Threatened Ecological Communities in the Burnett Mary

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places.  Currently there are five threatened ecological communities protected within the Burnett Mary region with additional ecosystem being considered.

Ecological communities under threat include coastal rainforest, semi-evergreen vine thicket, brigalow, coastal saltmarsh and lowland riparian rainforest.  Key threatening processes to biodiversity in the region are a result of ongoing reduction in the extent and condition of native habitat.  Clearing for agriculture and the continuing demand for land for urban growth and resource infrastructure continue to place pressure on an already fragmented natural environment.