Dr Jonathon Howard, NPA Executive
New South Wales is home to an amazing array of plants, animals and other living things. Environment and Heritage NSW released its NSW biodiversity outlook report 2024.
In 2020, the first outlook report covered 10 indicators, with supporting published methods and available data. This 2024 outlook report updates the 2020 indicators and introduces new indicators. Many indicators are also reported at a bioregion scale. The report, based on findings across 13 indicators, is unique in its scale and provides crucial information that can help inform our response to the biodiversity crisis.
The key findings in regard to biodiversity are:
- The expected survival of listed threatened species indicator reports the percentage of listed threatened species expected to survive in 100 years. Since 2012, the percentage of listed threatened species expected to survive in 100 years has declined from 52% to 50%. In 2022, 43% will potentially be lost, assuming that current threats continue.
- The listed threatened ecological communities indicator reports the percentage of listed threatened ecological communities expected to survive in 100 years. The number of threatened ecological communities expected to survive in 100 years has remained the same since 2012.
- The expected survival of all known species indicator reports the percentage of all known vascular plant species that are expected to survive in 100 years. It found the survival of vascular plants in New South Wales remained steady at 79% between 2007 and 2017 but declined to 76% in 2020. The 2019–20 bushfires reduced the area of habitat for many species.
- The within-species genetic diversity and extant area occupied indicator reports the genetic diversity and extant area occupied (i.e. the current area of habitat occupied by each species) for all known species of vascular plants. It found loss of suitable habitat reduced the area occupied by each species from an average of 56% in 2017 to 47% in 2020 due to the impacts of the 2019–20 bushfires.
- The persistence of ecosystems indicator reports the percentage of original ecosystem diversity that is likely to persist into the future. Across the state, ecosystem diversity has declined from 77% to 74%. Within bioregions, ecosystem diversity remaining is lower across the central wheat-sheep belt and higher across eastern New South Wales
The report also found there has been a gradual decline in the ecological conditions and carrying capacity of terrestrial habitats and that our native species and ecological communities are under pressure from invasive species -particularly red foxes, feral cats and Paterson’s Curse in New South Wales.
The good news is the area of land that is secured permanently for long-term biodiversity conservation outcomes has increased from 8.6% in 2007 to 11.2% in 2023. Since 2007 there have been larger increases (>2.5%) in areas under permanent protection in bioregions in the far west of the state, providing better representation of semi-arid and arid ecosystems.
As the climate changes, habitats can become less suitable for the species they currently support. The bioregions in central New South Wales have a high risk of biodiversity loss due to climate change. These bioregions have high rates of past habitat loss and fragmentation, and a reduced potential for species migration. They will require the most active management to ensure their biodiversity is retained. By contrast, areas such as the Australian Alps, NSW North Coast, Southeast Corner and Sydney Basin have been judged to be most resilient to climate change because these bioregions and habitats are more intact and connected.
If you want to find out more about each indicator, please see the standalone indicator report cards that are being progressively released. Indicator report cards provide more detailed results for one or more indicators within an indicator family and include information on how the indicators were created Go to: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/biodiversity/biodiversity-indicator-program