Too many species now endangered

Since white settlement dozens of species have been driven to extinction – including 23 bird species and 25 mammals.

Does this really matter? 

Yes it  does, because not only can we never bring them back, but other species depend on them, so when they go others will follow.

A learned commentator remarked the other day that unless we stop our current tree clearing practices our great-grandchildren will never see a wild koala. Is that acceptable?

So what are we doing about this situation?

To start with, all native wildlife in New South Wales is protected and we may not ‘harm them’ (a gentler word than “kill” them) without a licence. Other states and territories have similar laws.

In addition, in New South Wales we have the Threatened Species Conservation Act of 1995 which lists all species considered to be Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered or at Risk of Extinction along with methods on how to reduce risks to them.

Where a species belongs in the range depends on the extent of its population reduction, its geographical distribution and the number of mature breeding adults.

Let us look at some examples of species in the categories, and there are literally hundreds of them listed:

Vulnerable: Mountain pygmy-possum, tiger quoll and koala

Endangered: Yellow-footed rock wallaby and malleefowl

Critically Endangered:  Orange-bellied parrot, regent honeyeater

Risk of Extinction:  Flame robin

State Parliament is helping - many development applications to local governments must be accompanied by a Species Impact Statement so the application’s impact on wildlife can be assessed and its approval delayed until it can be shown to have no or minimal effect on wildlife.

What can we do to help?

New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife have a Threatened Species Program and are looking for volunteers to join it – so enrol now.

For more information visit http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/threatened-species