Australia - Our Natural Resources

AT A GLANCE 2007

with data to 2005 - 06

© Commonwealth of Australia 2007

ISBN 1 921192 16 x

Selected passages, tables and diagrams may be reproducedprovided due acknowledgement is made.

Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheriesand ForestryEdmund Barton Building, Barton, ACT 2600GPO Box 858, Canberra, ACT 2601

The Australian Government acting through the Departmentof Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has exercised due careand skill in the preparation and compilation of the informationand data set out in the publication. Notwithstanding, theDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, its employeesand advisers disclaim all liability, including liability for negligence,for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by anyperson as a result of accessing, using or relying upon any of theinformation or data set out in this publication to the maximumextent permitted by law.

AUSTRALIA -our natural resources

AT A GLANCE

2

Foreword

Every Australian knows that the drought has had a severeimpact on our natural resources in 2006. We must recognisethis and value our water, soils, vegetation, climate andbiodiversity.

This publication contains easy to read facts and fi gures aboutAustralia’s natural resource industries. It describes each of thenatural resources and its major challenges in short chapters thatallow you to see ‘at a glance’ the key issues for each resource,including easy-to-read maps and tables.

Sustainable use and management of our natural resources is thekey to Australia’s agriculture, fi sheries and forestry industriescontinuing to generate production and profi t.

The Australian Government is working to achieve greater nationalwealth and stronger rural and regional communities by developingour natural resource base and increasing the competitiveness ofAustralia’s resource industries.

We have achieved an extraordinary degree of cooperationbetween the Australian Government, the states, the territories,the regions, and the community.

Thank you for your interest in our natural resources. We are sureyou will fi nd this publication informative and useful.

3

Foreword

The Hon. Peter McGauran MP,Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries andForestry

Senator The Hon. Eric Abetz,Minister for Fisheries, Forestry andConservation

The Hon. Sussan Ley MP,Parliamentary Secretaryto the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheriesand Forestry

4

Overview 6 Agriculture 8 Forestry 10 Fisheries 12Water 14 Water availability 15 Water use 16 Water management 17 Groundwater 18Australia’s Climate 20 Climate change 22 Climate risk 24 Responding to opportunities and changes 26Soils 28Land use 30Vegetation 32Social 34Biodiversity 36Pests 38 Land pests 38 Marine and aquatic pests 40 Weeds 42Government initiatives 44 Natural Heritage Trust 46 National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality 48Data and information sources 50Acknowledgements 52

Contents

5

Contents

6

Overview

Australia has unique land, water, vegetation and biodiversityresources. The Australian continent of 7.6 million km2 supportsa wide range of agricultural and forestry industries. The 16.1million km2 ocean supports a wide range of marine species.

The way natural resources are managed is one of Australia’sgreatest challenges. Australia is one of the worlds greatagricultural producers. Production from natural resources earnsover $30 billion a year in exports from the agriculture, fi sheriesand forestry industries.

Responsibility for natural resources generally rests with thestates and territories, however the Australian Government isresponsible for some fi sheries, primarily offshore or cross-Statefi sheries. The Australian Government has taken a leading rolein the management of natural resources and works with theState, Territory and New Zealand governments ‘to promote theconservation and sustainable use of Australia’s natural resources’through the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council.The Council develops national approaches to the conservation,sustainable use and management of Australia’s land, water,vegetation and biological resources and oversees nationalnatural resource management programmes. It also aims topromote community understanding of, and engagement with,the key challenges associated with the sustainable use andmanagement of Australia’s land and water, vegetation andbiological resources.

7

Overview

This booklet is a pocket summary providing an ‘at a glance’overview of the natural resources underpinning agriculture,fi sheries and forestry industries.

Land Use of Australia

The fi gures in brackets are the percentage of Australia’s land mass in each category

Source: Bureau of Rural Sciences 2006

8

Overview

Agriculture

• Over the four years to the end of 2005-06, the gross valueof Australian farm production increased by 6% in real terms,from $36.4 billion to $38.6 billion, while the net value of farmproduction (the cash profits of farmers) rose by 46%, from$5.4 billion to $7.9 billion.

• The total value of Australian farm exports in 2005-06represented 3% of world agricultural exports and around73% of Australia’s total agricultural output.

• Australia’s major agricultural export markets in 2005-06were South East Asia (15%), Japan (18%), the European Union(9%), the United States (11%), China (11%) and SouthKorea (7%).

• In recent years, Australian agriculture has been affected by amarked increase in the degree of diversification andintensification of production; changing consumer preferences;improvements in handling, storage and distribution systems;enhanced breeding techniques; and improved managementpractices.

