Threatened and priority ecological communities | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Source: https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/wildlife-and-ecosystems/threatened-ecological-communities
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:11
Threatened and priority ecological communities | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
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Threatened and priority ecological communities
Maintaining functioning ecosystems is often central to conserving the plants and animals within them.
Shark Bay Stromatolites - Photo DBCA
What is a threatened ecological community?
An ecological community is a naturally occurring assemblage of organisms that occurs in a particular habitat. Ecological communities may comprise various life forms including plants, animals and microorganisms, and provide an important level of biological diversity in addition to genetics and species.
Since 1994, the department has been identifying and listing ecological communities as threatened through a non-statutory process if the community was presumed to be totally destroyed or at risk of becoming totally destroyed. Threatened ecological communities (TECs) are also provided protection under Western Australian legislation through the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
and
Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004.
The
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
(BC Act) provides for the statutory listing of TECs by the Minister under the categories critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable. The new legislation also describes statutory processes for preparing recovery plans for TECs, the registration of their critical habitat, and penalties for unauthorised modification of TECs.
The first listing of TECs under the BC Act was made on 26 May 2023. Currently, 65 ecological communities are listed as threatened under the BC Act in the following categories:
45 critically endangered
9 endangered
11 vulnerable
Of these, 27 are also listed under the Commonwealth's
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Ecological communities that were listed as ‘presumed totally destroyed’ under Western Australia’s non-statutory process will now be considered for listing as
collapsed ecological
communities under the BC Act.
Document
Threatened Ecological Communities FAQs Feb 2024
-
1.18 MB
(PDF)
Last updated 20-02-2024
Threatened and priority ecological communities list
Visit the
List of threatened
and priority
ecological communities page
to download the list.
How are these communities managed?
Because ecosystems and the links between their community members are so complex, it is important to identify, maintain and manage whole ecosystems, their processes and communities (including the many thousands of species of invertebrates, non-flowering plants like fungi and seaweeds, and micro-organisms), rather than just on a species-by-species basis.
It is also more cost effective and efficient to prevent species from becoming threatened by conserving them as part of viable, functioning communities than it is to attempt to manage individual species.
DBCA manages the parks and reserves under its care in accordance with the
Conservation and Land Management Act 1984
. TECs and PECs are given priority consideration when planning and carrying out activities including the management of weeds, pests, diseases, fire, hydrology and visitor access, with the aim of protecting them, restoring their values and decreasing their vulnerability to threatening processes
Threatened ecological community occurrences
TEC and PEC occurrences are entered into the threatened and priority ecological community database. For information on occurrences email
communities.data@dbca.wa.gov.au
.
Visit the
Threatened ecological community monitoring resources page
for information and resources relating to the identification, survey and monitoring of threatened ecological community occurrences, including how and when to submit a report form.
Threatened ecological community fact sheets
Learn about Western Australia’s threatened ecological communities and find information on their distribution, conservation status, threatening processes and priority recovery actions.
Document
Augusta microbialites TEC fact sheet
-
710.73 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Bentonite lakes TEC fact sheet
-
705.76 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Big Springs mound springs TEC fact sheet
-
705.57 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Billeranga system TEC fact sheet
-
654.75 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Black Spring organic mound spring TEC fact sheet
-
670.3 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Bunda Bunda mound springs TEC fact sheet
-
702.79 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Bundera sinkhole TEC fact sheet
-
647.15 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Camerons Cave TEC fact sheet
-
655.23 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Coomberdale chert hills TEC fact sheet
-
651.12 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Depot Springs TEC fact sheet
-
663.86 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Dragon Tree Soak TEC fact sheet
-
748.47 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Ethel Gorge TEC fact sheet
-
667.23 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Eucalyptus acies mallee heath TEC fact sheet
-
660.22 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Ferricrete TEC fact sheet
-
642.9 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Herblands bunch grasslands TEC fact sheet
-
691.13 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Inering System TEC fact sheet
-
732.43 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Koolanooka System TEC fact sheet
-
691.22 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Lake Bryde TEC fact sheet
-
712.46 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Lake Clifton microbialite TEC fact sheet
-
639.05 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Lake Richmond microbialite TEC fact sheet
-
687.64 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Lake Thetis microbialite TEC fact sheet
-
666.37 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Lake Toolibin TEC fact sheet
-
721.84 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Leeuwin Caves communities 1-4 TEC fact sheet
-
708.24 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Lesueur-Coomallo A1.2 TEC fact sheet
-
721.48 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Lesueur-Coomallo D1 TEC fact sheet
-
808.78 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Mandora Mounds TEC fact sheet
-
730.18 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Meelup granites TEC fact sheet
-
744.65 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Monsoon vine thickets TEC fact sheet
-
