June 26 : Adelaide Plant Species / Rainforests

Elyse showed me around the city and we went to the botanic gardens. South Australia’s plant diversity is threatened by climate change and from the invasion of weeds. The plant species are affected by droughts, severe weather patterns, and climate change due to global warming. The weed invasion was introduced by European settlement. These invasive species invade and spread quickly throughout the native flora. The University of Adelaide has been performing research dealing with the decline in biodiversity. The city is working to protect the native endangered species such as Australian broomrape, Australian caraway, Black cotton-bush, and others.

My friend, Elyse, and I

Different actions are being made to protect the remaining areas of native species. They are working to maintain the landscapes, reverse declines, recover the species, and control the threats. There are about 1,500 native plant species in Adelaide and they are crucial for the ecosystem.

For example, one of the extremely endangered plant species, Fleurieu Peninsula Guinea‐flower, has been under regulation because of the low numbers. This shrub is threatened by livestock, habitat loss, and weed invasion. It is important to protect this species and the plan of action for this species aims to restore the population. Hopefully over time the conservation status will recover. Since the action plan started, the numbers have increased, but not drastically. In addition to this strategy, there are other plans aimed to help different species located in this area.

(Photo from Google of the Fleurieu Peninsula Guinea flower)

The rainforests are important because of the diversity and communities they create. There are 3 million plant and animal species in tropical rainforests. Nearly 60,000 out of the 170,000 flowering species are at risk; this is one quarter of the world’s flowering plants. Not only does climate affect the rainforests, but when they are cleared or destructed the climate also changes. There are increases in temperatures and cloud coverage while rainfall decreases. The conservation of tropical rainforests have recently became significant in Australia. Over time more rainforests are becoming protected. The rainforests are destroyed daily. About 1-2 species go extinct every day. Over the next thirty years, it is estimated that ten species will go extinct a day. These imperative forests are cleared for agriculture and about one hectare is destroyed every minute. It is important to save the rainforests and all the species within them.

   The Botanic Gardens located in Adelaide had various signs raising awareness for conservation of the rainforests and other species in general. Australia is working on raising more awareness not just for their rainforests, but for the rainforests overseas in other countries as well.