Australia called out for 'failing' two rare species facing extinction
This July, two draft plans were released for public consultation about how to save a pair of rare animals threatened with extinction. One is the vulnerable Australian lungfish, an ancient species that has developed the unique ability to breathe air from the surface using a single lung during dry periods. The other is the endangered sandhill dunnart, a tiny carnivorous mammal that weighs less than two AA batteries.
This is the second time draft recovery plans have been announced for the two species, but neither has had its recovery plan finalised. Listing a species as threatened indicates it needs help, and recovery plans are described as being akin to "rescue roadmaps" that strategise how to save it.
In Australia, there are over 2,200 species listed by the Commonwealth as threatened with extinction under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. The Wilderness Society, which is represented by Environment Justice Australia (EJA), claims there are hundreds of other species with 'missing or expired plans', and it has taken the government to court, with the Australian lungfish and sandhill dunnart both subject to that case.
Ellen Maybery, senior specialist lawyer at EJA, said draft recovery plans 'aren't enough' and that 'effective recovery plans' are needed.
'There are still hundreds of missing or expired plans. Our client is asking the court to confirm that the law requires these recovery plans to be made,' she said.
The Wilderness Society argues recovery plans were actually due back in 2012 when Kevin Rudd was installed as prime minister for the second time. That's because then environment minister Peter Garrett was taken to have decided they were required three years earlier in 2009.
Since then, Australia has had four other prime ministers, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese. The Wilderness Society notes they were released four months after its legal action in the Federal Court was announced.
Its biodiversity policy manager, Sam Szoke-Burke, noted Australia has the worst record in the world for mammalian extinctions and the second worst for biodiversity loss.
'Yet government after government has neglected to comply with mandated functions and duties to protect and foster recovery of Australian wildlife and plants,' he said.
'In the face of inaction, we felt we had no option other than to resort to the courts to compel the Federal government to do its job: we believe that includes making recovery plans for these unique and important animals.'
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The Department of Environment declined to answer specific questions about the matter. 'As these queries relate to recovery plans that are the subject of current legal proceedings before the Federal Court, it would not be appropriate to comment further,' it said.
Environment Minister Murray Watt's office did not respond to questions from Yahoo.
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