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.
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) partnership with the Australian Government also equips communities to preserve and protect at-risk species. Now in its 17th year, TSN provides $500,000 annually to around 35 community projects conserving threatened species through the TSN Community Grants Program. This hands-on involvement of hundreds of volunteers around Australia has helped protect more than 370 threatened plants, animals and ecological communities.
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.
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'
Tiger and wild cat parts on open sale in Myanmar
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Skin and bones, canines and claws from almost 1,200 wild cats were observed in Myanmar's wildlife markets during 12 surveys undertaken by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network. They included parts of at least 107 Tigers and all eight cat species native to Myanmar.
Australia's spot-tailed quoll is under threat of extinction
Australia's largest mainland carnivore is under serious threat of extinction, warns WWF-Australia in the lead up to World Animal Day.
World Animal Day was initiated in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species.
World's top shark scientists meet in Sydney to rewrite the rule books
Over 60 of the world's leading shark and ray experts will gather in Sydney at the end of this month to rewrite the rules regarding shark conservation and management, driven by the discovery of 100 new shark and ray species within Australian waters.
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