Threatened species explained
Each one of Queensland's native plant and animal species is a unique and valuable part of the state’s rich biodiversity.
Some species are declining in numbers and are at risk of extinction due to a range of threatening processes. As at 30 April 2022, there were 1048 threatened species (255 animals and 793 plants) listed as threatened under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992. A significant number of these species are listed as threatened nationally under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
What is a threatened species
A threatened species is any plant or animal species that is at risk of extinction. Threatened species are allocated to different wildlife classes depending on the degree of risk of their extinction.
Why species become threatened
There are many threats that impact on species and contribute to their risk of extinction. Threats can be human-induced such as clearing of habitat, pollution, overharvesting, introduced species, or random natural events such as cyclones, floods, droughts, fire.
A scientific review of the impacts of land clearing on threatened species in Queensland 2017 , provides evidence that land clearing causes species extinction and habitat loss, exacerbates other threatening processes, and reduces the resilience of threatened species to survive future challenges such as climate change.
Find out more about the threats impacting on native species.
Threatened species conservation classes
Threatened species are allocated to different wildlife classes depending on the degree of risk of their extinction. These classes are based on a number of criteria including trends in population size, health and distribution.
In Queensland the following wildlife classes are listed in the Nature Conservation Act 1992:
Species can also be classed as Near Threatened, if they are at risk of becoming threatened in the near future.
Species that are threatened
The Nature Conservation (Plants) Regulation 2020 and the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020 lists species that are classed as threatened in Queensland.
The Threatened Species Listing report provides detailed information on threatened species in Queensland, which is updated monthly. It includes:
- a full list of threatened species in Queensland
- number of threatened species by wildlife class for each year between 2007 and 2020 (when the list of threatened species was amended).
The report can be searched by wildlife class as well as the species’ common name, scientific name and group.
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 (EPBC Act) lists species that are threatened nationally.
Find out more about nationally threatened species in the Species Profile and Threats Database.
Changes and additions to species conservation classes
The department co-ordinates the process for species to be listed as threatened under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. The Species Technical Committee (STC) assesses species listing nominations submitted by members of the public, external and government scientists.
Read more about listing and changing the conservation class of species including how to nominate a species.
Related information
- Find where threatened species occur in Queensland by searching the species Wildlife Online database.
- Search for species in the Atlas of Living Australia.
- Find out more about Queensland’s threatened species in the A–Z of animals species profiles.
- A scientific review of the impacts of land clearing on threatened species in Queensland 2016 .
- Get involved in National Threatened Species Day.
- More information is available on the Common Assessment Method, which will lead to the creation of a single species classification list across the country, reducing regulatory complexity for both the community and industry.