Flora threatened due to climate change

A recent report reveals that 50 per cent of regional flora is threaten due to climate change according to the report author Paul Winn. To prevent regional extinctions, an alliance of environment organizations are calling for a moratorium on land clearing across 1 million hectares between Barrington Tops and Hawkesbury River.*

30 March 2023

THE Barrington to Hawkesbury Climate Corridors Alliance today released a second detailed *report (www.hcec.org.au/climate-corridors) based on habitat suitability modelling and NSW Government climate corridor mapping, to identify 22 wildlife corridors essential for the survival of threatened species in face of climate change.

Author of the report Paul Winn of the Hunter Community Environment Centre says “While our analysis of the available data specific to the Barrington to Hawkesbury region reveals that suitable habitat for fauna species will be severely degraded by the effects of climate change, flora species will suffer far greater extinctions and range contractions.

In all, habitat for 74 Threatened flora species were modelled within the Barrington to Hawkesbury region. Of these, 64 (86%) suffer significant range contractions, with 38 (51%) having no suitable habitat within the next 50 years under a worst-case climate scenario.

The Barrington to Hawkesbury Climate Corridor proposal protects these species habitat and from further degradation and fragmentation and connects them with large-scale functioning wildlife corridors that span climatic gradients and enhance the capacity of populations to seek refuge as the climate changes.

If we are to provide the greatest chance for native species to survive the ravages of climate change, these connected habitats must be protected from further fragmentation and degradation. If we wish to minimise native species’ extinction, climate refugia and identified Climate Corridors must be legally protected.”

The Barrington to Hawkesbury Climate Corridors Alliance is urging community members to take the following action to prevent regional extinctions of both flora and fauna between now and 2070.

The first is to contact you newly-elected NSW state MP and alert them to the findings of the reports. The second is to ask your MP what they intend to do to make sure climate refugia are protected. One specific solution for the Central Coast would be to expand and permanently protect the Coastal Open Space System (COSS).

*The NSW coastal region between Barrington Tops and the Hawkesbury River connects two World Heritage Areas. The region spans almost 11,300 km2 and includes the Local Government Areas (LGA) of Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock, Newcastle, Maitland, Port Stephens, Dungog, and the former Great Lakes Council area of Mid Coast LGA.

The five founding organisations of the alliance are the: Community Environment Network, EcoNetwork Port Stephens, Hunter Bird Observers Club, Hunter Community Environment Centre and National Parks Association NSW – Hunter branch.