Quokkas to koalas: Australia’s new 100 priority species

The priority list includes plants and animals facing multiple threats to their survival, including climate change, and was devised through consultation with scientists, community groups, traditional owners and other stakeholders.A look at the list of protected species suggests aesthetics was not an overriding criteria for inclusion.Besides the aforementioned Giant Gippsland Earthworm, there are two varieties of native snail on the list, as well as the New Holland mouse, which looks remarkably like any ordinary mouse to the untrained eye.But our mammals are also well represented, with the hairy-nosed wombat, the numbat, the sea lion, the bilby and several subspecies of wallaby and possum also now enjoying the highest level of federal government protection.“In prioritising 100 species through a decade long threatened species strategy, we are highlighting the importance not only of our mammals and plants but our, reptiles, insects, frogs and other freshwater and marine species,” Environment Minister Sussan Ley said.“This is about halting and reversing historic declines and establishing the ways we can live together with our native species.”Choosing the 100 species for the priority list was a complex task involving the Threatened Species Scientific Committee, state, territory and federal government officials, and a public consultation process. Six criteria were used to determined which species made the cut, including the likely threat of extinction, as well as the species’ uniqueness, representativeness and importance to people. The government was also guided by a value for money component – whether efforts would make a significant difference – and also by how many non-designated species could also benefit from actions to save the prioritised species.But Abi Smith from the Threatened Species Conservancy was critical of the government process, saying her organisation had not been consulted.“There are 1890 species on the EPBC [Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act], and it’s abhorrent that we would dwindle that down to 100,” she said.Many governments and NGOs were focusing their efforts on prioritising species, and there should be a greater emphasis on getting work done on the ground, she said. Ms Ley also announced an immediate $10 million in community grants for activities to protect the prioritised species.To find out more about the grants and apply visit: https://ift.tt/3jjWf8b SOUTH WALESPLANTSImlay Mallee (Eucalyptus imlayensis) Pimelea cremnophila Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) Pimelea venosa Carrington Falls Pomaderris (Pomaderris walshii) Little Mountain Palm (Lepidorrhachis mooreana) Native Guava (Rhodomyrtus psidioides) Smooth Davidson’s Plum (Davidsonia johnsonii) REPTILESGreat Desert SkinkGreen TurtleCollared Delma (legless gecko) **INVERTEBRATESPink Underwing MothCauliflower Soft CoralLord Howe Island Phasmid Mount Lidgbird Charopid Land Snail FISHGrey Nurse Shark (eastern)Stocky Galaxias White’s SeahorseFROGSSouthern Corroboree Frog Growling Grass FrogMAMMALSNumbat Greater Bilby New Holland Mouse Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Koala Mountain Pygmy-possum BIRDS Malleefowl Eastern Curlew Plains-wanderer Black-eared Miner Regent Honeyeater Swift Parrot Red GoshawkAustralasian Bittern Hooded Plover (eastern)VICTORIAPLANTSForked Spyridium (Spyridium furculentum)Stiff Groundsel (Senecio behrianus) Adamson’s Blown-grass (Lachnagrostis adamsonii) INVERTEBRATESEltham Copper ButterflyGiant Gippsland EarthwormFISHMurray HardyheadFROGSGrowling Grass FrogMAMMALSLeadbeater’s Possum New Holland Mouse Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Koala Mountain Pygmy-possum BIRDSOrange-bellied