Priority species - Department of Environment and Heritage Protection

Traditional Owner involvement in natural resource
management in the South East Queensland NRM region
The Australian Indigenous peoples and Traditional Owners have always cared for country. The
South East Queensland Traditional Owner Alliance (SEQTOA) was formed to represent and
advance the interests of Traditional Owners in cultural and natural resource management and is
recognised as the peak body for Traditional Owner consultation in cultural and natural resource
management in South East Queensland.
The SEQTOA comprises six respective Traditional Owner groups, namely Yugambeh (Ngarang-
Wal/Kombumerri & Mulinjarlie), Quandamooka (Noonuccle, Ngugi, & Gorenpul), Jagera (Jagera,
Yuggera, & Ugarapul), Jinibara, Gubbi Gubbi and Kabi Kabi. These groups comprise almost all the
native title claimants and registered cultural heritage bodies in the region.
Natural Resource Management and Caring for Country issues are addressed in mutual partnership
between SEQC and the SEQTOA. Traditional knowledge is incorporated into contemporary and
regional issues such as water quality, salinity and weeds, biodiversity and recovery projects for
threatened species and land management practices. These issues connect all of the Traditional
Owners, whether as mobs, families or the region as a whole.
By embedding the spirit of reciprocal respect, cultural diversities are shared with environmental,
heritage and conservation issues into preserving our natural resources empowering capacity, crosscultural
awareness, economic opportunities and inclusiveness in on-ground activities and projects
with an Indigenous focus. The SEQTOA is committed towards working in partnerships with other
stakeholders and/or sectors to improve future sustainability and conserve prosperity.
Priority species for the South East Queensland NRM
region
Ninety-six (96) species were identified as priority Back on Track species for the South East
Queensland NRM region. These species consisted of 56 plants, one mollusc, three butterflies, seven
fish, one frog, eleven reptiles, eight birds and nine mammals (Tables 1a, 1b and 1c). These species
had gained either ‘critical’ or ‘high’ ranking when the technical scores were combined with the SEQC’s
Managers’ Criteria Weighting (Tables 1a, 1b and 1c). During the workshop it was agreed that six
species would not be assessed for actions in the South East Queensland NRM region. These species
were: two birds—the painted honeyeater, considered a vagrant in this region and the diamond firetail,
also now considered to be a vagrant in this region; one reptile—the patternless delma (Delma
inornata), considered unlikely to occur in the South East Queensland NRM region; one invertebrate—
Arabanthes longicepes (previously considered to be at risk when scored at the technical workshop),
as this species is currently not considered to be at risk (Robert Raven pers. com.); one freshwater
fish—the Murray cod, as any records for this species within the South East Queensland NRM region
are considered vagrants, and; one mammal—the northern quoll, as the most recent records for this
species in the South East Queensland NRM region are from the early 1960s and it is considered
unlikely that this species occurs within the South East Queensland NRM region (Geoff Lundie-Jenkins
pers. com.).
Between the date of the workshop and the production of this Actions for Biodiversity document, the
Back on Track technical scores for Queensland birds, butterflies and nominated moths were reviewed
by an expert panel, and a nominated group of 77 molluscs of Queensland were assessed. Back on
Track species’ scores are reviewed whenever new information is found that has the potential to
change any of the criteria scores. As a result of these reviews, five bird species (the Australasian
bittern, glossy black-cockatoo (eastern) (see iconic species section below), powerful owl, eastern
curlew and grey-crowned babbler (eastern)) and two butterfly species (southern sedge darter and
varied sword-grass brown (North Coast subspecies)) were removed from the priority species list for
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the South East Queensland NRM region, and one bird species (the little tern) and one butterfly
species (varied sword-grass brown (Queensland subspecies)) were added. As a result of the mollusc
assessment, one snail species (Bennett’s woodland snail) was added to the priority list for the South
East Queensland NRM region. These changes have been recognised in this document (Tables 1b
and 1c).