9

Overview

More informationAgriculture: www.daff.gov.au/industryfacts

GVP of agricultural production, 2005-06

wheat 14%coarse grains 7%

other crops 9%

sugar 2%cotton 3%

wine grapes 3%fruit and nuts 7%vegetables 5%

wool 5%

beef and veal 18%

sheep and lambs 5%poultry 3%pigs 2%milk 8%other agriculture 2%fisheries 5%forestry 4%

10

Forestry

• Of the 50 million hectares of Australia’s native forestspotentially available for timber harvesting, legislation andcodes of practice are in place, in most areas, to protectenvironmental values. These result in significantly less than1% of Australia’s native forests being harvested annually.

• The gross value of forestry production was $1.7 billion in2005-06.

• The value of Australian forest product exports, includingpaper and paperboard products, was an estimated $2.1billion in 2005-06.

• In 2005-06 there were 11 300 people directly employed inAustralia’s forestry and logging industry.

• Australia has over 1.7 million hectares of plantations,comprised of 57% softwood species (mainlyPinus radiata) and 43% hardwood species (mainlyEucalyptus globulus).

• Forests in Australia store an estimated 10.5 billion tonnesof carbon.

Overview

11

Overview

)Woodland 62%Open 28%Closed 3%Unknown 6%Plantation 1%

Location of forest and woodland

More informationForests: www.brs.gov.au/nfi

Source: National Forest Inventory, 2003

12

Overview

Fisheries

• The Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) is the world’s third largest,covering an area twice the size of the Australian land mass.

• Australia’s fi sheries span oceanic, coastal, estuarine andfreshwater regions and include commercial, indigenous andrecreational sectors.

• Australian exports of fi sheries products totalled almost$1.5 billion in 2005-06.

• Despite the large size of the AFZ, the total catch volume fromAustralia’s commercial fi sheries ranks about fi ftieth in the worlddue to low nutrient levels.

• Over 17,000 people were employed in commercial fi shingin 2001 (ABS Census).

• In addition to commercial fi sheries, around one in fi veAustralians fi sh recreationally each year harvesting over 130million fi sh.

• Aquaculture production, though modest in a global context,has been a growing proportion of Australia’s total fi sheriesproduction (around $600 million in 2004-05) throughimproved technology and continuing investment interest.However, production peaked in 1999-2000 and has declinedsince due to falling world prices and a strong Australian dollar.

• Aquaculture in inland saline waters shows considerable promiseas part of a diversifi ed approach to inland primary production.

• Some activities are managed under Australian Governmentlegislation, some under State/Territory legislation and othersare jointly managed. Australia is also party to a range ofinternational fi sheries management agreements.

13

stock-status classifications by year

0

92 93 94 96 97 98 99

01-0

2

02-0

3 04 05

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Num

ber

of S

tock

s

Year

Status not classified

Uncertain

Overfished (incl. overfishing)

Not overfished

Overview

• Inland fi sheries are managed by state and territoryGovernments. With the expansion of recreational fi shing,commercial access to inland fi sheries – such as barramundi in theNorthern Territory and line and drumnet fi sheries in the Murraysystem – is declining.

• While Australia is recognised as a world leader in fi sheriesmanagement, there has been an increasing trend of overfi shing.Twenty four stocks managed by the Australian Government arecurrently overfi shed or subject to overfi shing, including southernbluefi n tuna and orange roughy. A major Government initiative,Securing our Fishing Future, was announced in late 2005 tobring about recovery of these stocks. This initiative has alreadyresulted in management measures to reduce catches and fi shingeffort, but it will take several years before the effectiveness ofthe measures will be apparent.

Trends in Australian Government managed stocks

Source: Bureau of Rural Sciences

14

Water

As Australia is a dry continent and irrigation is well establishedand is an important feature of the agricultural landscape.Widespread irrigation and extraction by all consumptivewater users have placed considerable pressure on the naturalecosystems that rely on the nation’s water. The challenge forresource managers is to ensure a balance between the use ofwater for production purposes and conservation of the naturalenvironment.

Timor Sea21.5%

Indian Ocean1.2%

Western Plateau0.4%

South WestCoast1.8%

Tasmania11.8%

South EastCoast11%

MurrayDarling6.2%

Lake Eyre2.2%

North EastCoast19%

Gulf OfCarpentaria24.7%

Bulloo-Bancannia0.1%

0.3%

Drainage basins of AustraliaPercentage run off for each basin

Source: NLWRA, 2000

15

Water

Water availability

• Australia has an average rainfall of 448mm/year, with annualaverages ranging from 106mm in north-east South Australiato 3,163mm in north-east Queensland.

• Evaporation rates are high with only 9% of rainfall collectingin rivers and 2% in groundwater recharge, compared with aworld average of 65%.

• Of all the inhabited continents, Australia has the least amountof water in its rivers. The rivers have more than twice thefl ow variation of those of Europe, second to southern Africa.

• Water storage capacity is over 4,000KL per person, thehighest water storage capacity per capita in the world.

• There are 501 large dams supplying 83,853 Gigalitres (GL*)of water for irrigation, industrial, hydo-electricity andurban use.

