Number of Threatened Ecological Communities, Plants and Animals

What are we monitoring?

The number of threatened ecological communities and the number of threatened plants and animals within the Blue Mountains local government area. 

The number of threatened species within the LGA are monitored in accordance with the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995) and Fisheries Management Act (1994). The number of threatened ecological communities within the LGA are determined by reference to the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). Threatened plant species are listed on the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) and the number of those species that have been found to inhabit the Blue Mountains LGA has been determined by the Council as a result of extensive vegetation mapping.

A list of threatened ecological communities and endangered plants and animals can be found in the State of Environment Report, 2003/04.

The trend data in the graph and in the table below summarise the number of threatened ecological communities and the number of combined plants and animal species within the Blue Mountain LGA.

What is the trend?

The data presented in the table above indicates that the number of threatened plants and animals and the number of threatened ecological communities has increased from 1999/2000 levels. The rate of endangered plants and animals plateaued from 2000/01 to 2002/03 but has increased in the last financial year. The number of threatened ecological communities has similarly increased from 4 to 6 in the last financial year. Prior to this, the number of threatened ecological communities remained steady from 2001/02 to 2003/04.  Smith and Smith (1995) reported that there were 327 native animals and 946 native plants in the Blue Mountains local government area in 1995. A more recent analysis has not been undertaken and an assessment of the number of new species has not been attempted.

Why is monitoring this trend important?

The Blue Mountains National Park comprises about 69 % of the Blue Mountains local government area, which is reflected in the description of the Blue Mountains as “The City within a World Heritage National Park”. Biodiversity is inheritly valuable in its own right and a reason why many visitors and residents seek out the Blue Mountains. There are many strategies in place to minimise the impact on biodiversity from human habitation.  Monitoring the biodiversity of the animal and plant species provides an indication of the impact of the human built environment on the natural environment. There are other variables that may contribute to the decline in biodiversity such as bushfires and episodes of drought.

Source

The data presented above has been determined by the Blue Mountains Council drawing upon the Atlas provided by the Department of Natural Resources and vegetation mapping that is also reported in the annual State of Environment Reports.  The total number of endangered plant and animal species has been sourced from Smith P. and Smith J. (1995), Flora and Fauna Study for the Environmental Management Plan, Part 1-5, Blue Mountains City Council. A list of the threatened plant and animal species in the Blue Mountains is contained within the Technical Appendix to the State of the Environment Report for the City of the Blue Mountains 2003/04, page 5.