Parrot Malleefowl Eastern Curlew Plains-wanderer Black-eared Miner Regent Honeyeater Swift Parrot Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Australasian Bittern Hooded Plover (eastern)QUEENSLANDPLANTSBorder Ranges Lined Fern (Antrophyum austroqueenslandicum) Angle-stemmed Myrtle (Gossia gonoclada) Waddy, Waddi, Waddy-wood, Birdsville Wattle (Acacia peuce) Native Guava (Rhodomyrtus psidioides) Bulberin Macadamia Nut (Macadamia jansenii) Smooth Davidson’s Plum (Davidsonia johnsonii) King Blue-grass (Dichanthium queenslandicum) REPTILESGreen TurtleOlive Ridley TurtleBellinger River Snapping TurtleCollared Delma (legless gecko) INVERTEBRATESPink Underwing MothFISHGrey Nurse Shark (eastern)Redfin Blue-eyeWhite’s SeahorseFreshwater Sawfish FROGSKroombit Tinker Frog MAMMALSNorthern Hairy-nosed WombatGreater Bilby Northern QuollSpectacled Flying-fox Northern Brushtail PossumNew Holland Mouse Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Koala BIRDS Malleefowl Eastern Curlew Night Parrot Plains-wanderer Golden-shouldered Parrot Regent Honeyeater Swift Parrot Red GoshawkAustralasian Bittern SOUTH AUSTRALIAPLANTSWoods Well Spyridium (Spyridium fontis-woodii) Lax Leek Orchid (Prasophyllum laxum) Waddy, Waddi, Waddy-wood, Birdsville Wattle (Acacia peuce) Arckaringa Daisy (Olearia arckaringensis) REPTILESPygmy Blue-tongue LizardFISHMurray HardyheadFROGSGrowling Grass FrogMAMMALSNumbat Chuditch (Western Quoll) Australian Sea-lion Greater Bilby Kangaroo Island Echidna BIRDS Orange-bellied Parrot Malleefowl Eastern Curlew Night Parrot Plains-wanderer Princess ParrotBlack-eared Miner Swift Parrot Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Australasian Bittern Hooded Plover (eastern)WESTERN AUSTRALIAPLANTS Stirling Range Dryandra (Banksia montana) Giant Andersonia (Andersonia axilliflora) Eremophila subangustifolia Wongan Eriostemon (Philotheca wonganensis)Small-flowered Snottygobble (Persoonia micranthera) Tangled Wattle (Acacia volubilis) Foote’s Grevillea, Black Grevillea (Grevillea calliantha) Scaly-butt Mallee (Eucalyptus leprophloia) REPTILESShort-nosed Sea SnakeGreen TurtleOlive Ridley TurtleYinnietharra Rock-dragon Bellinger River Snapping Turtle INVERTEBRATESMargaret River Burrowing CrayfishFISHFreshwater Sawfish MAMMALSNumbat Gilbert’s Potoroo Chuditch (Western Quoll) Australian Sea-lion Greater Bilby QuokkaWestern Ringtail Possum Northern QuollNorthern Brushtail PossumBIRDS Western Ground Parrot MalleefowlEastern Curlew Night ParrotCarnaby’s CockatooPrincess ParrotRed GoshawkAustralasian BitternTASMANIAPLANTSGraveside Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum taphanyx)St Helens Wax Flower, Davies’ Wax Flower (Phebalium daviesii) INVERTEBRATESTas Giant Freshwater CrayfishAmmonite SnailFISHRed HandfishMaugean SkateSwan GalaxiasFROGSGrowling Grass FrogMAMMALSEastern Quoll New Holland Mouse BIRDSKing Island Brown ThornbillOrange-bellied Parrot Eastern Curlew Swift Parrot Australasian Bittern Hooded Plover (eastern)NORTHERN TERRITORYPLANTSMacDonnell Ranges Cycad (Macrozamia macdonnellii)Waddy, Waddi, Waddy-wood, Birdsville Wattle (Acacia peuce) REPTILESArnhem Land Gorges SkinkGreen TurtleOlive Ridley TurtleBellinger River Snapping Turtle BushfireFISHFreshwater Sawfish MAMMALSGreater Bilby Central Rock-rat Northern QuollNorthern Brushtail PossumNorthern Hopping-mouse BIRDS Malleefowl White-throated Grasswren Eastern Curlew Princess ParrotRed GoshawkAustralasian BitternAUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORYMAMMALSBrush-tailed Rock-wallaby BushfireKoala BushfireBIRDSEastern Curlew Regent Honeyeater Swift Parrot Australasian Bittern OTHER TERRITORIESBIRDSChristmas Island Goshawk Norfolk Island Green Parrot

from news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://ift.tt/2ZltS2q

