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. 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. The researchers conceded that species native to multiple countries presented an obstacle to their calculations, but lead author Anthony Waldron says they were able to narrow down where the pressures were coming from. Take a look at what some of our readers had to say about Australia's biodiversity loss. Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is a term used to describe the variety of living things in the natural environment: the different plants, animals and micro-organisms; the genes they contain; and the ecosystems in which they occur. "The predominant one is landclearing ongoing clearing for habitat. No, there is a race to clear it. Our power usage globally has almost tripled in the last 50 years. We pay our respects to Elders both past and present. Coupled with persistent biophysical threats and socioeconomic causes is human-induced climate change, which is projected to exacerbate biodiversity loss through increased risk of species extinctions and ecosystem decline, especially among those already at risk and limited in their climatic range (Conservation, 2006). Latin America & the Caribbean have sustained a loss of 94% since 1975. Mike thinks that because of its evolutionary heritage in lowland rainforests, the pygmy possum already has the capacity to thrive in warmer conditions, and this is what he wants to test. Basically we are talking about how to sensibly use a finite resource, the landscape, in support of people. Its a cold, wet winters night in Woomargama, in southern NSW, and were looking for squirrel gliders along a green road a patch of old-growth woodland on Bruce Lynchs farm. The total number of species of birds on earth is estimated to be around 10,000! Biodiversity loss is the result of complex interactions between humans and nature, . The prerequisites will be to establish an effective captive-breeding program [at cold temperatures] for the Kosciuszko population. In short, biodiversity provides us with clean air, fresh water, good quality soil and crop pollination. Biological diversity - or biodiversity - is the term given to the variety of life on Earth. 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 How have population growth, habitat change and introduction of new species affected Australia's biodiversity? Robyn Williams: The late Tom Lovejoy, one of those I mentioned before in The Science Show we should remember, whose work was so significant, at the same level maybe as Rachel Carson, whose book Silent Spring was published 60 years ago. Would you agree with him? Whatever the level of impact created by Australia's Indigenous people, they adapted their own lifestyles and survived in all parts of the continent for many thousands of years. Professor Stephen Hopper, an expert in biodiversity at the University of Western Australia agrees that this might explain why many of the species here are endemic, but not their great numbers. Allowing landholders to benefit from the harvest of kangaroos for meat and skins is one idea. There are other good reasons for bringing farmers on board for conservation. 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. Robyn Williams: And what else, apart from birds? The Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute (WABSI) is an independent, collaboration mechanism. Loss of biodiversity in Australia is of catastrophic proportions. Theres no doubt in my mind that we can do this if were not fettered by pessimisminnovative approaches are popping up all over Australia.. Compared to Australia, which recorded a biodiversity loss of between 5 and 10 per cent of the total global decline, the study published in Nature found Indonesia had "absolutely the highest number of declining species", representing around 21 per cent of the total decline during the period. Kenle, Wikicommons, Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus leucocephalus), Lake Joondalup, Perth, Western Australia, Australia, 2012. The researchers believe that their data can be used to better target conservation efforts. 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. No single discipline like ecology or conservation biology has all the answers. Image copyrightH.-U. It offers the biggest elevation range in Australia from a few hundred metres above sea level to more than 2200 m. It covers an array of environments from slopes and plains to mountain peaks, has some of our richest communities of species and is home to two-thirds of NSWs threatened plants and animals. Australian Geographic acknowledges the First Nations people of Australia as traditional custodians, and pay our respects to Elders past and present, and their stories and journeys that have lead us to where we are today. km) of Australia by 2013. Rather I am saying that if you look at countries like Haiti or El Salvador in the hemisphere that I know, which have already lost a lot of their biological resources, they are places which have lowering standards of living and social and political problems, and in fact reach out beyond their borders and affect even the United States. We cause habitat change through agricultural, urban and industrial development, and the exploitation of natural resources. Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia. The main factor in the loss of biodiversity is the increased rate of population growth. By subscribing you become an AG Society member, helping us to raise funds for conservation and adventure projects. What goes on there? Its a legacy.. The idea of a legacy seems to be a common theme: Like an artist creating a paintingwe wanted to leave something behind that we had made some contribution to, says Wayne. 