* One Gigalitre = 1,000 Megalitres, or about 1,000 olympic sized swimming poolsSource: Adapted from ANCOLD 2001, ActewAGL 2006, NCA 2004, WA Water Corporation 2006,Gladstone Area Water Board 2006

Storage capacity (GL)

120 GL80 GL

23,652 GL258 GL

12,148 GL10,657 GL

12,109 GL

NSWVic

QldWASATasNT

ACT

24,629 GL

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000

Capacity of large dams (GL)

16

Water

Water use

• In 2004-05, 18,800 GL of Australia’s water was used or0.9 ML/person.

• Household water use in the eastern capital cities averagesfrom 300-400L/person/day.

• Approximately 65% of Australia’s water that is extractedfrom the environment is used in irrigated agriculture, 14% forindustrial uses, 11% for urban household consumption andaround 3% for other rural uses such as stock anddomestic needs.

• Australia’s water resources sustain 64 wetlands ofinternational importance and more than 850 of nationalimportance.

• About 80% of water used in Australia is extracted fromsurface water and 20% from groundwater sources.

• Water usage decreased by 14% (2,900 GL/yr) from 2000-01to 2004-05.

• Irrigated agriculture use decreased by 8% from 2000-01to 2004-05. Irrigated agriculture uses 0.5% of agriculturalland and accounts for 23% of the gross value of agriculturalproduction.

17

Water

Water management

• In 2004, COAG agreed to the National Water Initiative(NWI). Over its 10 year life, this initiative seeks‘a nationally-compatible, market, regulatory and planning-based system of managing surface and groundwaterresources for rural and urban use that optimises economic,social and environmental outcomes’.

• The National Water Commission was established in 2004 bythe Australian Government to drive national water reformunder the NWI and advise the Prime Minister and state andterritory governments on water issues. The Commission isalso responsible for managing the implementation ofthe NWI.

• In 2007, the Prime Minister announced a $10 billion NationalCapital Plan for Water Security.

Change in mean annual water use (GL)

2000-01 2004-05

Irrigation 14,989 12,191

Urban/Industrial 3,929 3,756

Rural (including rural domestic) 365 464

Total 19,283 16,411

Source: ABS, 2006

18

Water

Groundwater

• Without groundwater - water stored underground in rockfractures and pores - much of inland Australia could not havebeen developed.

• The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is Australia’s biggest sourceof groundwater and extends under 1.7 million km2 (22%)of Australia including parts of South Australia, New SouthWales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. The Basinranges in thickness from less than 100 metres at the edge toover 3km in places.

• The GAB contains 64.9 million GL of water, making itthe world’s largest artesian groundwater basin. Averagegroundwater fl ow is from 0.2 to 2.5 metres/year. It can taketwo million years for water to cross the Basin.

• Water from the Basin supports an extensive pastoralindustry, signifi cant mining and other industries. The GABalso supports nationally signifi cant groundwater-dependentecosystems where the water reaches the surface.

• There are over 3,300 fl owing bores in the Basin, and another1,400 bores have ceased to fl ow as a result of reducedpressures. In partnership with the States and farmers, theAustralian Government has committed around $200 millionto cap uncontrolled bores and replace wasteful open unlinedbore drains, restoring around 8 metres of pressure to theGAB.

• In terms of area, 24% of groundwater management areas arebeing used at 70% to over 100% of sustainable yield.

• Australia uses about 4,100 GL/year of groundwater, of which10% (440 GL) is supplied by the GAB.

19

Water

Australian groundwater basins

Great Artesian Basin

Map from Lau et al. 1987 Hydrogeology of Australia

20

Climate

Australia’s climate

• Over the past 200 years, Australian agriculture has evolvedwithin one of the world’s driest and most variable climates.

• Around 60% of the Australian land mass is devoted toagriculture and grazing, with the types of agricultural pursuitsbeing determined primarily by climate, soil type and wateravailability.

• Generally, the tropical north is suited to grazing (principallycattle) as well as the production of fruit and sugarcane.

• The major land uses in the sub-tropical and Mediterraneanclimates in the south are cereal cropping as well as sheep andcattle grazing.

• The Murray-Darling Basin in the south-east of thecontinent has a large irrigation infrastructure, supportingthe production of fruit, vegetables, rice and other intensiveagricultural activities.

21

Climate

Seasonal rainfall zones

Source: Bureau of Meteorology adapted by Bureau of Rural Sciences

22

Climate

Climate change

• Australia will face some degree of climate change over thenext 30-50 years irrespective of global or local efforts toreduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• While climate change poses challenges for all sectors of theAustralian economy, sectors dependent on natural resourcessuch as agriculture are particularly vulnerable.

• The report ‘Creating Our Future: agriculture and food policyfor the next generation’ identifi ed climate as possibly thebiggest risk factor likely to affect the future productivity andprofi tability of the Australian agricultural sector.

• Australian farmers have developed highly adaptive landmanagement systems in response to varying climatic regimes.