Between the date of the workshop and the production of this Actions for Biodiversity document there
has been changes to the categories and names of some species under the Nature Conservation Act
1992. Consequently, a number of species may require re-assessment under Back on Track because
of new information received, and re-assessment may change the Back on Track rank for these priority
and Data Deficient species.
A separate Managers’ Criteria Weighting was carried out by relevant senior DERM managers, and
this weighting was used to generate a list of priority species for management by DERM. Although the
full DERM priority species list is not presented in this report, the DERM (Statewide) ranking for the
South East Queensland NRM region priority species is indicated in Tables 1a, 1b and 1c.
Climate Change
The Back on Track species prioritisation framework commenced in 2005, with most species
assessment and regional workshops taking place between 2005 and 2008. Since that time,
information on climate change and its likely impacts on biodiversity has become more reliable and
detailed (Steffen et al. 2009), and more advanced directions for State and National climate change
policies have emerged (DERM 2009; National Biodiversity Strategy Review Task Group 2009). Many
actions identified by Back on Track concur with the key messages and policy directions of these
recent documents. However, some aspects of Back on Track will need to be modified and updated in
response to this new information.
Improving landscape connectivity and building resilience will be key strategies to ensure that natural
systems have the capacity to adapt to shifting climatic zones (National Biodiversity Strategy Review
Task Group 2009) and the acceleration of actions to control and reduce existing stressors on
Australian ecosystems and species is essential to increase resilience (Steffen et al. 2009). Back on
Track has identified numerous priority actions to improve connectivity by addressing habitat
fragmentation and even more Back on Track actions have been formulated to improve the resilience
of species and ecosystems by managing existing stressors (e.g. feral animals, weeds, fire regime and
grazing regime). In this way, Back on Track is already implementing the recommendations of Steffen
et al. (2009) and the National Biodiversity Strategy Review Task Group (2009) to improve the capacity
of threatened species to adapt to climate change.
However, there is a limit to how far enhancing resilience will be effective, and a major rethink is
needed to develop new policy and management tools to conserve biodiversity in a changing climate
(Steffen et al. 2009). Future Back on Track workshops will be able to use the new information
available on the predicted regional impacts of climate change. ClimateQ summaries provide
projections for changes in temperature, rainfall and evaporation in each of 13 regions for 2030 (under
a medium emissions scenario), and for 2050 and 2070 (under low and high emissions scenarios).
More information on the ClimateQ regional summaries is available on the Office of Climate Change
website and can be used to identify actions that will be more
responsive to climate change.
If the information is available, Back on Track should aim to formulate management strategies that
‘hedge our bets’ against different climate change scenarios. This can be done by identifying the
actions needed to conserve species under a variety of future climate change scenarios. The actions
that would be effective under all climate change scenarios become ‘no regrets’ management actions,
and these actions should be the highest priority for implementation.
Some modification to the methods used to assess species may also be needed. For example, Back
on Track species assessments currently only focus on major threats likely to occur in the next five
years. This is to prevent the dissipation of resources on minor and potential future threats that may
not happen. However, this means that major future threats (beyond five years) that are likely to
happen (e.g. climate change) are not considered when scoring Criterion 3a. To make the best use of
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the new information available on the impacts of climate change and other threats, consideration will
be given to scoring major threats to species that are likely to occur within a longer time period into the
future.
Iconic species
The Back on Track species prioritisation method uses a combination of factors to determine priority
species for the State and each Natural Resource Management region. These include assessing
whether a species is ‘threatened’ using IUCN criteria (traditional approach) and also asking questions
about importance to the community, knowledge of threats, whether action can be taken to address
threats and what resources will be required to recover the species. In addition, senior managers for
each region and the State weight the criteria to reflect the priorities for conservation resources in their
region. (Refer methodology: ).
The prioritisation method treats iconic species in the same manner as non-iconic species. That is,
their iconic status does not mean they automatically become priority species. They do, however,
score highly on the importance to the community criteria.
