Just 1 per cent of the range of the elegant spider orchid (Caladenia elegans) in Western Australia is in a protected area.
(Photo credit: Stephen Buckle/iNaturalist )
Key points
- The land gazetted for protection jumped from 12.8 per cent of Australia in 2010 to 22.3 per cent in 2022.
- 160 threatened species, about 10 per cent of all listed plants and animals, have little to no coverage in the national reserve system.
- Bioregions that had the most protection in 2010 saw the most growth.
Australia has almost doubled the size of its national parks and reserves since 2010, but an analysis shows the expansion has not been where it's needed to protect threatened species and ecosystems.
The study led by Professor James Watson at The University of Queensland found the amount of land gazetted for protection jumped from 12.8 per cent of the country to 22.3 per cent between 2010 and 2022.
Professor Watson said while the headline numbers were important to recognise, there was a critical problem underneath.
"Despite thousands of square kilometres of land being placed under protection, the places that are the highest priorities for conservation outcomes are just not being selected," Professor Watson said.
"Up to 160 threatened species - about 10 per cent of all listed plants and animals - still have little to no coverage in the national reserve system.
"Of the species found in the reserve system, just 20 per cent can be considered adequately represented.
"We've grown fast, but we haven't grown smart.
"If Australia is serious about stopping species extinctions, we must start putting protection in the places that matter most for biodiversity - not just the places that are easiest to protect."
The Howard River Toadlet (Uperoleia daviesae), also known as the Davies toadlet, in the Northern Territory is listed as a vulnerable species with only 3.8 per cent of its range in protected areas.
(Photo credit: Noel Riessen/iNaturalist)
Study co-author Dr Ruben Venegas Li , also at UQ's School of the Environment , said the bioregions that had the most protection in 2010 saw the most growth.
"Bioregions are large areas defined by similar ecosystems and species and the expansion of protected areas tended to occur in areas that already had relatively high coverage," Dr Venegas Li said.
"Many bioregions that were poorly protected in 2010 saw little or no improvement by 2022."
The study has important implications for Australia's commitment to protect 30 per cent of land by 2030 - known as '30 by 30'.
Professor Watson said Australia was falling well short but could still meet its 30 by 30 commitment if future growth was guided by biodiversity value, not just available land.
"The good news is this analysis provides the data to pinpoint the most important places for nature," he said.
"If we shift towards strategic protection, Australia can build a reserve system that genuinely stops extinctions and supports species and ecosystem recovery."
The recommendations in the study include:
- Prioritising habitats for threatened species and collapsing ecosystems
- Targeting under‑represented bioregions
- Protecting highly intact ecosystems before they degrade further
- Strengthening national reporting to focus on ecological outcomes, not just total hectares protected.
The research paper is published in Conservation Science and Practice.
Collaboration and acknowledgements
It study involved collaborators at Monash University, Griffith University, Deakin University, University of New South Wales, Melbourne University, The Nature Conservancy, Bush Heritage Australia and Australian Land Conservation Alliance.