• Climate change could increase Australia’s climate variabilitybeyond the range considered normal and threaten theviability of some agricultural systems.

• Climate change is likely to increase the severity of climaticextremes, such as droughts and fl oods.

23

Climate

The 2002–06 drought

Source: Bureau of Meteorology

24

Climate

Climate risk

• Potential impacts of long-term climate change on agriculturecould include increased invasion of weeds, pest anddiseases; changes in pasture growth and carrying capacity;and a reduction in the potential for expansion in irrigatedagriculture.

• Climate change impacts are likely to vary across geographicalregions and this could impact on the comparative advantageof existing industries with possible infl uences on internationalcommodity trade.

• Changing rainfall patterns combined with highertemperatures could reduce water availability and addpressure on water allocation systems.

• The effects of drought include the loss of crops, downsizingof the national sheep fl ock and cattle herd and reduced waterallocation for irrigators.

• There are growing pressures to adapt to climate change andreduce greenhouse gas emissions. The National InventoryReport 2004 estimates that on-farm activities (excludingenergy use) produce around 17.1% of overall nationalemissions.

25

Climate

Rainfall reliabilityIndex of reliability of long term annual rainfall

26

Climate

Responding to opportunities and challenges

• Australia’s diverse climatic regime creates many opportunitiesand challenges for agriculture.

• In order to remain profi table and sustainable into the futurethe agricultural sector will need to increasingly manage climaterisk, assisted by having adaptive production processes.

• The National Agriculture and Climate Change Action Plan2006-2009 provides a strategic framework for the agriculturalsector to respond to climate change. The Action Plan has fourareas of focus, those being: adaptation; mitigation; research anddevelopment; and, communication and awareness raising.

• Climate change adaptation measures can build resilience intoagricultural systems, while mitigation measures can target thereduction of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture withmultiple benefi ts.

• Initiatives such as the Managing Climate Variability Programme(MCVP), are paramount to the future management of climaterisk and development of the agricultural sector.

27

Climate

Trend in annual total rainfall in Australia, 1950–2005

Source: Commonwealth of Australia 2007, Australian Bureau of Meteorology

More information

Climate variability: www.bom.gov.auClimate change: www.csiro.gov.auClimate change: www.greenhouse.gov.au

mm/10 years

28

Soils

The agricultural landscapes of Australia are supported by awide range of soil types. Most, but not all, are ancient, stronglyweathered and infertile. This variety, along with the naturallimitations of many soils and their interactions with climate,have made it more challenging to develop sustainable systemsfor agriculture. Limitations to productivity have also beeninduced through human impacts on soils. While some formsof degradation such as nutrient defi ciencies can be corrected,others, such as soil erosion, compaction and acidifi cation arediffi cult to remedy.

• Australian soils tend to be: - old - salty

- clayey - except in the west of the continent where theytend to be sandy

- acidic- nutritionally and organically impoverished

- structurally challenging.• Australian soils have less organic matter and poorer structure

than soils in the Northern Hemisphere. They tend to bequite clayey just below the surface. This restricts drainage andimpedes root growth. Some of the clay characteristics causeproblems for engineering and farming because of their ‘shrinkand swell’ nature.

• Australia’s rate of soil formation is low by world standardstaking 1,000 years, in many parts of the country, for 3cm ofsoil to form. Dust storms can cause large losses of soil - forexample the 1983 Melbourne dust storms resulted in a lossof more than two million tonnes of soil.

29

Soils

Soils in Australia

More information

Land evaluation: www.clw.csiro.au/aclepSoils: www.nlwra.gov.auCSIRO Land & Water: www.clw.csiro.auAtlas of Australian soils: www.brs.gov.au\toolsAustralian Soil Resource Information System: www.asris.csiro.au

Source: Bureau of Rural Sciences

30

Land use

Land uses have a major effect on Australia’s natural resourcesthrough their impacts on water, soil, nutrients, plants and animals.There is also a strong link between changing patterns of landuse and economic and social conditions, particularly in regionalAustralia.• The total area of land under primary production (livestock

grazing, dryland and irrigated agriculture) in Australia is 469million hectares or nearly 61% of the continent. The dominantland use in arid and semi-arid regions is livestock grazing (419million hectares or 55%).

• Approximately 53 million hectares or 6.9% of Australia is setaside to nature conservation. Other protected areas, includingindigenous uses, cover 98.6 million hectares (or 13%) of Australia.

• Forestry tends to be confi ned to regions of Australia with higherrainfall and covers nearly 2% of the continent. The most intensiveuse is the built environment, which occupies about 2.5 millionhectares, or 0.3% of Australia.

• Catchment scale land use maps are produced by combininginformation in the cadastre (property boundary information),public land databases, fi ne-scaled satellite data, other landcover and land use data, and information collected in the fi eld.Changes in agricultural land use may be mapped using agriculturalcommodity statistics and broadscale satellite imagery.

