BIODIVERSITY

Priorities:
Terrestrial habitat loss or modification Aquatic habitat loss or modification
Threatened species and communities of high conservation value

Pest plants, animals and diseases

Land clearing and conversion to other uses, along with changes to hydrology, are the most critical threats to biodiversity.

Major threats to biodiversity include:

• Clearance, conversion and fragmentation of native vegetation
• Impacts of pests, weeds and diseases
• Degradation of water systems
• Inappropriate use of fire
• Inappropriate or illegal harvesting
• Impact of stock.

Additional issues:

• Loss of riparian vegetation
• Inappropriate use of recreational vehicles in sensitive areas
• Wind farm developments affecting raptors and migrating birds
• Mine and acid rock drainage
• L oss and degradation of threatened species along roadsides
• Unrestricted cattle grazing in coastal areas and on offshore islands.
• Loss of natural vegetation in the Woolnorth area and on King Island, impeding migration of birds
• Road-kill in areas of dense wildlife populations, such as the Cradle Mountain Highway from Moina to
  Vale and Belvoir
• Firewood gathering in certain local areas of the West Coast.