Nominations for listing
How species and communities are nominated for listing and current nominations available for public comment.
Nominations for listing (and delisting) of threatened flora, fauna and ecological communities The Western Australian Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) and Threatened Ecological Communities Scientific Committee (TECSC) meet at least annually to consider nominations to amend the lists of threatened species and threatened ecological communities.
The public is invited to submit nominations to amend (listing, delisting or category change) the current threatened species (plants and animals) and ecological communities lists. Nominations may be forwarded at any time to tssc@dbca.wa.gov.au.
Priority List amendments can be submitted at any time to tssc@dbca.wa.gov.au and do not require a nomination form. Refer to the priority code definitions in the downloads section, for listing eligibility.
Ministerial Guidelines
The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 provides a statutory basis for the listing of threatened species, specially protected species, extinct species, threatened ecological communities, collapsed ecological communities, critical habitat and key threatening processes.
While the Act provides the broader criteria for listing the above, the Ministerial Guidelines provide further details on the criteria and procedures that apply.
Ministerial Guideline No. 1 provides more detail on the procedures that can be used by members of the community to nominate a species or ecological community for listing as a threatened species or threatened ecological community.
The listing process
- The public is invited to submit nominations to add, delete, or to change the threat status of species or ecological communities.
- The Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) and Threatened Ecological Communities Scientific Committee (TECSC) meet to review the nominations and make recommendations to the Minister for Environment.
- The Minister for Environment endorses or rejects the nominations.
- The threatened species and ecological community lists are updated and published in the Western Australia Government Gazette.
- The nomination outcome will be published on the Departments website and the nominator will be notified.
- The threatened species and ecological community lists are made available on the department's threatened plants, threatened animals, and threatened ecological communities webpages.
Nomination forms
The nomination forms for both Species and Ecological Communities are available below.
Nominations currently being considered
Public consultation period for nominations to amend the Threatened Species List is now open and will close on the 28th June 2024.
Members of the public have the opportunity to request a copy of and comment on species nominations. Any additional scientific information or data for consideration by the TSSC are particularly welcomed.
At the conclusion of the assessment process, once the Minister’s decision is available, the outcome of the assessment process will be available on the Threatened Species and Communities page.
| Species name | Nomination type | Current status | Proposed status | Region/s |
| Fauna | ||||
| Zanda baudinii (Baudin’s cockatoo) | Category and criteria change | Endangered A3ae | Critically Endangered A4ae | Swan, South West, Wheatbelt, Warren, South Coast |
| Westralunio carteri (Carter’s freshwater mussel) | Criteria change (due to taxonomic revision) | Vulnerable A2c+4c | Vulnerable A2c Swan, | South West |
| Westralunio inbisi inbisi (a freshwater mussel) | Listing (due to taxonomic revision) | Not listed | Vulnerable B1ab(i,iii)+B2ab(i,iii) | Warren, South Coast |
| Westralunio inbisi meridiemus (a freshwater mussel) | Listing (due to taxonomic revision) | Not listed | Endangered B1ab(iii)+B2ab(iii) | South West, South Coast |
| Nedsia hurlberti (a freshwater amphipod) | Category and criteria change (due to taxonomic revision) | Vulnerable D2 | Endangered B1ab(iii) | Pilbara |
| Nedsia macrosculptilis (a freshwater amphipod) | Category and criteria change (due to taxonomic revision) | Vulnerable D2 | Endangered B1ab(iii) | Pilbara |
| Nedsia fragilis (a freshwater amphipod) | Delisting (due to taxonomic revision) | Vulnerable D2 | Delisted | Pilbara |
| Nedsia humphreysi (a freshwater amphipod) | Delisting (due to taxonomic revision) | Vulnerable D2 | Delisted | Pilbara |
| Nedsia sculptilis (a freshwater amphipod) | Delisting (due to taxonomic revision) | Vulnerable D2 | Delisted | Pilbara |
| Nedsia straskraba (a freshwater amphipod) | Delisting (due to taxonomic revision) | Vulnerable D2 | Delisted | Pilbara |
| Nedsia urifimbriata (a freshwater amphipod) | Delisting (due to taxonomic revision) | Vulnerable D2 | Delisted | Pilbara |
| Heteroponera majeri (an ant) | Listing | Not listed | Critically Endangered A2a | Swan |
| Lioponera bicolor (an ant) | Listing | Not listed | Critically Endangered A2a | Swan |
| Flora | ||||
| Byblis gigantea (Rainbow Plant) | Listing | Priority 3 | Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | Swan |
