Protecting native plants
Our unique native flora and ecosystems are threatened by human activities, introduced weeds and pests. We protect, monitor and recover our native flora and vegetation in a number of ways:
- We check if threatened species are listed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
- A permit and licencing system controls activities such as commercial harvesting, private collecting, propagation and trade.
- Queensland’s regional ecosystem framework, the most comprehensive of its kind in Australia, defines regional ecosystems that must be managed and protected under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 and the Environment Protection Act 1994.
- National parks, reserves and nature refuges protect significant species and regional ecosystems.
- We develop recovery and conservation plans for priority species and ecosystems in partnership with the Australian Government.
Interesting facts
- Majority of Queensland's native flora species are not considered to be threatened. They are listed as least concern which means, they are likely to survive in the wild.
- Of the total native plant species, 201 species are listed as endangered, 393 as vulnerable, 439 as near threatened, and 23 are presumed to be extinct in the wild.
- There are no known mosses, liverworts, hornworts, lichens or fungi currently considered to be threatened or near threatened.
- One species of algae, Lychnothamnus barbatus, is listed as vulnerable.
