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) to the current threatened species (plants and animals) and ecological communities lists. Nominations may be forwarded at any time to tssc@dbca.wa.gov.au (flora and fauna) or tecsc@dbca.wa.gov.au (ecological communities). Early engagement with Species and Communities Program via these email addresses, prior to the submission of a nomination is recommended.

Priority List amendments can be submitted at any time to tssc@dbca.wa.gov.au or tecsc@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

  1. The public is invited to submit nominations to add, delete, or to change the threat status of species or ecological communities.
  2. 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.
  3. The Minister for Environment endorses or rejects the nominations.
  4. The threatened species and ecological community lists are updated and published in the Western Australia Government Gazette.
  5. The nomination outcome will be published on the Departments website and the nominator will be notified.
  6. 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.

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- 1.27 MB (DOCX) Last updated 12-04-2023
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- 1.38 MB (DOCX) Last updated 12-04-2023

Nominations currently being considered

A period of public consultation is now open for nominations to amend the Threatened Species List. Landowners and managers of land on which the species occur, and other stakeholders are welcome to comment or request further information or a copy of the nomination from TSSC@dbca.wa.gov.au.

Public consultation will close on 15 August 2025.

Species nameNomination typeCurrent statusProposed statusRegion/s
Fauna

Aipysurus fuscus

(dusky seasnake)

Listing

Not listed

Endangered A2bc, B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)

Kimberley

Idiosoma intermedium

(Coolgardie shield-backed trapdoor spider)

Listing (taxonomic revision)

P3

Endangered B2ab(i,ii,iii)

Wheatbelt, Goldfields

Orcaella heinshoni (Australian snubfin dolphin)

Change in category (Migratory to Threatened)

Migratory

Vulnerable C1+2a(i)

Kimberley, Pilbara

Sousa sahulensis (Australian humpback dolphin)

Change in category (Migratory to Threatened)

Migratory

Vulnerable C1+2a(i)

Kimberley, Pilbara

Sternula albifrons (little tern)

Change in category (Migratory to Threatened)

Migratory

Vulnerable C2a(i)

Swan, Midwest, Pilbara, Kimberley

Flora

Grevillea cooljarloo

Listing

P1

Endangered

B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v)

Midwest

Hakea aculeata

(column hakea)

Criteria change

Endangered

A2c

Endangered

B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)

Wheatbelt

Hibbertia porongorupensis

Listing

P4

Critically Endangered

B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)

South Coast

Melaleuca agathosmoides

Listing

P1

P1 (Not eligible for listing)

South Coast

Thomasia triloba

Listing

P1

Extinct

Swan

Verticordia pityrhops

(pinelike featherflower)

Change in category (up-listing)

Endangered

C2b

Critically Endangered

B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v)

South Coast

The public consultation period for nominations to amend the Threatened Ecological Communities List is now closed.

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.

Threatened Ecological Communities
Community nameNomination typeCurrent statusProposed statusRegion/s
Reedia spathacea - Empodisma gracillimumSporadanthus rivularis dominated floodplains and paluslopes of the Blackwood River catchmentListingPriority 1Critically endangered CR B1a(ii),b, B2a(ii),bSouth West
Acacia rostellifera low forest with scattered Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river gum) on Greenough Alluvial FlatsListingPresumed totally destroyedCollapsedMidwest
Clay flats assemblages of the Irwin River as originally described in Beard (1976)ListingPresumed totally destroyedCollapsedMidwest
Perched freshwater wetlands of the northern Wheatbelt dominated by extensive stands of living Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river gum) across the lake floorListingPresumed totally destroyedCollapsedMidwest

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.

TSSC Membership List for 2024  
MemberGeneral area of expertise
Dr Ken Atkins Flora conservation management, environmental legislation application, Commonwealth listing alignment 
Dr Sarah Barrett Flora conservation management, fire ecology and disease (dieback) threats 
Dr Andrew BurbidgeThreatened species, especially vertebrate animals
Dr Saul CowenTerrestrial vertebrates, especially birds and mammals
Dr Rob Davis Frogs, reptiles and birds 
Prof Kingsley Dixon Flora ecology and conservation management. Member CTSSC 
Ryan EllisThreatened species ecology, conservation and management. Reptiles, amphibians and mammals
Dr Carl Gosper Threatening processes on species survival. Vascular flora, mammals, birds and ants 
Dr Mark Harvey Arachnids and millipedes, short-range endemic invertebrates 
Dr Melinda Moir Terrestrial invertebrates, especially insects 
Prof Kristin WarrenBirds, mammals and reptiles, animal health

 

TECSC Membership List for 2024–2027 
MemberGeneral area of expertise
Adj/Prof Bill HumphreysSubterranean fauna, survey and taxonomy.
Mr Greg KeigheryFlora and vegetation, biological survey, weeds, vegetation communities’ composition and variation.
Ms Vicki LongSurvey and management of Pilbara and Kimberley flora and vegetation.
Dr Ben MillerPlant communities, restoration ecology, and fire science.
Mr Andrew MitchellBotanical survey and monitoring of Murchison, Gascoyne and Pilbara rangelands; exotic weed identification and eradication.
A/Prof Belinda RobsonEcology, management and restoration of freshwater ecosystems; climate change impacts and ecosystem responses.
Prof Stephen van LeeuwenBiodiversity surveys in WA; Pilbara and western desert flora and fauna.
Mr Andrew WebbManagement of flora and vegetation, field botany, environmental impact assessment and management, monitoring and recognition of listed flora and ecological communities.
Mr Greg WoodmanEnvironmental and project management, biological (flora and vegetation) surveys and assessments, rehabilitation techniques and planning, environmental impact assessment.

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

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- 174.02 KB (PDF) Last updated 20-10-2023
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