Ecosystem Conservation - Plans for Biodiversity Conservation

• No Species Loss - a nature conservation strategy for South Australia
• Regional Biodiversity Plans
• Rangelands
• South East of South Australia
• Murray-Darling Basin
• Kangaroo Island
• Northern Agricultural Districts
• Eyre Peninsula
• Greater Mount Lofty Region
• Availability of Plans
• Plans for Other Regions
• Implementing the Plans

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No Species Loss - a nature conservation strategy for South Australia

Our natural environment is an integral part of South Australia's quality of life, sense of place and identity and is intimately linked to the biodiversity that surrounds us. Much of the State's economy is based on the use of biological resources and the benefits from healthy ecosystems which provide clean air, water and arable land.

But our ecosystems and the services they provide are in trouble - suffering from the impacts of habitat modification, invasive species and altered fire regimes and environmental flows.

South Australia has done much to limit this degradation but there is still more to do. To provide a vision for future biodiversity conservation and management in South Australia the first statewide nature conservation strategy for South Australia, No Species Loss - a nature conservation strategy for South Australia has been prepared.

No Species Loss is a whole-of-government partnership with the community, in response to South Australia's Strategic Plan target of 'lose no species' and provides a framework to achieve this aim. No Species Loss sets objectives and targets for the conservation and management of the State's biodiversity and provides guidelines on how these can be met.

Biodiversity Strategy for the SA Arid Lands

Dalhousie GAB Springs, Witjira National Park

The South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy is the first regionally specific strategy that interprets No Species Loss – A Nature Conservation Strategy for South Australia 2007-2017, the statewide nature conservation strategy. It is consistent with the vision and goals of No Species Loss while being prepared in a format consistent with and complimentary to, the State Natural Resources Management Plan 2006.

Falling entirely within the Arid biome, the South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Region covers over 520,000 km², almost 53% of the State. At a regional scale, there is significant variation in climate from the semi-arid south to the arid north.

South Australia’s arid lands are characterised by episodic wet and dry cycles, where  prolonged dry periods are often broken by high-intensity rains. These rains are highly  unpredictable, infrequent and variable, and have shaped the natural processes.  Animals and plants cope with prolonged droughts (‘bust’) and respond quickly to intense bursts of rainfall (‘boom’) when the natural environment flourishes.

Landforms represented in the SAAL region include gibber and gypsum plains, dunefields and sand plains, arid watercourses, lakes, artesian springs and rugged mountain ranges.

Four of Australia's 12 plant ecosystems occur in the region, providing habitats for a significant proportion of South Australia’s reptiles (70%), birds, (57%), frogs (50%), and mammals (50%).  Specific information on the biodiversity assets of the region is available in An Inventory of the Biological Resources of the Rangelands of South Australia (2.4Mb PDF).

Regional Biodiversity Plans

As part of South Australia's commitment to the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity (1996) regional biodiversity plans were prepared for a number of regions and released during 1999 to 2001. Regional biodiversity plans are biodiversity inventories, that document the biodiversity and the threats to that biodiversity within a region in great detail. Identifying biodiversity assets for the region, including plant communities/habitats and species of significance and key biodiversity areas, and the specific threats to those assets within the region. Specific conservation actions and recommendations are identified for particular biodiversity assets.

The purpose of the regional biodiversity plans is to provide the baseline information to assist in planning on-ground activities to conserve biodiversity in the region. The plans provide key issues for habitat protection and rehabilitation for community groups, landholders, interested individuals, local government offices and various land managers (such as Bush Management Advisers and Landcare groups) within a region.

Biodiversity Plan for the South East of South Australia

Looking over the dunes to the beach

The Biodiversity Plan for the South East of South Australia was completed in 1999. This was the first regional biodiversity plan to be produced for South Australia and it has been used as a 'model' for other regions.

In the South East only about 13% of the original native vegetation remains; much of this is in small fragments, and only about 40% is protected within parks or heritage agreements. The biodiversity plan contains maps of both the pre-European and current vegetation communities as well as details about the biology, distribution, threats, and management of the native vegetation and native animals.

Of the 35 pre-European plant communities 27 are now considered rare, and many are not conserved within the park system. Of the 1,336 plant species identified in the area 527 are considered threatened. Studies of the native animals reveals that 21 of the 54 species of mammals, 64 of the 275 bird species, and 16 of the 47 reptile species known to inhabit the South East are under threat. As a result of these studies three areas are considered as significant areas for conservation action; the wetlands, the coastline and key biodiversity areas. The biodiversity plan includes maps of the habitats for 27 fauna species.

Some of the priority projects are now being implemented, including protection and restoration of the habitat of the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, study of threatened plant species, and restoration of threatened habitats for swamp antechinus.

Biodiversity Plan for the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin

South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Photo: Monique Blason

The Murray-Darling Basin Biodiversity Plan, completed in 2001, is the second regional plan produced for South Australia.

In the pastoral part of the South Australian Murray Darling Basin there is 99% (3,126,000 ha) of native vegetation remaining of which 22% (680,000 ha) is formally protected with the rest being used for grazing.

In the agricultural part of the region, 28% (1,191,000 ha) of remaining native vegetation, of which 42% (499,000 ha) is formally protected. However, this vegetation is very fragmented. There are 9,521 blocks of native vegetation but 7,741 of these blocks are under 20 ha in size.

The Biodiversity Plan contains details of the biology, distribution, threats and management of selected native flora and fauna. There are 37 regional threatened plant communities in the SA MDB and of these 13 have less than 10% of the total area in reserves or Heritage Agreements and twelve have no area formally protected. Of the native species recorded in the SA MDB there are 22 of over 2,000 plants, 19 of 95 mammals, 36 of 322 birds, four of 112 reptiles, three of 13 amphibians, and ten of 31 fish that are considered under threat. The biodiversity plan includes maps of the habitats for 17 fauna species.