More information

Land Use Mapping for Australia website: www.brs.gov.au/landuseAustralian Natural Resources Atlas: www.nlwra.gov.auAustralian Natural Resources Data Library: http://adl.brs.gov.au

31

Land use

Land use in Australia

Source: Bureau of Rural Sciences 2006

15%

58%

13%

7%

3%

2%

Nature conservationOther protected areas incl. indigenous usesMinimal useLivestock grazingForestryDryland agricultureIrrigated agricultureBuilt environmentWater bodies not elsewhere classified

32

Vegetation

• Vegetation provides many goods and services includingfood, fi bre and fodder as well as nutrient and water cycling,landscape stability and habitat for native species.

• Nearly 7 million km2, or 91% of Australia, is coveredin vegetation.

• Different vegetation types include annual crops and pasture,native forests, grasslands and plantations.

• Rangelands occupy much of the semi-arid and arid interiorand northern Australia (around 70% of the continent), whererainfall is generally too low or variable to support drylandcropping or improved pastures. Rangelands vegetationis characterised by grasslands, shrublands and grassywoodlands. These ecosystems tend to have relatively lowlevels of productive potential and are generally resilient toclimatic extremes. The primary land use of these vegetatedlandscapes is grazing of sheep and cattle.

• Effective planning and use of Australian vegetation requiresinformation on vegetation types and their condition states,where they are found and how they are used.

• Australian governments have been working together toprovide information on vegetation extent, types and theircondition states, land cover and change, land use and change,and forest and vegetation specifi c information.

• Information is being integrated from a range of sources toassist with answering complex issues associated with salinity,water, land use change, healthy landscapes and social change.

33

Vegetation

More information

Vegetation: www.daff.gov.au/forest_vegForests: www.brs.gov.au/nfi

Vegetation cover

Source: Bureau of Rural Sciences

34

Social

more than 10% increase1-10% increaseminimal change1-10% decreasemore than 10% decreaseNo Data

Proportional change (%)

• Overall 672,140 people (or 3.6% of Australia’s population) areeither employed in agricultural, fi sheries and forestry industriesor are dependent on someone employed in this sector. Thehighest proportions are Tasmania (5.9%) and South Australia(5.1%).

• 6,864,906 people lived in rural and regional Australia (or 37% ofAustralia’s population).

• There were 194,838 farmers and farm managers in Australia in2001, compared with 198,948 in 1996. 54% of all farmers andfarm managers are located in inland Australia.

• The agricultural workforce is predominantly male, with 2.3 malesto every female employed in the sector.

Change in number of farmers/farm managers, 1996-2001

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)Population and Housing Census.

35

Social

• Employment in agriculture accounts for 2.5% of all employmentof 15-24 year olds Australia-wide.

A range of factors can infl uence land managers’ approachesto natural resource management and their tendency to adoptmore sustainable practices and innovations like EnvironmentalManagement Systems (EMS).

• Tenure – about 50% of rural properties can be expected tobe under different ownership or management in the comingdecade. This presents challenges through the loss of hard wonlocal knowledge and opportunities to effect changes in land useor management practices.

• Education and occupational training – farmers who participatein occupational courses and training activities tend to be morelikely to adopt sustainable practices than those who do not.

• Farm income – farmers frequently report that fi nancialconstraints are an important barrier to adopting sustainablepractices and innovations. Farms with higher levels of income orhigher profi tability may be more likely to adopt new practices.

• Participation in Landcare – there is evidence that farmerswho are involved in Landcare groups are more aware of landdegradation problems on their properties. Farmers frequentlyreport that involvement in groups like these infl uences their on-farm decision-making.

More information

Social Sciences: www.brs.gov.au/social_sciences

36

Biodiversity

• Biological diversity (biodiversity) is the variety of all life forms–plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes they containand the ecosystems of which they are a part.

• Biodiversity delivers fresh water, fertile soil, fi sh, timber,pollination of agricultural crops, pest control, breakdownof pollutants, plants and animals for breeding programmes.Sustainable development protects biodiversity and maintainsessential ecological processes and life-support systems.

• Biodiversity constantly adapts to internal and externalpressures in ecosystems. Human activity can seriously affectthe integrity of biodiversity.

• There are more than a million species in Australia. Fewerthan half have been scientifi cally described, although somegroups such as frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals are wellknown. As a result of Australia’s long geological isolation fromthe rest of the world, many species occur only in Australia.

• Around 7% of Australia’s vast marine jurisdiction is inidentifi ed marine protected areas. These reserves tend to bearound shallow waters and inshore habitats where humanpressures are greatest.

• In addition to the protected area system, agriculture, fi sheriesand forestry industries are implementing practices andenvironmental management systems that encourage theconservation and enhancement of biodiversity. The NHT andNAP initiatives have seen the largest investment ever made inintegrating biodiversity conservation within natural resourcemanagement processes. New arrangements have been put inplace with regional natural resource management bodies todevelop and implement management plans that incorporatebiodiversity targets and objectives.

