6.12 Biodiversity Loss

At the national level, key threats to biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems and marine receiving waters include diffuse-source water pollution, degraded riparian habitats and climate change, including the impacts of changed frequency, magnitude and intensity of floods and droughts.56 In NSW, land clearing is currently the main threat to the extent and condition of native vegetation and habitat for terrestrial fauna.57 Clearing, degradation and fragmentation of vegetation due to land uses such as agriculture and urban development result in loss of diversity and degradation of natural terrestrial and aquatic environments (Commonwealth of Australia, 2017). These threats are reflected in the Manning River estuary and catchment, where major stressors include: • Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation • Water pollution from sediment and nutrients • Changing climate including extreme weather events such as drought and widespread and intense wildfires • Invasive plants (Senegal tea, long-leaf willow primrose, small and large-leaved privet, vine weeds) and pest animals (foxes, rabbits/hares, feral deer, feral pigs, goldfish) • Diseases such as Phytophthora, Chytrid fungus and myrtle rust • Altered hydrological regimes (e.g. weirs and causeways blocking fish passage) • Land-uses such as forestry (private and public) and mining • Manning River helmeted turtle: predation, habitat degradation and illegal collecting. Loss of biodiversity (species and trophic levels) is classified as a high risk to social, economic and cultural benefits of the NSW Marine Estate.58 The pressures that have pushed biodiversity and natural ecological systems in the catchment into decline also undermine the delivery of important ecosystems services, which in turn impacts social and economic drivers in the MidCoast Region. Stakeholders: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), MidCoast Council (MCC), DPIE, Hunter LLS; Purfleet-Taree Local Aboriginal Land Council, Taree Indigenous Development and Employment (TIDE); Gloucester Environment Group, Mid Coast 2 Tops Landcare, Manning River Turtle Conservation Group, OzFish, Manning-Great Lakes Birdwatchers, Koalas in Care, FAWNA.

56: Commonwealth of Australia, 2019 57: Commonwealth of Australia, 2017 58: Marine Estate Management Authority, 2018