Some of the suggested priority projects to be implemented include retention, restoration and re-establishment of habitat in the river corridor and conservation of Major Mitchell's Cockatoo in the Murray Mallee and the South Olary Plains.

Biodiversity Plan for Kangaroo Island

The Kangaroo Island Biodiversity Plan, completed in 2001, is the third regional plan produced for South Australia.

There is 47% (207,161 ha) of remaining native vegetation, of which 30% (132,665 ha) is formally protected. However, this vegetation is very fragmented. There are 2,333 blocks of native vegetation but 2,089 of these blocks are under 20 ha in size.

The Biodiversity Plan contains details of the biology, distribution, threats and management of selected native flora and fauna. There are 7 regionally threatened plant communities on Kangaroo Island and of these 3 have less than 10% of the total area in reserves or Heritage Agreements and 3 have no area formally protected. Of the native species recorded on Kangaroo Island there are 55 of over 891 plants, 3 of 18 terrestrial mammals, and 12 of 255 birds that are considered under threat.

Biodiversity Plan for the Northern Agricultural Districts

The Northern Agricultural Districts Biodiversity Plan, completed in 2001, is the fourth regional plan produced for South Australia.

In the pastoral part of the Northern Agricultural Districts there is 52,000 ha of native vegetation remaining (2% of region) and in the agricultural part of the region there is 563,000 ha (19% of region). Of this remaining native vegetation 16% (53,270 ha) is formally protected. However, the vegetation is very fragmented. There are 9,636 blocks of native vegetation but 8,699 of these blocks are under 20 ha in size.

The Biodiversity Plan contains details of the biology, distribution, threats and management of selected native flora and fauna. There are 8 plant community groups that are considered threatened in the NAD and details of these are included in the plan. However, as only one third of the vegetation has been mapped this information is not complete. Of the native species recorded in the NAD there are 27 of over 1,200 plants, 2 of 33 mammals, 27 of 304 birds, and 6 of 91 reptiles that are considered under threat.

Some of the suggested priority projects to be implemented include rehabilitation of remnant vegetation in the South Hummocks and revegetation of the abandoned Gladstone to Wilmington Railway Corridor.

Biodiversity Plan for Eyre Peninsula

The Biodiversity Plan for Eyre Peninsula is the fifth regional plan for South Australia.

The Biodiversity Plan contains general information on the biodiversity of Eyre Peninsula. For example, as a percentage of all land cover on Eyre Peninsula, 43% or 2,188,000 ha is native vegetation cover. Approximately 44% of this native vegetation is formally protected in Government reserves or privately owned Heritage Agreements. Since native vegetation forms a basis for conservation of biodiversity, the management of the remaining 56% of native vegetation on private land is an important issue to address.

The Biodiversity Plan for Eyre Peninsula also provides details of the biology, distribution, threats and management of selected native flora, fauna, habitats and areas. Due to the selective clearance of particular vegetation types there are twenty three endangered, vulnerable or rare plant communities on Eyre Peninsula. There are also twenty one nationally threatened plant species and sixteen national or state rated mammal, bird and reptile species in the region.

Road and rail reserves, granite inselbergs and outcrops, wetlands, coastal areas and offshore islands are all considered to be habitats requiring specific management on Eyre Peninsula. There are also a number of key biodiversity areas highlighted in the region for management. Large remnant areas contain large blocks of native vegetation with good species diversity and good estimated population sizes for many species. They should sustain biodiversity in the long term, as they generally have high levels of formal protection. Threatened habitat areas have been selectively cleared and modified, hence they are very fragmented. They often contain high numbers of threatened species and plant communities. These areas require the retention and restoration of native vegetation, strategic weed control, coordinated predator control and further surveys.

Biodiversity Plan for the Greater Mount Lofty Region, South Australia

Mount Lofty Ranges Photo: Tony Robinson

Preparation of a Biodiversity Plan for the Greater Mount Lofty Region has commenced.

In the Mount Lofty Ranges only 13% of the original native vegetation remains: much of this is in small fragments and only 22% is protected within parks, forest reserves or heritage agreements. Many parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges were preferentially cleared and a number of plant associations and species have become threatened. Many of these are confined to small remnants, road reserves, rail corridors and cemeteries.

Forty five plant species occurring in the Mount Lofty Ranges are unique to that region and occur no where else in the world.

Availability of Plans

Head of a Bearded Lizard

The South East Plan is currently out of print. The South Australian Murray Darling Basin Plan from the Berri office at 28 Vaughan Terrace, the Kangaroo Island Plan from the Kingscote office, 37 Dauncey St, the Northern Agricultural Plan from Innes National Park, Stenhouse Bay and the Burra office 20A Commercial St. The Eyre Peninsula Plan is available from 75 Liverpool Street, Port Lincoln. All biodiversity plans are available from the Department for Environment and Heritage Information Line on (61 8) 8204 1910.

Plans for Other Regions

The Urban Forest Biodiversity Program continues to provide a coordinated regional approach to biodiversity conservation across the Adelaide metropolitan area. A series of publications have been developed by the program to inform and encourage biodiversity conservation in our urban area.

Implementing the Plans

It is recognised that the conservation actions arising from the plans need to be well coordinated when they are implemented. To ensure that they are effectively used, regional groups will be formed to coordinate all projects and to oversee the use of funds obtained for this work. Local government will also have an important role though use of the plans to manage land in their care and by means of integrating biodiversity considerations into their own development plans.