760.64 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 22-01-2024
Document
Montane Heath and Thicket TEC fact sheet
-
652.49 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Moonagin System TEC fact sheet
-
690.9 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Mt Lindesay TEC fact sheet
-
772.89 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Muchea Limestone TEC fact sheet
-
681.2 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
North Kimberley mounds TEC fact sheets
-
730.1 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Perth to Gingin Ironstone TEC fact sheet
-
780.79 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Roe River TEC fact sheet
-
696.02 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Roebuck Bay intertidal flats TEC fact sheet
-
687.29 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Russell Range TEC fact sheet
-
752.28 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Scott River ironstone TEC fact sheet
-
833.3 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP1b TEC fact sheet
-
823.66 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP2 TEC fact sheet
-
699.69 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP3a TEC fact sheet
-
662.84 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP3b TEC fact sheet
-
772.73 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP3c TEC fact sheet
-
751.85 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP7 8 9 10a Claypans TEC fact sheet
-
744.43 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP10b TEC fact sheet
-
756.99 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP15 TEC fact sheet
-
656.52 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP18 TEC fact sheet
-
739.07 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP19 TEC fact sheet
-
657.82 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP20a TEC fact sheet
-
671.65 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP20b TEC fact sheet
-
741.16 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP20c TEC fact sheet
-
729.47 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP26a TEC fact sheet
-
699.57 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP30a TEC fact sheet
-
693.36 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Theda soak TEC fact sheet
-
707.47 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Themeda grasslands TEC fact sheet
-
736.3 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Three Springs TEC fact sheet
-
646.5 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Tumulus mound springs SCP TEC fact sheet
-
773.49 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Walcott Inlet TEC fact sheet
-
690.96 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Related
List of threatened and priority ecological communities
List of threatened and priority ecological communities
Threatened ecological communities were listed for the first time under the
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
in 2023.
Ecological community recovery plans
Ecological community recovery plans
List of recovery plans and interim recovery plans for threatened ecological communities in Western Australia.
Threatened species and communities
Threatened species and communities
The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 provides for the listing of threatened native plants, animals and ecological communities that need protection.
Threatened ecological community monitoring resources
Threatened ecological community monitoring resources
Resources and protocols to inform monitoring for threatened ecological communities.
Skip to main content
Threatened and priority ecological communities
Maintaining functioning ecosystems is often central to conserving the plants and animals within them.
Shark Bay Stromatolites - Photo DBCA
What is a threatened ecological community?
An ecological community is a naturally occurring assemblage of organisms that occurs in a particular habitat. Ecological communities may comprise various life forms including plants, animals and microorganisms, and provide an important level of biological diversity in addition to genetics and species.
Since 1994, the department has been identifying and listing ecological communities as threatened through a non-statutory process if the community was presumed to be totally destroyed or at risk of becoming totally destroyed. Threatened ecological communities (TECs) are also provided protection under Western Australian legislation through the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
and
Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004.
The
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
(BC Act) provides for the statutory listing of TECs by the Minister under the categories critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable. The new legislation also describes statutory processes for preparing recovery plans for TECs, the registration of their critical habitat, and penalties for unauthorised modification of TECs.
The first listing of TECs under the BC Act was made on 26 May 2023. Currently, 65 ecological communities are listed as threatened under the BC Act in the following categories:
45 critically endangered
9 endangered
11 vulnerable
Of these, 27 are also listed under the Commonwealth's
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Ecological communities that were listed as ‘presumed totally destroyed’ under Western Australia’s non-statutory process will now be considered for listing as
collapsed ecological
communities under the BC Act.
Document
Threatened Ecological Communities FAQs Feb 2024
-
1.18 MB
(PDF)
Last updated 20-02-2024
Threatened and priority ecological communities list
Visit the
List of threatened
and priority
ecological communities page
to download the list.
How are these communities managed?
Because ecosystems and the links between their community members are so complex, it is important to identify, maintain and manage whole ecosystems, their processes and communities (including the many thousands of species of invertebrates, non-flowering plants like fungi and seaweeds, and micro-organisms), rather than just on a species-by-species basis.
It is also more cost effective and efficient to prevent species from becoming threatened by conserving them as part of viable, functioning communities than it is to attempt to manage individual species.
DBCA manages the parks and reserves under its care in accordance with the
Conservation and Land Management Act 1984
. TECs and PECs are given priority consideration when planning and carrying out activities including the management of weeds, pests, diseases, fire, hydrology and visitor access, with the aim of protecting them, restoring their values and decreasing their vulnerability to threatening processes
Threatened ecological community occurrences
TEC and PEC occurrences are entered into the threatened and priority ecological community database. For information on occurrences email
communities.data@dbca.wa.gov.au
.