37

Biodiversity

Estimated number of species described in total and percentage of endemism

as at 2000 in Australia for selected groups of organisms.

Organism group Speciesdescribed

Estimatedtotal species

Endemic (%)

Bacteria Unknown Unknown Unknown

Unicellular Unknown Unknown Unknown

Fungi 15,400 250,000 90

Algae 5,000 12,000 Unknown

Mosses 1,500 2,500 Unknown

Plants 15,638 25,000 85

Flatworms 1,506 10,800 Unknown

Roundworms 2,060 30,000 Unknown

Molluscs 9,336 12,250 90

Crustaceans 6,426 9,500 Unknown

Spiders and mites 5,666 27,960 Unknown

Insects 58,532 83,860 90

Fish 4,150 5,250 90

Reptiles 633 633 89

Birds 825 825 45

Mammals 369 369 83

More information

The Biodiversity Resource Guide: www.daff.gov.au/nrm.The Australian Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment (2002):www.audit.ea.gov.au/ANRA/vegetation/docs/biodiversity/bio_assess_contents.cfmState of Environment report:

38

Pests

www.environment.gov.au\soe\themes\biodiversity\index.html

Land pests

• Over 80 species of non-native vertebrates have establishedwild populations in Australia and over 30 of these speciesare agricultural or environmental pests. Direct short-termnegative effects on agriculture caused by these exoticvertebrate species exceed $500 million per year includingcontrol costs. Overgrazing and browsing by introducedherbivores also contributes to land degradation, which lowersthe future productive capacity in many areas, but the value ofthis degradation has not been estimated.

• Major agricultural pest species include grazing species suchas rabbits and feral goats, which compete with livestock forpasture and cause land degradation through overgrazing.

• Other introduced pests, such as foxes and feral pigs, preyon lambs and other vulnerable livestock. House mice andstarlings cause costly damage to grain and fruit crops.Some exotic species increase the risk of disease spread. Forexample feral dogs can help spread hydatids and feral pigscould spread classical swine fever if this disease breachedAustralian quarantine.

• Some native species can also be agricultural pests. Forexample, native cockatoos eat grain and oilseed crops andkangaroos can compete with livestock for pasture.

39

Pests

• Introduced invertebrates such as cattle ticks and variousaphids are estimated to cost over $4.7 billion in agriculturalproduction losses annually and a further $750 million incontrol costs. Horticulture, grain, pastoral and beekeepingindustries are all affected.

• There is a risk that new exotic species could establish as wildpests in Australia. These include species already being kept aspets or as display animals in zoos or private collections suchas ferrets and the Indian ringneck parakeet. To reduce thisrisk, quarantine and environmental protection authoritiesconduct risk assessments on exotic species kept in Australiaor proposed for import, and may impose import bans orkeeping restrictions on high-risk species. This is combinedwith barrier control measures to reduce the risk of accidentalor illegal introductions of exotic species.

Number of exotic vertebrates species established in Australia

Birds: 20 (plus seven on offshore islands)Mammals: 25 (plus one on an offshore island)Freshwater fi sh: 33Reptiles: 4 (plus two on offshore islands)Amphibians: 1

More information

Vertebrate pests: www.brs.gov.au/feral and www.feral.org.auInvertebrate pests: www.ento.csiro.au

40

Pests

Marine and aquatic pests

• Approximately 250 exotic marine species have beenidentifi ed in Australian waters.

• Marine pests are imported in ballast water and in biofoulingcommunities on vessels.

• Introduced marine pests may impact upon biodiversity(e.g. replacing or out-competing native species), maritimeindustries (e.g. fouling maritime infrastructure, includingvessels, and consuming aquaculture species) and humanhealth.

• Since 2001, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service(AQIS) has required mandatory ballast water exchangein deep ocean prior to discharging ballast water withinAustralian waters.

• Australian governments are collaborating with industryto implement the National System for the Prevention andManagement of Marine Pest Incursions that will addressrisks from all identifi ed sources of pest introduction andtranslocation - both domestically and internationally.

• The Northern Pacifi c Seastar, established in the DerwentEstuary, Hobart in the late 1980s, is a voracious predator thatis of concern to Tasmanian shellfi sh farmers as it consumesscallops and farmed oysters and mussels, causing heavystock losses. This species has now spread to Port Phillip Bay,Victoria and there is concern over its potential to invadeother regions of the coast.

41

Pests

• Other marine pests include aquarium plants, the EuropeanFanworm, the Asian Date Mussel and toxic dinofl agellatespecies which can cause paralytic shellfi sh poisoning inhumans.

• The invasion of the Black Striped Mussel into a Darwinmarina in 1999 caused major disruption to the tourismindustry and signifi cant revenue loss to the marina owner. Itwas eradicated at a cost in excess of $2.2 million.