| Caesia arcuata (Curved Grass Lily) | Listing | Priority 1 | Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii); C2a(i) | South Coast |
| Diuris eburnea (Arrowsmith Bee Orchid) | Listing | Priority 1 | Critically Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v), C2a(i,ii), D | Midwest |
| Eremophila vernicosa (Resinous poverty bush) | Category and criteria change | Vulnerable D2 | Critically Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) | Midwest and Wheatbelt |
| Eucalyptus platydisca (Jimberlana mallee) | Category and criteria change | Vulnerable D2 | Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii | South Coast |
| Grevillea murex (Shell-fruited Grevillea) | Category and criteria change | Endangered C2a | Critically Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,iv); C1+2a(i) | Midwest |
| Lambertia orbifolia subsp.pecuniosa (Penny-leaved honeysuckle) | Listing | Priority 2 | Critically Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v); C1 | South West |
| Philotheca wonganensis | Category and criteria change | Endangered C2a | Vulnerable D2 | Midwest and Wheatbelt |
| Tetratheca butcheriana (Butcher’s Tetratheca) | Listing | Priority 1 | Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) | Pilbara |
| Utricularia helix | Listing | Priority 2 | Critically Endangered B1ab(iii) | South Coast |
| Verticordia fimbrilepis subsp. australis (Southern Shy Featherflower) | Category and criteria change | Endangered C2a | Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) | South Coast |
Scientific committees
The Western Australian Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) and Threatened Ecological Communities Scientific Committee (TECSC) are appointed by the Minister for Environment, with administrative support provided by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
The role of the committees is to:
- provide advice to the Minister on the listing of threatened species, extinct species, threatened ecological communities, collapsed ecological communities, and key threatening processes under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016;
- review and make recommendations annually to the Minister on threatened species (plants and animals) and threatened ecological communities;
- allocate the threatened species and ecological communities to IUCN categories of threat, for endorsement by the Minister; and
- provide advice and recommendations to the Director General in respect of research and management needs arising from the reviews of the threatened species and ecological communities lists and threat categories.
The committees meet at least annually to consider any nominations received since the previous meeting.
The Terms of Reference for the TSSC and TECSC, and further details on the committees’ roles are in the download below - Ministerial Guideline 1.
| Member | General area of expertise |
|---|---|
| Dr Ken Atkins | Vascular flora, especially threatened flora |
| Dr Andrew Burbidge | Threatened species, especially vertebrate animals |
| Dr Rob Davis | Frogs, reptiles and birds |
| Prof Kingsley Dixon | Flora ecology and conservation management. Member CTSSC |
| Dr Mark Harvey | Arachnids and millipedes, short-range endemic invertebrates |
| Dr Melinda Moir | Terrestrial invertebrates, especially insects |
| Dr Antony Start | Flora and fauna survey, research and conservation |
| Dr Vicki Stokes | Avian fauna and general vertebrates |
| A/Prof Kristin Warren | Birds, mammals and reptiles, animal health |
| Dr Colin Yates | Flora conservation, genetics, threatening processes and threatened species modelling |
| Member | General area of expertise |
|---|---|
| Ms Val English | 24 years’ experience in work on threatened assemblages throughout the State and application of listing criteria to ecological communities. |
| Dr Bill Humphreys | Recognised expert in relation to underground fauna, with 50 years’ experience in survey and taxonomy. |
| Mr Greg Keighery | 40 years' experience in biological surveys throughout the State and a recognised expert in the State’s flora and vegetation, and weeds |
| Ms Vicki Long | 34 years' experience in survey and management of Pilbara and Kimberley flora and vegetation. |
| Dr Ben Miller | 20 years' experience in research into distinguishing plant communities, and restoration ecology. |
| Dr Melinda Moir | 20 years' experience in research in terrestrial invertebrate assemblages and their conservation. |
| Ms Denise True | 30 years’ experience in vegetation surveys and analysis, especially in the Pilbara and wheatbelt. |
| Dr Eddie van Etten | 18 years' experience in plant ecology and vegetation analysis, and restoration ecology. |
| Dr Stephen van Leeuwen | 38 years’ experience in biodiversity surveys in WA. Recognised expert in Pilbara and western desert flora and fauna |
Contact details
Email: tssc@dbca.wa.gov.au or tecsc@dbca.wa.gov.au
Mailing address:
Threatened Species Scientific Committee or Threatened Ecological Communities Scientific Committee
Species and Communities Program
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Locked Bag 104
Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983
Downloads
