On National Threatened Species Day, the Nature Conservation Council of NSW has condemned the NSW government's failure to protect threatened species and ecological communities across the state.
The Keneally government is unlikely to meet its own targets on the protection of NSW’s endangered wildlife, plants and ecological communities.
The latest performance review of the NSW State Plan shows not one of the key biodiversity targets vital for the protection of threatened species, from the extent and condition of native vegetation to the eradication or control of invasive species, has improved since 2006.
In fact, some of the most critical goals to halt the decline in biodiversity – the number of sustainable populations of native fauna and the recovery of threatened species and ecological communities – are so off track that they are unlikely to meet 2015 targets.
These are not just numbers on pages. Every time one of these targets is missed, NSW risks losing forever some of its unique species and ecosystems. Every one of us relies on the natural world for clean water and air, food, fuel, medicine and other vital support for our wellbeing and society.
In NSW, 1071 native species, populations and ecological communities are listed as threatened with extinction.
Photo: The Powerful owl, the largest in Australia, is under threat from the loss and fragmentation of its forest and woodland habitat. It is currently listed as vulnerable by the NSW government.