Two iconic species (koala and glossy black-cockatoo (eastern)) have been assessed as ‘medium’
priority rather than ‘critical’ or ‘high’ priority in the South East Queensland NRM region as some might
expect.
The glossy black-cockatoo (eastern) has been assessed as a State priority but following the bird
review and application of SEQC weighting criteria this species is now a medium priority for the SEQ
NRM region. It should be noted that as a State priority, DERM will continue to place resources to
addressing threats that impact on this species.
Though the koala population in the South East Queensland NRM region is under significant threat,
the assessment is made for the population across the whole state. Overall, koalas in
Queensland were assessed as not fulfilling the requirements of ‘threatened’ status under the IUCN
criteria. Subsequently the species is ranked as a ‘medium’ priority under the Back on Track species
prioritisation framework.
The koala in particular is of significant social value and is very important to the tourism economy.
The State Government has instigated a koala crisis response strategy in South East
Queensland.
The Back on Track species prioritisation framework does not prevent interest groups and others
placing conservation effort and resources towards iconic species or any other species. Instead, the
framework recognises that conservation investment resources are scarce and so guides where
conservation effort will have the most strategic value and greatest chance of success.
The various taxonomic groups will be subject to a review process every few years. New information
on iconic and other species can be taken into account at that time.
Data deficient species
Some species were considered to be too poorly known about to receive scores for all seven Back on
Track criteria. These species are referred to as ‘data deficient’ and are priorities for research or
taxonomic work. The data deficient species found in the South East Queensland NRM region are
listed in Appendix 2.
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Table 1a. Back on Track priority plant species for the South East Queensland NRM region. SEQ = South
East Queensland rank, Statewide = rank determined by Department of Environment and Resource
Management criteria weighting exercise, C = Critical priority, H = High priority, M = Medium priority. See
Appendix 1 for threatened species listing under State and Commonwealth legislation.
Species Name
Common Name
Back on Track rank
SEQ Statewide
Acacia attenuata H H
Acacia baueri subsp. baueri H M
Acacia saxicola Mt. Maroon wattle H M
Aponogeton elongatus subsp. elongatus H M
Arthropodium sp. (Mt Cordeaux P.I.Forster+ PIF22065) C H
Blandfordia grandiflora Christmas bells H H
Boronia keysii Key's boronia H H
Boronia safrolifera H M
Brachychiton sp. (Ormeau L.H.Bird AQ435851) Ormeau bottle tree H M
Brunoniella spiciflora H H
Callitris baileyi Bailey's cypress C H
Caustis blakei subsp. macrantha C C
Chamaecrista maritima H H
Corchorus cunninghamii Cunningham's jute H H
Corynocarpus rupestris subsp. arborescens southern corynocarpus H M
Cupaniopsis newmanii long-leaved tuckeroo H M
Cupaniopsis shirleyana H H
Davidsonia johnsonii smooth Davidsonia H H
Discaria pubescens H M
Durringtonia paludosa C H
Eucalyptus bancroftii Bancroft's red gum H M
Eucalyptus conglomerata H M
Euphrasia bella Laminton eyebright C C
Glycyrrhiza acanthocarpa native liquorice H M
Gossia gonoclada angle-stemmed myrtle H M
Hydrocharis dubia frogbit H M
Lepidosperma quadrangulatum C C
Lilaeopsis brisbanica H H
Macarthuria complanata H H
Macrozamia pauli-guilielmi H C
Melaleuca groveana H M
Melaleuca irbyana swamp tea tree H M
Ochrosia moorei southern ochrosia H H
Owenia cepiodora onion cedar H M
Ozothamnus vagans birdwing vine H M
Pararistolochia praevenosa H H
Phaius australis C C
Phaius bernaysii yellow swamp orchid C C
Phebalium distans C H
Picris conyzoides H H
Picris evae H H
Platysace sp. (Mt Ninderry P.R.Sharpe+ 2092) C H
Rhaponticum australe C H
Romnalda strobilacea H M
Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii ravine orchid C C
Sarcochilus hartmannii C C
Sarcochilus weinthalii C C
Selaginella andrewsii H M
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Table 1a. Back on Track priority plant species for the South East Queensland NRM region (continued).
