The natural environment and climate change

 

Almost 85% of Australia's plants occur only on this continent and Australian natives make up 6.9% of the world's known plant species. Our biodiversity underpins many current industries (such as fishing, forestry, agriculture, tourism, water reserves and services) by providing and maintaining the conditions and ecosystems they require to be able to thrive.

The biggest current threat to Australia's biodiversity is the clearing of native vegetation (for agribusiness and development) and clear-fell logging in old growth forests. Once cleared, such areas are virtually impossible to restore and much more susceptible to invading weeds, pests and nearby plant species. Decades of poor practice mean that in many parts of Australia, especially Victoria, our biodiversity is fragmented, making it vulnerable to degradation and decline. This also makes it harder for our native fauna to thrive as habitats become disconnected, often without provision for safe passage in between.

 

How will climate change affect our natural environment?

Our natural environment faces critical challenges such as an increasingly dry climate, reduced wildlife habitats and increased coastal erosion. Primary threats in future will include the dramatic increase in fire risk (from summer bush fires), reduced water security from dwindling catchments and environmental flows, and ecosystem failure or migration (north or south to more appropriate conditions) from an increasingly unwelcoming climate.

In urban areas, green spaces and remnant biodiversity will continue to form vital biodiversity corridors and habitats for migrating fauna. They will, however, have critical new functions in creating more conducive local climates, reducing heat-bank effects and aiding cooling breezes in summer, improving local air quality and building thermal performance.