Global assessment finds Australia is top country for unique plants, but failing on conservation assessments

Two hundred scientists from more than a hundred institutions in 30 countries worldwide contributed to the report.

The Biodiversity Council says that the findings show that Australia needs to do much more to prevent the decline and extinction of our unique plants that are found nowhere else on earth.

Australia has been identified as the country with the highest proportion of unique plant species on earth. Almost 9 in 10 Australian plant species (88%) are endemic meaning they are found nowhere else on earth. Other countries with high proportions of unique species are New Zealand (69%), South Africa (67%) and Brazil (56%).

Associate Professor of Plant Ecology and Conservation Science Rachael Gallagher from Western Sydney University, led the global evaluation of conservation assessments for unique flora species.

“By international standards, Australia performed very poorly in conservation assessments. Only 39% (4 out of 10) of Australia’s unique species have had their threats and conservation status assessed. By comparison New Zealand and South Africa have each assessed 87% (almost 9 out of 10) of their unique species,” Associate Professor Gallagher said.

“Threat assessments are a foundation for prioritising and undertaking conservation actions and are used under Australia’s national environmental law, the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, but they are not systematically completed for all plant species.

“Without comprehensive assessment thousands of unique Australian plant and fungi species could be at risk, and we have no way of knowing which species or where to direct conservation efforts.

“For example, there has been no assessment of the extinction risk of the Waratah, which is the state floral emblem of New South Wales, even though it is subject to extensive illegal flower collecting, climate change and changed fire regimes. Almost half of Australia’s iconic wattles have not yet been assessed.

“Australia is one of the world’s wealthiest nations in terms of per capita income and standard of living, and yet our rate of conservation assessment for plants is similar to low-income countries such as Madagascar which has assessed 42% of its unique species.

“As a nation we can and should be doing much more to protect our unique biodiversity from extinction. Our national environmental legislation already commits us to do so but we need to work harder and commit more resources to make this happen,” Associate Professor Gallagher said.

Biodiversity Council Co-Chief Councillor Professor of Conservation Science Hugh Possingham from The University of Queensland said that adequately conserving plants is vital for human survival.

“Plants underpin almost every ecosystem on earth, they are essential to the production of clean air, carbon capture, climate moderation, and as food and habitat for many other species including humans,” said Professor Possingham who was a co-author of the research.

“More than half of the world’s plants - 221,399 species - occur in only one country. The countries that are custodians of these unique species have a responsibility to assess if they are at risk and take steps to conserve them if they are.

“Australia needs to lift its game, both in terms of reviewing as yet unassessed species and also in committing resources to take steps to care for species that are declining and at risk of extinction.

“Plant conservation need not be expensive, many species could be saved with small investments and the involvement of the community.”

President of the Australian Network for Plant Conservation, Dr Tony Auld from the University of New South Wales said that, “Conserving plants is essential to maintaining functioning ecosystems and habitat for many species.”

“Globally, plants face a range of threats, with new threats emerging as the climate warms.

“To better direct conservation priorities, Australia needs increased efforts on both reducing the impact of threats and assessing the risk of threats to plants.

“Conservation should focus on reducing ongoing clearing of native habitat, controlling weeds, pathogens and pest species, especially introduced animals that cause overgrazing, and effectively managing changes to fire and flood regimes.

“We also need to do more to restore degraded habitat,” Dr Auld said.

The findings of the assessment have also been published in the scientific journal Plants People Planet.

The Biodiversity Council was founded by 11 Universities and brings together leading Australian experts to raise awareness of Australia’s biodiversity crisis and to promote evidence-based solutions.