There are 1900 species on the critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable species list under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. It’s an appalling track record for a country so well endowed ecologically and financially, that successive federal and state governments have allowed this to take place in such a short time. Of this 1900, a new list of just 110 priority species has been prepared, the intention being to ensure these species don’t go extinct in the next decade.
Well it’s not good enough, according to a conservation scientist who has called out the federal government’s zero extinction action plan, saying it “doesn’t go far enough”.
In: University of Newcastle conservation scientist Matt Hayward says federal Threatened Species Action Plan doesn’t go far enough for extinction, Ethan Hamilton (Newcastle Herald, October 8 2022), reports that: One species not on the list that Professor Hayward said should be on the list is the Regent Honeyeater, found in the Hunter.
“It is one of Australia’s rarest birds,” he said. “Historically it occurred from Victoria, all the way up through the forests and woodland of NSW into Queensland.”
“There may be fewer than 450 left and they used to be in the thousands.”
The Australian government currently has a goal to protect and conserve 30 per cent of Australia’s land and 30 per cent of Australia’s oceans by 2030. Like other species, Professor Hayward said, the honeyeater is largely affected by habitat loss.
“Australia has one of the highest clearing rates in the world. Which for a developed country is pretty embarrassing,” he said. “NSW has had a recent run of clearing more land than ever before. That kind of counteracts the Commonwealth government’s policy.”
He said there are an “unfathomable” number of benefits provided through biodiversity.
“Things like cleaning water, medicine, drugs, health benefits,” he said. “Studies in Australia have shown that if you spend half an hour each day in a biodiverse area in the bush your blood pressure will reduce, the rates of depression will reduce.”
“Future generations may not get that.”
He called for stronger laws around land clearing and the reintroduction of recovery plans.
“A few years ago the government stopped recovery plans which are documents that outline exactly what you need to do to recovery a species,” he said. “It’s costed out and the government commits to funding these actions and not do anything that contravenes these pans.
“Obviously, that constrains what the government can approve so they were pretty averse to that in the last government.”
The full story is at: Conservation scientist Matt Hayward comments on Threatened Species Action Plan.
Munibung Hill could do with a recovery plan to ensure there is no further decline in the species that call her home. Without a federal or state plan likely anytime soon, perhaps we could sketch out a recovery plan with the use of come citizen science skills. Or perhaps we already know some of the basics as noted by Matt Hayward – with one of the most important components of any recovery plan being the restoration of habitat in general and the habitat needs of specific species. One of these, the Squirrel Glider, has an existing report that could be consulted – Lake Macquarie Squirrel Glider Planning and Management Guidelines – a Lake Mac City Council report edited by Martin Fallding.
More about federal government Recovery Plans here