Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

Appendix D: Key threatening processes and threat abatement plans

Table D19: Key threatening processes and threat abatement plans

Key threatening process	Date of effect	Threat abatement plan required?	Approved threat abatement plan
Competition and land degradation by rabbits	16 July 2000	Yes	2008
Competition and land degradation by unmanaged goats	16 July 2000	Yes	2008
Dieback caused by the root-rot fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi)	16 July 2000	Yes	2001*
Incidental catch (bycatch) of sea turtles during coastal otter-trawling operations within Australian waters north of 28 degrees south	4 April 2001	No
Incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations	16 July 2000	Yes	2006
Infection of amphibians with chytrid fungus resulting in chytridiomycosis	23 July 2002	Yes	2006
Injury and fatality to vertebrate marine life caused by ingestion of, or entanglement in, harmful marine debris	13 August 2003	Yes	2009
Invasion of northern Australia by gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) and other introduced grasses	16 September 2009	Yes	2012
Land clearance	4 April 2001	No
Loss and degradation of native plant and animal habitat by invasion of escaped garden plants, including aquatic plants	8 January 2010	No^+
Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem integrity following invasion by the yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean	12 April 2005	No^#	2006^#
Loss of terrestrial climatic habitat caused by anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases	4 April 2001	No
Novel biota and their impact on biodiversity	26 February 2013	No
Predation by European red fox (Vulpes vulpes)	16 July 2000	Yes	2008
Predation by exotic rats on Australian offshore islands of less than 1000 sq km (100 000 hectares)	29 March 2006	Yes	2009
Predation by feral cats	16 July 2000	Yes	2008
Predation, habitat degradation, competition and disease transmission by feral pigs	6 August 2001	Yes	2005
Psittacine circoviral (beak and feather) disease affecting endangered psittacine species	4 April 2001	Yes	2005
The biological effects, including lethal toxic ingestion, caused by cane toads (Bufo marinus)	12 April 2005	Yes	2011
The reduction in the biodiversity of Australian native fauna and flora due to the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta)	2 April 2003	No^#	2006^#

* This threat abatement plan was disallowed in the Senate on 17 November 2009. Until such time as a new or revised plan is made, the 2001 threat abatement plan remains in place. A revised draft plan is under development.

⁺ The department provides an annual report to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee on the implementation of the Australian Weeds Strategy and additional measures that abate this key threatening process.

^# Both of these key threatening processes are covered by the 2006 threat abatement plan: The impacts of tramp ants on biodiversity in Australia and its territories.