October 21, 2021 at 11:30PM
https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
The priority list includes plants and animals facing multiple threats to their survival, including climate change, and was devised through consultation with scientists, community groups, traditional owners and other stakeholders.A look at the list of protected species suggests aesthetics was not an overriding criteria for inclusion.Besides the aforementioned Giant Gippsland Earthworm, there are two varieties of native snail on the list, as well as the New Holland mouse, which looks remarkably like any ordinary mouse to the untrained eye.But our mammals are also well represented, with the hairy-nosed wombat, the numbat, the sea lion, the bilby and several subspecies of wallaby and possum also now enjoying the highest level of federal government protection.“In prioritising 100 species through a decade long threatened species strategy, we are highlighting the importance not only of our mammals and plants but our, reptiles, insects, frogs and other freshwater and marine species,” Environment Minister Sussan Ley said.“This is about halting and reversing historic declines and establishing the ways we can live together with our native species.”Choosing the 100 species for the priority list was a complex task involving the Threatened Species Scientific Committee, state, territory and federal government officials, and a public consultation process. Six criteria were used to determined which species made the cut, including the likely threat of extinction, as well as the species’ uniqueness, representativeness and importance to people. The government was also guided by a value for money component – whether efforts would make a significant difference – and also by how many non-designated species could also benefit from actions to save the prioritised species.But Abi Smith from the Threatened Species Conservancy was critical of the government process, saying her organisation had not been consulted.“There are 1890 species on the EPBC [Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act], and it’s abhorrent that we would dwindle that down to 100,” she said.Many governments and NGOs were focusing their efforts on prioritising species, and there should be a greater emphasis on getting work done on the ground, she said. Ms Ley also announced an immediate $10 million in community grants for activities to protect the prioritised species.To find out more about the grants and apply visit: https://ift.tt/3jjWf8b SOUTH WALESPLANTSImlay Mallee (Eucalyptus imlayensis) Pimelea cremnophila Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) Pimelea venosa Carrington Falls Pomaderris (Pomaderris walshii) Little Mountain Palm (Lepidorrhachis mooreana) Native Guava (Rhodomyrtus psidioides) Smooth Davidson’s Plum (Davidsonia johnsonii) REPTILESGreat Desert SkinkGreen TurtleCollared Delma (legless gecko) **INVERTEBRATESPink Underwing MothCauliflower Soft CoralLord Howe Island Phasmid Mount Lidgbird Charopid Land Snail FISHGrey Nurse Shark (eastern)Stocky Galaxias White’s SeahorseFROGSSouthern Corroboree Frog Growling Grass FrogMAMMALSNumbat Greater Bilby New Holland Mouse Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Koala Mountain Pygmy-possum BIRDS Malleefowl Eastern Curlew Plains-wanderer Black-eared Miner Regent Honeyeater Swift Parrot Red GoshawkAustralasian Bittern Hooded Plover (eastern)VICTORIAPLANTSForked Spyridium (Spyridium furculentum)Stiff Groundsel (Senecio behrianus) Adamson’s Blown-grass (Lachnagrostis adamsonii) INVERTEBRATESEltham Copper ButterflyGiant Gippsland EarthwormFISHMurray HardyheadFROGSGrowling Grass FrogMAMMALSLeadbeater’s Possum New Holland Mouse Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Koala