Pilbara Region Biological Survey 2002-2009

What is the purpose of the Pilbara Region Biological Survey ?

The purpose of the Pilbara Region Biological Survey is to gain greater knowledge about the biodiversity of the Pilbara region in Western Australia. In this survey, our researchers have:

• counted, sampled, and documented the plant and animal communities in the Pilbara region.
• mapped the inter-relationships and patterns of these communities within the Pilbara region.
• documented the way communities are distributed in relation to soil, vegetation, climate, landforms and geology.

This knowledge will provide the regional context necessary to underpin future nature conservation planning for the Pilbara.

Why do we need a regional survey ?

Very little is known about the rich array of plants and animals that live in the Pilbara. Many of the native species are new to science, and do not exist anywhere else in the world. The ecosystems, and their ecological processes, are also not well understood.

Many biological surveys have been undertaken in the Pilbara, but none have surveyed the biodiversity of the region as a whole. As the Pilbara is an economically important area of Western Australia, a regional context is necessary to assess the likely impact of future development proposals. The survey provides information on patterns in the distribution of flora and fauna to help the community make decisions about conservation requirements and the sustainable use of natural resources.

We need a survey to:

• Develop a framework to guide sustainable land-use and conservation planning in the Pilbara.
• Assess the regions reserve system - these are areas such as National Parks that have been set aside to protect native species and communities.
• Improve the environmental impact assessment of future developments
• Verify where threatened species and ecological communities live
• Provide detailed information on stygofauna (small underground water creatures)
• Document new information about the plant and animal communities of the Pilbara.