part of our journey of discovery! km of conservation-viable land. Western Australia; Travel Videos; Entertainment. All ecosystems now show the impact of the dominant species, humans. Then, almost immediately after we discover its alive, in comes climate change, says Mike. "We found that conservation spending strongly reduced [the biodiversity decline score]," they stated. Mining is only 0.2 per cent of that land area, says Mike. Would you say that we have to preserve everything, or learn how to preserve enough? More than 80% of Australia's flowering plants and land mammals are endemic, as are 88% of our reptiles, 45% of our birds and 92% of our frogs. MINE REHABILITATION AND CLOSURE. Mikes proposal is certainly a bold and innovative idea and DECCW is exploring it with him, says Linda Broome. This means our south west is a region where exceptional concentrations of endemic species are undergoing exceptional loss of habitat. If you look at what we currently have under protectionwe only need to get another 9 per cent of Australia into conservation-capable form. To pick up the shortfall, he argues, we must find ways of getting pastoralists to value the native wildlife on their properties. The habitat loss is so great that it will cause more extinctions than any other factor, the study notes, particularly when coupled with other deleterious effects of livestock production, including climate change and pollution. 3. The State of Dieback. The new research will help explain why the region is so rich in endemic plants, Stephen says, while also revealing how so many of them can be found in geographically separated populations, where inbreeding should be rife, but its effects appear to be muted.. Environmentally sustainable farming makes Australian farms more productive and, in fact, more profitable, says Brett Heffernan, a spokesperson for the National Farmers Federation. "What we've actually got is empirical proof that it's very easy to predict what is going to happen to your biodiversity based on this balance between the pressures and the money you put in to [limit the impact]," he said. Human impact on Australia's biodiversity? This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Bold, new interventionist ideas are needed to save Australias biodiversity. . In other words, I love everything and every part of biodiversity, I think it's a crying shame and it's an irreversible loss when we lose that. Half of the world's land Key points: Australia second behind Indonesia for biodiversity loss Spending on conservation reduced loss Habitat loss, invasive species drive species decline in Australia We cause habitat change through agricultural, urban and industrial development, and the exploitation of natural resources. ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center South Tower, Sable Park 14 Bridge Boulevard Century City, Cape Town, 7441 +27 21 202 0381; biodiversity@iclei.org By examining extinction rates in the fossil record and Australias relationship to the size of different islands, Mike has calculated that to give all Australian species a good chance of surviving whatever the future throws at them will require a minimum of about 1.5 million sq. Species are undergoing exceptional loss of 5-10 % in 2002, we get the most species,! 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