Mountain Pygmy-possum BIRDSOrange-bellied Parrot Malleefowl Eastern Curlew Plains-wanderer Black-eared Miner Regent Honeyeater Swift Parrot Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Australasian Bittern Hooded Plover (eastern)QUEENSLANDPLANTSBorder Ranges Lined Fern (Antrophyum austroqueenslandicum) Angle-stemmed Myrtle (Gossia gonoclada) Waddy, Waddi, Waddy-wood, Birdsville Wattle (Acacia peuce) Native Guava (Rhodomyrtus psidioides) Bulberin Macadamia Nut (Macadamia jansenii) Smooth Davidson’s Plum (Davidsonia johnsonii) King Blue-grass (Dichanthium queenslandicum) REPTILESGreen TurtleOlive Ridley TurtleBellinger River Snapping TurtleCollared Delma (legless gecko) INVERTEBRATESPink Underwing MothFISHGrey Nurse Shark (eastern)Redfin Blue-eyeWhite’s SeahorseFreshwater Sawfish FROGSKroombit Tinker Frog MAMMALSNorthern Hairy-nosed WombatGreater Bilby Northern QuollSpectacled Flying-fox Northern Brushtail PossumNew Holland Mouse Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Koala BIRDS Malleefowl Eastern Curlew Night Parrot Plains-wanderer Golden-shouldered Parrot Regent Honeyeater Swift Parrot Red GoshawkAustralasian Bittern SOUTH AUSTRALIAPLANTSWoods Well Spyridium (Spyridium fontis-woodii) Lax Leek Orchid (Prasophyllum laxum) Waddy, Waddi, Waddy-wood, Birdsville Wattle (Acacia peuce) Arckaringa Daisy (Olearia arckaringensis) REPTILESPygmy Blue-tongue LizardFISHMurray HardyheadFROGSGrowling Grass FrogMAMMALSNumbat Chuditch (Western Quoll) Australian Sea-lion Greater Bilby Kangaroo Island Echidna BIRDS Orange-bellied Parrot Malleefowl Eastern Curlew Night Parrot Plains-wanderer Princess ParrotBlack-eared Miner Swift Parrot Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Australasian Bittern Hooded Plover (eastern)WESTERN AUSTRALIAPLANTS Stirling Range Dryandra (Banksia montana) Giant Andersonia (Andersonia axilliflora) Eremophila subangustifolia Wongan Eriostemon (Philotheca wonganensis)Small-flowered Snottygobble (Persoonia micranthera) Tangled Wattle (Acacia volubilis) Foote’s Grevillea, Black Grevillea (Grevillea calliantha) Scaly-butt Mallee (Eucalyptus leprophloia) REPTILESShort-nosed Sea SnakeGreen TurtleOlive Ridley TurtleYinnietharra Rock-dragon Bellinger River Snapping Turtle INVERTEBRATESMargaret River Burrowing CrayfishFISHFreshwater Sawfish MAMMALSNumbat Gilbert’s Potoroo Chuditch (Western Quoll) Australian Sea-lion Greater Bilby QuokkaWestern Ringtail Possum Northern QuollNorthern Brushtail PossumBIRDS Western Ground Parrot MalleefowlEastern Curlew Night ParrotCarnaby’s CockatooPrincess ParrotRed GoshawkAustralasian BitternTASMANIAPLANTSGraveside Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum taphanyx)St Helens Wax Flower, Davies’ Wax Flower (Phebalium daviesii) INVERTEBRATESTas Giant Freshwater CrayfishAmmonite SnailFISHRed HandfishMaugean SkateSwan GalaxiasFROGSGrowling Grass FrogMAMMALSEastern Quoll New Holland Mouse BIRDSKing Island Brown ThornbillOrange-bellied Parrot Eastern Curlew Swift Parrot Australasian Bittern Hooded Plover (eastern)NORTHERN TERRITORYPLANTSMacDonnell Ranges Cycad (Macrozamia macdonnellii)Waddy, Waddi, Waddy-wood, Birdsville Wattle (Acacia peuce) REPTILESArnhem Land Gorges SkinkGreen TurtleOlive Ridley TurtleBellinger River Snapping Turtle BushfireFISHFreshwater Sawfish MAMMALSGreater Bilby Central Rock-rat Northern QuollNorthern Brushtail PossumNorthern Hopping-mouse BIRDS Malleefowl White-throated Grasswren Eastern Curlew Princess ParrotRed GoshawkAustralasian BitternAUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORYMAMMALSBrush-tailed Rock-wallaby BushfireKoala BushfireBIRDSEastern Curlew Regent Honeyeater Swift Parrot Australasian Bittern OTHER TERRITORIESBIRDSChristmas Island Goshawk Norfolk Island Green Parrot