3. Astronomer Professor Richard de Grijs from Macquarie University explains all the upcoming celestial events visible from Australia this year, and the best datesand times to see them: Make miniature mechanised minions with teeny tiny tools! Retrieved from Gaia Resources: https://www.gaiaresources.com.au/state-dieback/, Service, D. o. A honeyeater feeds from a eucalypt endemic to south-west Western Australia. Its a very beautiful and wonderful animal thats going to get knocked by the slightest shift., The situation seems desperate, but by taking clues from the fossil record into account, Mikes team offers hope. However, they found that the impacts of these pressures could be reduced by investment in environmental protection. National parks are the leftover bits, he says. The total area of protected land and sea in the U.K. increased from 27 . The loss of wetlands that began in 1829, and continues into the present day, is a deciding factor in Perth being able to retain its status as a biodiverse city. An estimated 10 % of Perths original wetlands remain. So, in other words, that sort of message seems to say you need to consult the conservationists before you do something and rewilding is an interesting move. 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. So I think there's fascinating stories and there are important lessons to learn, almost wherever we look in the natural world. Greater knowledge enables efficient decisions that take account of the needs and certainty of all stakeholders. "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. Ideally, Commonwealth and State approval processes are undertaken simultaneously, but proposals must be presented to authorities concurrently (Government of Western Australia, 2014). When the environment changes down on the plains, it changes uniformly over a bigger area. 1).It experiences a strongly Mediterranean climate with frequent droughts (Saunders et al., 1993, Hobbs and Cramer, 2003) and is part of the South West Australian Floristic Region, a recognized global biodiversity hotspot (Mittermeier et al . But thank you Richard Fuller, and good luck with your work. Companies; Markets; The economy; . Robyn Williams: Biodiversity, a problem as shocking as climate change. You can imagine a migratory species showing up and being unable to refuel on its journey, for example. According to the CSIRO, habitat loss from land clearing is a primary driver of biodiversity loss in Australia. A staggering amount when compared to England, where the land mass is proportionate to the South West but there are only 1500 native vascular plants species and a mere 3% are endemi 2 . Australia is one of seven countries responsible for more than half of global biodiversity loss, according to a study published today. The beginning of biodiversity conservation in WA is rooted in the setting aside of land by the State for the protection of flora and fauna in the late 1800s and early 1900s when the first reserve declared was in September 1899 for the purpose of the Protection of Boronia near Albany; and the first national park, Greenmount National Park (which has now become John Forest National Park) was established in 1900 on the outskirts of Perth. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions ( DBCA) is the Western Australian government department responsible for managing lands and waters described in the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984, the Rottnest Island Authority Act 1987, the Swan and Canning Rivers Management Act 2006, the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority MINE REHABILITATION AND CLOSURE. Climate Change: Changes . These findings were backed up by Siegy in 2009, when his own research showed honeyeaters flying hundreds of metres between banksias. 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. The World Wildlife Fund argues that Perth may be the wildlife capital of the world, with over 2,100 plant species, 15 amphibian species and 156 native birds , with seasonal influxes from visiting seabirds and migrating shorebirds (World Wildlife Fund 2013). 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. I think it would be better to pool our diverse strengthsto envision and trial strategies that could turn it all around long before we reach that precipice, he says. A key part of their approach has been to plant silver wattles and other trees that provide important habitat for gliders and threatened species such as migratory swift parrots, known to visit a neighbouring property. So far, NSW is the only State to have committed cash for the conservation corridor $6.7 million over four years from 2007 enough to kick-start the project within State borders. And in many ways we have to keep managing the environment in those disturbed areas to make sure that things don't get too out of kilter. During this time they undoubtedly influenced the course of evolution. By way of example, there are more species of flowering plants in the Fitzgerald River National Park than in the United Kingdom, contributing to the South West of WA being one of only 34 Global Biodiversity Hotspots(and the only in Australia), defined as geographical regions that have at least 1,500 vascular plant species and have lost at least 70% of their original supporting habitat. They have a right to live here just as much as we do. If the conditions are too hot there, you can spread your seeds or fly