Species Name Common Name
Back on Track rank
SEQ Statewide
Seringia sp. (Chermside S.T.Blake 23068) H H
Swainsona fraseri H M
Syzygium moorei Durobby H M
Tephrosia sp. (Wyreema R.J.Fensham 2082) H M
Thismia rodwayi H M
Triunia robusta H H
Zieria exsul H M
Zieria furfuracea subsp. gymnocarpa C C
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Table 1b. Back on Track priority invertebrate, fish, frog and reptile species for the South East
Queensland NRM region. SEQ = South East Queensland rank, Statewide = rank determined by Department of
Environment and Resource Management criteria weighting exercise, C = Critical priority, H = High priority, M =
Medium priority. See Appendix 1 for threatened species listing under State and Commonwealth legislation.
Species Name
Molluscs
Common Name
Back on Track rank
SEQ Statewide
Pallidelix bennetti (Brazier, 1872)
Bennett’s woodland snail
comb. nov.
Butterflies and moths
H M
Acrodipsas illidgei Illidge's ant-blue butterfly C C
Ornithoptera richmondia Richmond birdwing butterfly H C
Tisiphone abeona rawnsleyi
Fish
varied sword-grass brown (Queensland subspecies) H M
Achoerodus viridis eastern blue groper H C
Carcharodon carcharias white shark H C
Dasyatis fluviorum estuary stingray H H
Heteroscyllium colcloughi Colcloughs shark H M
Nannoperca oxleyana Oxleyan pygmy perch C C
Pseudomugil mellis honey blue-eye C C
Rhadinocentrus ornatus
Frogs
ornate rainbowfish H H
Crinia tinnula
Reptiles
wallum froglet H H
Caretta caretta loggerhead turtle C C
Chelonia mydas green turtle C C
Coeranoscincus reticulatus three-toed snake-tooth skink H M
Delma plebeia common delma H M
Delma torquata collared delma H H
Dermochelys coriacea leatherback turtle H C
Eretmochelys imbricata hawksbill turtle C C
Eroticoscincus graciloides elf skink H M
Hemiaspis damelii grey snake H M
Hoplocephalus bitorquatus pale-headed snake H M
Hoplocephalus stephensii Stephens' banded snake C H
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Table 1c. Back on Track priority bird and mammal species for the South East Queensland NRM region.
SEQ = South East Queensland rank, Statewide = rank determined by Department of Environment and
Resource Management criteria weighting exercise, C = Critical priority, H = High priority, M = Medium priority.
See Appendix 1 for threatened species listing under State and Commonwealth legislation.
Species Name
Birds
Common Name
Back on Track rank
SEQ Statewide
Atrichornis rufescens rufous scrub-bird C C
Cyclopsitta diophthalma coxeni Coxen's fig-parrot C C
Dasyornis brachypterus eastern bristlebird H H
Erythrotriorchis radiatus red goshawk H H
Esacus magnirostris beach stone-curlew H H
Pezoporus wallicus wallicus ground parrot H H
Sternula albifrons little tern H H
Turnix melanogaster black-breasted button-quail C C
Mammals
Dasyurus maculatus maculatus spotted-tailed quoll (southern subspecies) H H
Dugong dugon dugong C C
Kerivoula papuensis golden-tipped bat H M
Petaurus australis australis yellow-bellied glider (southern subspecies) H H
Petrogale penicillata brush-tailed rock-wallaby H H
Pteropus poliocephalus grey-headed flying-fox C C
Scoteanax rueppellii greater broad-nosed bat H M
Sousa chinensis Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin C C
Xeromys myoides water mouse (false water-rat) C H
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