Australia’s Ecosystems on the Brink: 200+ Species Now Endangered, Urgent Action Needed

The BBC reports that a recent environmental status report commissioned by the Australian government warns, “Australia’s ecosystems are in shocking decline.” According to the report, Australia’s number of endangered species has surpassed 200, marking an 8% increase compared to a similar study from seven years ago. This list includes many native Australian species, such as the iconic koala and the gang-gang cockatoo.   

The report attributes the environmental crisis to various factors such as climate change, habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, and resource extraction, particularly emphasizing human responsibility for these issues. It highlights the significant impact of abandoned fishing nets in northern Australia, which kill 14,000 turtles annually. It notes that over the past 20 years, 77,000 square kilometers of wildlife habitat have been lost, leading to a surge in the number of endangered species.

The report criticizes the current environmental protection systems for being fragmented across various government departments, leading to ineffective protection. It calls for systemic reform and points out that the federal government’s reduction in biodiversity conservation support has accelerated ecosystems’ decline.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has called for increased attention to environmental protection, warning, “If we continue on the trajectory that we are on, the precious places, landscapes, animals, and plants that we think of when we think of home may not be here for our kids and grandkids.”