Visit the
Threatened ecological community monitoring resources page
for information and resources relating to the identification, survey and monitoring of threatened ecological community occurrences, including how and when to submit a report form.
Threatened ecological community fact sheets
Learn about Western Australia’s threatened ecological communities and find information on their distribution, conservation status, threatening processes and priority recovery actions.
Document
Augusta microbialites TEC fact sheet
-
710.73 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Bentonite lakes TEC fact sheet
-
705.76 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Big Springs mound springs TEC fact sheet
-
705.57 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Billeranga system TEC fact sheet
-
654.75 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Black Spring organic mound spring TEC fact sheet
-
670.3 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Bunda Bunda mound springs TEC fact sheet
-
702.79 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Bundera sinkhole TEC fact sheet
-
647.15 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Camerons Cave TEC fact sheet
-
655.23 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Coomberdale chert hills TEC fact sheet
-
651.12 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Depot Springs TEC fact sheet
-
663.86 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Dragon Tree Soak TEC fact sheet
-
748.47 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Ethel Gorge TEC fact sheet
-
667.23 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Eucalyptus acies mallee heath TEC fact sheet
-
660.22 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Ferricrete TEC fact sheet
-
642.9 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Herblands bunch grasslands TEC fact sheet
-
691.13 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Inering System TEC fact sheet
-
732.43 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Koolanooka System TEC fact sheet
-
691.22 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Lake Bryde TEC fact sheet
-
712.46 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Lake Clifton microbialite TEC fact sheet
-
639.05 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Lake Richmond microbialite TEC fact sheet
-
687.64 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Lake Thetis microbialite TEC fact sheet
-
666.37 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Lake Toolibin TEC fact sheet
-
721.84 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Leeuwin Caves communities 1-4 TEC fact sheet
-
708.24 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Lesueur-Coomallo A1.2 TEC fact sheet
-
721.48 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Lesueur-Coomallo D1 TEC fact sheet
-
808.78 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Mandora Mounds TEC fact sheet
-
730.18 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Meelup granites TEC fact sheet
-
744.65 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Monsoon vine thickets TEC fact sheet
-
760.64 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 22-01-2024
Document
Montane Heath and Thicket TEC fact sheet
-
652.49 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Moonagin System TEC fact sheet
-
690.9 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Mt Lindesay TEC fact sheet
-
772.89 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Muchea Limestone TEC fact sheet
-
681.2 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
North Kimberley mounds TEC fact sheets
-
730.1 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Perth to Gingin Ironstone TEC fact sheet
-
780.79 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Roe River TEC fact sheet
-
696.02 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Roebuck Bay intertidal flats TEC fact sheet
-
687.29 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Russell Range TEC fact sheet
-
752.28 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Scott River ironstone TEC fact sheet
-
833.3 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP1b TEC fact sheet
-
823.66 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP2 TEC fact sheet
-
699.69 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP3a TEC fact sheet
-
662.84 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP3b TEC fact sheet
-
772.73 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP3c TEC fact sheet
-
751.85 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP7 8 9 10a Claypans TEC fact sheet
-
744.43 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP10b TEC fact sheet
-
756.99 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP15 TEC fact sheet
-
656.52 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP18 TEC fact sheet
-
739.07 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP19 TEC fact sheet
-
657.82 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP20a TEC fact sheet
-
671.65 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP20b TEC fact sheet
-
741.16 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP20c TEC fact sheet
-
729.47 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP26a TEC fact sheet
-
699.57 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
SCP30a TEC fact sheet
-
693.36 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Theda soak TEC fact sheet
-
707.47 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Themeda grasslands TEC fact sheet
-
736.3 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Three Springs TEC fact sheet
-
646.5 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Tumulus mound springs SCP TEC fact sheet
-
773.49 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Document
Walcott Inlet TEC fact sheet
-
690.96 KB
(PDF)
Last updated 06-09-2023
Related
List of threatened and priority ecological communities
List of threatened and priority ecological communities
Threatened ecological communities were listed for the first time under the
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
in 2023.
Ecological community recovery plans
Ecological community recovery plans
List of recovery plans and interim recovery plans for threatened ecological communities in Western Australia.
Threatened species and communities
Threatened species and communities
The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 provides for the listing of threatened native plants, animals and ecological communities that need protection.
Threatened ecological community monitoring resources
Threatened ecological community monitoring resources
Resources and protocols to inform monitoring for threatened ecological communities.