Species extinctions

We are facing an extinction crisis. Nature is vanishing at a rate not seen in 10 million years. One million species globally are on the verge of disappearing.⁽¹⁾

In Australia, more than 2,000 species are listed as threatened⁽¹⁾, with over 50% of these endangered or critically endangered. We also have the fastest rate of mammal extinction in the world. In 2023 alone, 144 plants, animals and ecological communities were added to this list. Including, the Pink Cockatoo, Spiny Crayfish and Earless Dragons.⁽²⁾

Endemic species

Between 600,000 and 700,000 native species exist in Australia’s land and waters ⁽³⁾. Many of them are found nowhere else on the planet – including over 80% of plants and mammals and 45% of birds. Australia is also home to two biodiversity hotspots, recognised for their extraordinary levels of unique plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. One of these is in south-west Western Australia, home to our Fitz-Stirling Reserves. Our reserves are helping to protect these remarkable endemic species for future generations. 

Human activities  

Previous mass-extinction events have been caused by phenomena such as asteroid strikes, volcanoes or natural climate shifts, but today’s extinction crisis is being driven by human activities. 

Land clearing and habitat destruction, the introduction of feral species and the impacts of climate change are all driving the trend. The 2021 Australian State of the Environment Report revealed that 7.7 million hectares ⁽⁴⁾ – larger than the size of Tasmania – of threatened species habitat was destroyed across the continent between 2000 and 2017, and 93% of this was destroyed without government assessment or approval. 

Habitat destruction or modification often results in fragmented species populations in smaller areas of remnant habitat. This makes species more exposed to the elements and at greater risk of compounding threats. When we buy land, we can protect it. When we restore land, we can restore habitats so that animals can return. 

The ecological domino effect

‘Ecosystem services’ is a common term in the conservation sector. It refers to the benefits humans can get from nature, often by looking at the role species play to help their broader ecosystem flourish. They could pollinate flowers and plants to help them propagate and grow. They could fertilise forests or recycle dead plants and animals back into usable nutrients. Or keep other animal populations in check.  

For example, Australian Sandalwood used to be found across much of Australia – it is now going extinct in the wild. This was in part due to the loss of Burrowing Bettongs and Brush-tailed Bettongs, which disappeared with the introduction of cats and foxes. 

These bettongs were seed dispersers for sandalwood, scattering and burying their fruit and helping it grow. Now, the sandalwood tree faces many ailments and if it became extinct, the habitat it creates for other species would be lost too. The loss of even our smallest of organisms can destabilise our continent’s ecosystems, but with a little support and on-ground management we can help sustain their lives.

Extreme weather events

When in a healthy condition, Australian ecosystems are often highly resilient and able to recover from fire, droughts, floods, and extreme weather. But under climate change, we're already witnessing more extreme weather events and the devastating impact they can have on native species. 

The Black Summer bushfires of 2019–2020 burned more than eight million hectares of native vegetation across 11 terrestrial bioregions and 17 major vegetation types. An estimated three billion animals were caught in this fire zone ⁽⁵⁾, including on Bush Heritage reserves. Nature is resilient but it needs support to bounce back from these conditions.  

One of the animals affected by the 2019 Black Summer fires was the Greater Glider. In 2022 it was moved from vulnerable to endangered on the Federal Government’s threatened species list. The Greater Glider is found on our Burrin Burrin Reserve. 

Over 95% of Burrin Burrin Reserve was impacted by the 2019 fires. After the fires, we began helping the land bounce back. Management included controlling feral pigs, which are known to flourish after fires; monitoring for surviving wildlife and installing feed stations; deepening our engagement with neighbours on shared goals; assessing for erosion; and increasing the frequency of vegetation surveys to monitor potential weed invasions. 

To the joy of our field staff, Greater Gliders continue to be spotted on the reserve.