Species
Species conservation lies at the heart of all WWF's work throughout Australia. Twenty per cent of Australia's animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction. Climate change, ongoing habitat destruction caused by land clearing, and the enormous risk posed by invasive weeds and feral animals, mean our native plants and animals face a bleak future if action is not taken now.
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Leadbeater's possum
© WWF-Canon/Frédy MERCAY
WWF is addressing these major threats to species survival in Australia through broad-ranging campaigns and programs. We work directly with governments to ensure improved policy on species conservation, and our on-ground turtle conservation and shorebirds programs provide a coordinated, national approach to reversing population decline throughout Australia.
Our Threatened Species Network (TSN), now in it's 19th year and funded though the Australian Government's Caring for our Country, supports communities to preserve and protect at-risk species. The hands-on involvement of hundreds of volunteers around Australia has helped protect more than 370 threatened plants, animals and ecological communities.
WWF Australia focuses its efforts on our national threatened species, in 2009/ 2010 our conservation and rehabilitation efforts are focused on birds and marsupials. Specifically, these species include the Black Cockatoo, the Gouldian Finch and Migratory Shorebirds as well as Quolls.
Please click here for more information on WWF Australia's flagship species.
In the years ahead, WWF-Australia will continue to analyse the effectiveness of long-standing species recovery plans and work with scientists to develop new models for recovery.
The list of threatened species is continuing to grow as we are losing our battle to save many species on the brink of imminent extinction. WWF globally has identified a flagship species program focusing particular attention on a small number of charismatic and endangered species that can act as ambassadors for threatened wildlife. These species include marine turtles and dolphins as well sharks and some of Australia’s very own kangaroo and wallaby species.
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Recent Species News
Conservation Priorities for Western Australia
The next Government of Western Australia has the opportunity and responsibility to secure some of Australia's most important biodiversity assets and ecosystem services. It is far cheaper to maintain our natural systems than it is to attempt to restore them. WWF has identified its priority conservation issues for Western Australia, and how these can be best addressed by the next Government.
Continue reading 'Conservation Priorities for Western Australia'
Two days to go and environment still off the agenda
With election day looming, the environment is still missing from the picture, according to the latest policy scorecard released by WWF-Australia today.
Voters want more funding for environment
A new Australia-wide poll has found 3 out of 4 people support increasing the share of the nation's budget currently spent on nature conservation. Currently, only 1 per cent of Australia’s budget is spent on protecting the natural environment.
Rare snubfin dolphins on collision course
An alarming new study by WWF into one of the world's rarest and most threatened species has found two out of three snubfin dolphins in Roebuck Bay near Broome, Western Australia have been injured by boat strikes and fishing gear.
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