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At a time when Australia is clearing land at an astonishing rate and annual global temperature averages have surpassed 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels for first time on record, Bush Heritage Australia is urging Australians to help raise $3.5 million to support their critical conservation efforts.
Australia's land-based and aquatic ecosystems are indispensable. They absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), limit warming, and help address the interlinked crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. And yet, every year protecting these ecosystems becomes more and more challenging.
Rob Murphy, Executive Manager of Conservation Operations at Bush Heritage said:
“Our communities and native wildlife are already experiencing the impacts of a warming climate, such as frequent and severe droughts, more frequent and intense bushfires, heatwaves, and rainfall. This tax time, we need Australians’ help to go even further in our efforts to tackle these existential challenges.”
Bush Heritage has made significant strides in expanding its conservation impact. In the past 18 months alone, the organisation has acquired nearly 240,000 hectares of land across four reserves, including the largest acquisition in its 34-year history with Evelyn Downs in South Australia.
These acquisitions are part of Bush Heritage's 2030 strategy to double its impact by growing its network of reserves. Alongside this, Bush Heritage is working hard to deepen its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships to support their aspirations for healthy Country and working with more agricultural partners to boost biodiversity on pastoral lands.
Rob Murphy explained that the work is only just beginning when the land is purchased and protected with the help of Bush Heritage’s incredible supporters.
“True conservation goes beyond simply expanding the area of protected land. It requires us to be constantly increasing our resources and expertise. It requires a vast interconnected network of people and skills all listening to the land, learning what it needs, and adapting with it.”
Bush Heritage is undertaking significant restoration projects right around the country, from rebuilding habitat for threatened species, combating soil erosion, and implementing best-practice fire management. This year alone, the organisation expects to invest $566,300 in restoration projects and $1.6 million in fire management across its reserves.
At a time when nature needs it most, Bush Heritage Australia is calling on Australians to make a tax-deductible donation before June 30. Every dollar donated will be matched up to $1 million, doubling the impact of each contribution. These funds are crucial for accelerating vital conservation projects to create thriving, diverse landscapes and desperately needed habitats for Australia's most threatened species.
Bush Heritage Australia is a leading not-for-profit conservation organisation that protects ecosystems and wildlife across the continent. We use the best science, conservation and right-way knowledge to deliver landscape-scale impact. We’re on the ground, working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the agricultural sector to make sure our impact is deep, sustainable and collaborative.