• 34 species of exotic freshwater fi sh have establishedpopulations in Australian waterways. Most of these have thepotential to expand their current distribution and many arealready regarded as signifi cant pests including carp, mosquitofi sh and tilapia. Introduced fi sh may prey on native fi sh orcompete with them for food. In November 2006 the NaturalResource Management Ministerial Council endorsed the‘Ornamental Fish Trade – Final Strategic Plan’ which providesa national approach to managing the ornamental fi sh tradeand dealing with associated pest and disease threats.

More information

Invasive marine species: www.daff.gov.au/fi sheries/invasiveInvasive marine species: www.crimp.marine.csiro.auFreshwater fi sh: www.marine.csiro.auFreshwater fi sh: www.nativefi sh.asn.au/exotics.htmlAustralian exotic fi sh: www.asfb.org.au/research/es

42

Pests

Weeds

• Around 28,000 exotic plant species have been introducedinto Australia since European settlement. More than 2,770 ofthese have established wild populations in Australia. Of theseestablished exotics, around 65% are considered a problem fornatural ecosystems and about 35% are considered a problem foragricultural systems.

• Weeds contaminate crops, displace desirable pasture plants,reduce livestock carrying capacity and condition, contaminatewool, act as harbours for diseases or insect pests, compete withcrop and pasture plants for water and nutrients and can be toxicto livestock.

• The total cost of weed impacts on agriculture is $4 billionannually; this fi gure includes direct yield losses and the costs ofweed control. Australian farmers consider weed control to be oneof their highest priority long-term land degradation issues. Weedsharm natural environments, compete with native species, alternutrient fl ows and fi re regimes, and reduce overall biodiversity.

• Biological control has been effective in controlling weeds suchas Paterson’s curse, which can be toxic to livestock. Successfulbiological control of Paterson’s curse could save $30 millionannually.

• There is a high risk that more exotic plants will establish asweeds in Australia. The gardening industry is the source for theintroduction of 94% of new plant species into Australia. Themajority of environmental and agricultural weeds are invasivegarden plants. Some nurseries are promoting alternative non-invasive plants and the ‘Grow Me Instead’ programme aims toprevent the spread of weeds.

43

Pests

• Quarantine authorities conduct risk assessments on newspecies of exotic plants proposed for import into Australia andimpose import bans on high-risk species.

• Twenty weeds of national signifi cance (WONS) have beenselected under the National Weeds Strategy to prioritise weedmanagement over a range of land uses at a national level.

• A cooperative weed research and management programmecalled ‘Defeating the Weed Menace’ is now in place across alllevels of authorities and industry in Australia. This programmewill be partly guided by the revised Australian Weeds Strategyreleased in 2007.

More information

National Weeds Strategy and WONS: www.weeds.org.auBRS (inc. sleeper weeds): www.daff.gov.au/brsweedsCRC for Weed Management: www.weeds.crc.org.auDAFF: www.daff.gov.au/nrmweeds

Sources of Australian weeds

Based on data for 1971-1995; CRC for Australian Weed Management

agriculture 7%contaminant 2%

other 6%

unknown 20%

escaped fromparks andgardens 65%

44

• The Australian Government believes the best way it canencourage more sustainable use of natural resources is tohelp local and regional communities to identify their ownnatural resource management issues and develop their ownsolutions. This community-based approach broadly followsthe successful ‘landcare’ model, a uniquely Australian conceptthat began in rural Victoria in the 1970s and has since beenwidely adopted overseas. This approach can also be held upto the world as a way of supporting agricultural productionwithout distorting international markets through subsidies,tariffs or trade barriers.

• The focus of natural resource management in Australia isregional delivery. Under the $2.7 billion Natural HeritageTrust (NHT) and the $1.4 billion National Action Plan forSalinity and Water Quality (NAP), Australia has been dividedinto 56 regions, each of which is developing its own plan,supported by government and the best available science. Eachof these plans has provision to build local capacity, undertakemonitoring and evaluation and set standards and targets.The NHT and NAP have been developed and are beingimplemented together with each complementing the other.They are the biggest programmes directed to environmental,social and economic sustainability in Australia’s history andare based on partnerships between all levels of communityand government.

Government initiatives

45

Government initiatives

• At the heart of Australia’s approach to sustainable agricultureis the Australian Government’s National LandcareProgramme (NLP). It is the key natural resource managementprogramme for farming industries and rural and regionalAustralia. It supports the community-based, voluntaryLandcare primary industry movement.

• The NLP helps resource managers increase their skills andcapacity; and continuously improve sustainable practicesand natural resource management. It supports widespreadadoption of innovations and best management practicesleading to more viable and sustainable agricultural andecosystems.

• There are around 4,000 landcare groups operating nationally,mostly in rural Australia. These groups include around 40% offarmers, while another 35% of farmers use landcarefor information.

• The Australian Government has indicated that in the threeyears to 2007-08 it will provide $110 million for the NLPto increase engagement in landcare and natural resourcemanagement activities through on-ground action. The futureof the NLP will be addressed as part of the Government’sconsideration of future Natural Resource Management(NRM) arrangements.

