1370.0 - Measures of Australia's Progress, 2010  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 15/09/2010   
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Biodiversity

Threatened flora species(a)
Graph Image for Threatened flora species(a)

Footnote(s): (a) The conservation status categories 'Extinct in the wild' and 'Conservation dependent' are not shown since no species fell into these categories in 2000 and 2009. (b) 'Critically endangered'. This conservation status category was not used until October 2001.

Source(s): Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, EPBC Act List of Threatened Flora

THREATENED FLORA

An increase in threatened flora species may endanger ecological processes and also indicate a wider decline in biodiversity.

Since 2000, the total number of listed threatened flora has increased by 17%, rising from 1,143 in 2000 to 1,339 in 2009. However, changes in the data need to be treated with caution. Species can be removed or added because of improved knowledge, new species discovery, or the rediscovery of those thought to be extinct.

The increase in total threatened flora from 2000 to 2009 was influenced by the number of flora listed as 'endangered' (increasing by 11%), the number of flora listed as 'vulnerable' (increasing by 6%) and the introduction of a new category 'critically endangered', which was first populated in October 2001.

RELATED PAGES

  • Biodiversity glossary
  • Biodiversity references
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