A series of
National biodiversity 'hotspots' have been identified by the
Australian Government (DEH 2003). Biodiversity hotspots are
strongholds for large numbers of Australia's unique plants and
animals under immediate threat from impacts such as land clearing,
weeds, feral animals and salinity. The hotspots are home to
'endemic' species, native flora and fauna that are mostly
restricted to one geographic locality. Three areas within the
region have been identified as a 'hot spot' of national
significance.
Einasleigh
Einasleigh’s basalt lava flows and lava tunnels provide
habitat for threatened and geographically restricted plants and
animals. Water enters the Great Artesian Basin aquifers here and
important artesian spring complexes contain endemic plants, snails
and fish including the
Edgbaston goby and the
salt pipewort ( Eriocaulon carsonii ) plant.
Ecologically and geologically important wetlands include Lake
Buchanan and Lake Galilee.
Desert Uplands
The high ranges and plateaus of Einasleigh contrast sharply with
the plains and low ranges of the Desert Uplands. In the Desert
Uplands alone there are 22 rare or threatened animals, including
the Masked Owl and the
Julia Creek dunnart , and 29 rare or threatened plants. Current
threats come from unsustainable grazing pressure, feral animals
and, in some areas, tree clearing. Changing fire regimes and exotic
weeds which accompany more intensive grazing have the potential to
affect bird species such as the endangered
buff-breasted button-quail , now restricted to only a few
sites. (for more information, see the Desert
Uplands Factsheet and
Technical Report )
Brigalow Belt North
The inland plains of the Brigalow belt originally supported vast
vegetation communities dominated by
brigalow ( Acacia harphophylla ). On the western
slopes of the Great Dividing Range there are large tracts of
eucalypt woodlands and the hotspot is also a stronghold for large
numbers of endemic invertebrates.
This hotspot includes populations of the endangered
bridled nail-tail wallaby and the only remaining wild
population of the endangered
northern hairy-nosed wombat , now limited to around 110
individuals. The area contains important habitat for rare and
threatened species including the bulloak (aka bull bheoak, buloke)(
Allocasuarina luehmannii) , the
jewel butterfly ,
brigalow scaly-foot , glossy black cockatoo,
greater large-eared horseshoe bat , large pied bat,
eastern long-eared bat and the threatened community of semi
evergreen vine thickets. The hotspot provides important habitat for
star finches and golden tailed geckos.
The project
Northern Brigalow Belt — Priorities for Remnant Vegetation
Protection identified 15 wetland aggregations as meeting
criteria for national significance, two of which also meet criteria
for international significance. A total of 20 significant wetland
aggregations are described.
Broad-scale clearing for agriculture and unsustainable grazing
is fragmenting the original vegetation, particularly on lowland
areas, encouraging weed invasion and putting at risk woodland and
grassland birds and the natural water cycle. Inappropriate fire
regimes and predation by feral animals, in particular pigs, cats
and foxes, pose additional threats to local biodiversity.