Protecting our flora

Cycas megacarpa, an Endangered cycad from central Queensland. Photo: Paul Forster.

Our native flora and vegetation is protected in many ways. Individual species are listed under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992. Queensland’s regional ecosystem framework, the most comprehensive system of its kind in Australia, defines ecological communities for protection under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 and the Environmental Protection Act 1994. National parks, reserves and Nature Refuges protect significant species and regional ecosystems.

The majority of Queensland's known native flora species are considered to be of Least Concern under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA). Of the remaining listed flora, 198 species& are currently listed as Endangered, 390 as Vulnerable, 461 as Near Threatened and 23 are presumed to be Extinct in the Wild. The category of Near Threatened is new.

There are no known non-vascular plant species, liverworts or fungi currently considered to be threatened. One species of algae, Lychnothamnus barbatus, is listed as Vulnerable.

The department's Species Technical Committee is responsible for assessing species for possible listing or delisting under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Recovery plans and conservation plans are being developed for priority species and ecosystems in partnership with the Commonwealth.

A permit system controls human activities such as commerical harvesting, private collecting, propagation and trade. Application forms and guidelines are available.