around the corner and its potentially a bit cooler.. People ask, What difference can it make if you turn off a light switch? We facilitate end user driven, relevant research to create opportunities for meaningful change in biodiversity conservation and enable sustainable development. Although much of his current work focuses on conservation, his background is in palaeontology and he brings this knowledge into other arenas. Mining is only 0.2 per cent of that land area, says Mike. ttsdale reserve, near Canberra part of the Great Eastern Ranges conservation corridor. The loss of species diversity has reached unsafe levels across 58% of the world's land surface, according to a new assessment led by Museum scientists. Stunning examples of photographs taken with the Museum's scanning electron microscope (SEM). Robyn Williams: Yes, but isn't that the kind of blank cheque argument that the hard economic realities will no longer accept? 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The report reveals a serious decline in biodiversity, an increase in habitat loss, and increasing levels of pollution. His idea is to try to re-establish a colony in an area of lowland rainforest, abundant in NSW and Victoria. One of our key research interests is the connection between people and nature, and I come at this really from two angles. He describes farmers as frontline environmentalists and argues that many of Australias 136,000 farms are already actively managed for conservation. Western Australia's unique biodiversity Western Australia's globally unique biodiversity Western Australia (WA) has a globally unique biodiversity characterised by significant regional endemism, meaning that we have plants and animals that only live in a particular location. Email: enquiries@integratesustainability.com.au. Bruce Lynchs farm, 150km to the south-west, is also part of the Slopes to Summit region and offers a great example of how adjoining habitat patches can be combined for a better conservation result. The mountains offer a huge diversity of refuges. Two-thirds of Australia has lost its unique birdlife.' Biodiversity loss and climate change are both driven by economic activities and neither will be successfully resolved unless both are tackled together, according to a joint report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Nigel agrees that there are a whole lot of opportunities in the balance between sustainable resource use and conservation. The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 provides for species, subspecies or populations of native animals (fauna) to be listed as Specially Protected, Threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable) or Extinct in Western Australia. We need new strategies, Mike says. 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. Agriculture is the largest contributor to biodiversity loss with expanding impacts due to changing consumption patterns and growing populations. There is a similar sort of argument about rewilding bringing the wolves back to Yellowstone Park so that you cull some of the herbivores and allow the balance of nature to come back again. 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.. A variety of grants are already available as incentives from public and private bodies. Embossed with Australian Animals, these premium notebooks are perfect for Back To School. The Southwest Australia Ecoregion is a triangular corner of WA, most of which is to the west of a line drawn from Shark Bay to Esperance. Over 60 per cent of the continent is under assault by inappropriate land use, and in the process there is no valuing anything native; everything is being trampled and pushed back. Contrary to popular opinion, mining is a much smaller problem. Biodiversity is the variety of all living things on Earth, and how they fit together in the web of life, bringing oxygen, water, food and countless other benefits. ONE ALPINE SPECIES the GER may not be able to help is the mountain pygmy possum. 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. In terms of bang for the buck, we get the most results for the least effort by conserving this corridor, Ian says. Celebrity Life. It does have its place in communicating the role of different aspects of nature, the right to wrongs of different environmental management settings, for example. Reduction in biodiversity was calculated by looking at species that had their IUCN red list upgraded during the period, such as from "least concern" to "threatened", or "vulnerable" to "endangered". The coastal marine biodiversity of WA is ranked second highest out of 18 of the worlds marine biodiversity hotspots (based on species richness and endemism) and fourth lowest in terms of threatening processes. Unless you understand the processes you may disadvantage the species by not supporting the processes that brought it into being in the first place, he told Australian Geographic. We still have work to do on our engagement with biodiversity in Western Australia, and Perth specifically, before we can become a model for future cities. Source: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (Department of Parks and Wildlife Service), The south-west of the State has experienced significant impacts to biodiversity values from broad-scale land clearing for agriculture (especially in the 1920s to 1980s), expansion of urban areas, and development of infrastructure and use of natural resources. Check out the What's On calendar of events, workshops and school holiday programs. 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