• The principal goal of the Government’s investment inlandcare is increased profi tability, competitiveness andsustainability of Australia’s primary industries.

46

Natural Heritage Trust

• The NHT aims to stimulate activities in the national interestto achieve the conservation, sustainable use and repair ofAustralia’s natural resources and environment. The NHTis a partnership with the community, providing funding foractivities at a national, state, regional and community level.Its main objectives are: biodiversity conservation, sustainableuse of natural resources, community capacity building andinstitutional change.

• Since it was established in 1997, the NHT has supportedthe development of over 1,700 conservation covenants andvoluntary agreements covering over 3 million hectares. Over3,300 hectares of wetlands have been protected or enhancedduring this period.

• NHT funding for most state and regional projects is matchedby the States and Territories, but the NHT includes a localcomponent, the Australian Government Envirofund. Thisallows community groups to apply directly to the AustralianGovernment for grants of up to $50,000 (GST inclusive)to tackle local problems at their source, rather than goingthrough regional planning processes.

Government initiatives

47

Government initiatives

Natural Heritage Trust regions

Source: Bureau of Rural Sciences

48

National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality

• The Australian Government has identifi ed salinity andwater quality as Australia’s most pressing natural resourcemanagement problems. They seriously affect the sustainabilityof production, the conservation of biological diversity andinfrastructure such as roads and buildings. As a result, theGovernment has committed $700 million to the NAP totackle these problems in 21 of Australia’s worst affectedareas. The states and territories have agreed to collectivelymatch this commitment.

• The NAP is motivating and enabling communities in theseregions to work together to prevent and stabilise drylandsalinity, improve water quality, conserve biodiversity andsecure reliable allocations of water for human uses, industryand the environment.

• Under the NAP, regional communities are developingintegrated natural resource management plans to addresssalinity and water quality problems in a whole-of-catchmentapproach. These plans are jointly accredited by the Australianand relevant state or territory government and form the basisfor government funding.

Government initiatives

49

Government initiatives

Current NAP regions

Source: Bureau of Rural Sciences

50

Large amounts of data and information are collected about thecharacteristics and distribution of Australia’s natural resources.Australian Government and state and territory agencies, localgovernments and regional, community-based natural resourcemanagement authorities all provide valuable informationproducts in multiple formats, but increasingly via the Internet.

The National Land & Water Resources Audit (‘the Audit’)(www.nlwra.gov.au) has produced signifi cant point-in-timeassessments of the known availability and condition of ournatural resources. A wealth of national and regional informationproducts and an interactive mapping tool for self explorationof relevant national data sets is available through the AustralianNatural Resources Atlas (http://audit.ea.gov.au/anra). TheAtlas also provides links to jurisdictional web atlases and othersignifi cant information sources.

The increasing use of computer-based Geographic InformationSystems (GIS) in land planning and management initiativeshas highlighted the need for better access to spatial datarepositories, largely held by government agencies. Naturalresource information compiled through the Audit as well asdatasets developed by the Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS)including vegetation, forests, land use, land cover, groundwaterand soils are available for download through the AustralianNatural Resources Data Library (http://adl.brs.gov.au). This datasource and many others are also available for searching throughthe Australian Spatial Data Directory (http://asdd.ga.gov.au/asdd) which gives users descriptions of many datasets andcontact and access details.

Data and information sources

51

Data and information sources

Data on fi sh stocks, biology and commercial activities is alsoavailable from BRS.

Some other key Australian Government national data andinformation sources include:

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry:www.daff.gov.auBureau of Rural Sciences: www.brs.gov.auDepartment of the Environment and Water Resources:www.environment.gov.auEnvironmental Resources Information Network:www.deh.gov.au/erinEnvironmental Data Directory:www.environment.gov.au/erin/eddGeoscience Australia: www.ga.gov.auLand & Water Australia: www.lwa.gov.auBureau of Meteorology: www.bom.gov.auAustralian Bureau of Statistics: www.abs.gov.auCommonwealth Scientifi c and Industrial Research Organisation:www.csiro.gov.au

Other key national data and information sources include:

ANZLIC – the Spatial Information Council: www.anzlic.org.auCommonwealth Offi ce of Spatial Data Management:www.osdm.gov.au/osdm/about.html

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Acknowledgements

The preparation of Australia – our natural resources at a glancehas been made possible through funding provided by theAustralian Government’s National Landcare Programme.

Information contained in this publication was compiled bythe Bureau of Rural Sciences with valuable input from theDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry NRMDivision, Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Bureau ofMeteorology and the National Land & Water Resources Audit.

If you would like additional copies of this publication,please contact:

BRS Publication SalesGPO Box 858CANBERRA ACT 2601

Ph: 1800 020 157Email: sales@brs.gov.au

Australia -

Our N

atural Resources

AT A G

LAN

CE

2007