Photo credit: Orange-bellied parrot, Graeme Chapman
Australia’s 2015 Threatened Species Strategy set out a bold, action-based approach, dedicated to protecting and recovering our threatened animals and plants. It included commitments to improve trajectories of 20 threatened birds by 2020.
Find out more about the 20 priority birds
 Planning at Norfolk Island |
Targeted projects
The Australian Government supported efforts to conserve our native plants and animals through a broad range of programs, including the National Landcare Program, Reef Trust and programs that have now ceased, including 20 Million Trees and the Green Army.
It has also taken targeted action by identifying a series of projects that will make a real difference to nationally-threatened plants, animals and ecosystems and directly tackle threats to their survival.
Click on the headings below to find out more about projects that support our 20 priority bird species.
Creating safe havens
Safe havens are areas where key threats to plants and animals can be removed, not just managed. They provide long-term protection, giving at-risk species the space needed to recover and increase their populations. They allow species to thrive by excluding their key threats. The projects listed below are creating safe havens for one or more of our 2020 priority birds.
Improving habitat
We need to focus our efforts if we are to bring our threatened animals and plants back from the brink. The Australian Government’s Threatened Species Strategy identifies improving habitat as one of its priorities for action. The projects listed below are improving habitat for one or more of our 2020 priority birds.
Tackling feral cats
The Australian Government’s Threatened Species Strategy identifies tackling feral cats as its top priority for action. By addressing their impacts, the projects listed below benefit a range of native birds, including our 20 priority bird species.
Partnership projects
The Federal Government has strengthened its commitment to threatened species with $743,000 in funding for 11 new projects to protect plants and animals in danger of extinction. These projects fall outside the Commonwealth’s own national park estate and are in addition to the $2 million announced in 2014 for at-risk flora and fauna within the Parks Australia network. The latest funding, mobilised by Threatened Species Commissioner, helps others tackle similar challenges, such as feral animals, weeds and uncontrolled fires, to native flora and fauna on different land tenures. These 11 projects include one that benefits one of our 20 priority birds.
National parks recovery projects
These projects safeguard existing populations of threatened species through strategies such as the seed banking of plants and the captive management, training, reintroduction or translocation of birds and animals. They also tackle threats to their survival in the wild, such as altered fire regimes, feral animals and weeds. Some of our 20 priority birds are among the many species that will benefit from the national parks recovery projects.
Further information
- The new Threatened Species Strategy 2021-2031
- Threatened species strategy 2015-2020
- Five year review of progress on priority bird and mammal species
- More about threatened species projects that benefit other species