Biodiversity - in summary

Component Summary Assessment grade Confidence
Very poor Poor Good Very good In grade In trend
  • Recent Trend
    • Trend improving Symbol Improving
    • Trend stable Symbol Stable
    • Trend deteriorating Symbol Deteriorating
    • Trend unclear Image Unclear
  • Level of confidence
    • Confidence low Evidence and consensus too low to make an assessment
    • Confidence limited Limited evidence or limited consensus
    • Confidence high Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus
  • Grades
    • Grade Very Poor Very Poor
    • Grade Poor Poor
    • Grade Good Good
    • Grade Very Good Very Good

Native vegetation

Native vegetation extent and condition is fair to moderate and declining.

There has been an increase of about 10% in the area under some form of protected status since 2008.

There has been an increase in illegal clearing.

There has been a decrease in the area of revegetation since 2008.

 South Australia’s native vegetation receives an assessment of poor and deteriorating. Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus

Threatened species and ecological communities

There has been an increase in recovery plans and actions.

There is a variable to positive trend in the status of 20 indicator species.

The status of threatened species and ecological communities is poor and declining.

There has been a net increase in the number of endangered and vulnerable species and ecological communities since 2008.

Climate change has altered fire regimes.

 South Australia’s threatened species and ecological communities receive an assessment of very poor and deteriorating. Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus

Soil and land management

There has been a steady increase in cropping land protected from erosion.

Soil condition in production areas is fair to moderate and stable.

There has been an increase in crop area using no-till sowing methods.

There has been an increase in the area and rate of soil acidification.

There is a variable trend in dryland salinity and depth to groundwater, with most measures declining or stable (positive), and some rising (negative).

 South Australia’s soil and land management receives an assessment of poor but stable. Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus

Introduced species

There has been an increase in number, distribution and abundance of most pest plants, animals and diseases. Only a few have decreased.

For key established pests and diseases:

  • rabbits, feral goats, European fanworm, oriental weatherloach, silverleaf nightshade, Phytophthora cinnamomi and sarcoptic mange of wombats have increased in distribution and abundance
  • feral deer, European carp, bridal creeper and opuntioid cacti are steady in distribution and abundance
  • feral camels, Caulerpa taxifolia and gorse are decreasing in distribution and abundance
  • chytridiomycosis is unknown in distribution and abundance.

For new pests and diseases:

  • the numbers of weeds, marine pests, aquatic pests and native plant diseases are increasing
  • the number of terrestrial vertebrate pests is steady
  • the number of wildlife diseases is unknown.

There have been six confirmed detections of new vertebrate pest incursions since 2008.

 South Australia’s introduced species receive an assessment of very poor and deteriorating. Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus Limited evidence or limited consensus

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