Victoria: 75,000ha set aside for wildlife
29 June 2008
THE State Government of Victoria is to set aside 75,000 hectares to help protect 3 of Victoria’s most endangered wildlife species, including Leadbeater’s possum, the state’s faunal emblem.
The Government is expected to announce the plan on Monday. It will include a 30,000-hectare reserve in central Victoria for the possum, 40,000 hectares in East Gippsland and the state’s north-east to protect the long-footed potoroo, and 5500 hectares to protect the most significant habitat of the Baw Baw frog.
“This package is a powerful way of protecting the habitat of endangered species and ensuring their future protection,” Environment Minister Gavin Jennings said.
He will also announce a plan, including an in-depth study to be completed by 2010 to protect Victoria’s remaining rainforests and help prevent the spread of the fatal plant virus myrtle wilt.
The plan has won the support of key environment groups, which have spent years lobbying the Government. “Any new reserves that enable endangered species greater protection is always welcomed by environment groups,” said Sarah Rees, spokeswoman for MyEnvironment Inc.
“For Victoria’s only native frog, this is the best action the Government could take to secure its future.”
The Baw Baw frog has all but disappeared, with the population falling to a few hundred, from about 15,000 in 1994. It is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list for critically endangered species.
The population of the tiny nocturnal Leadbeater’s possums has been reduced by half to about 2000 since it was listed as critically endangered in 1996, despite a decade-long joint federal and state plan to save it.
“The Leadbeater’s possum is in rapid decline in the wild, and with its habitat increasingly under threat from logging, wildfires and other forest disturbances, it needs some solid protection,” said Sera Blair, of the Friends of the Leadbeater’s Possum group in welcoming the plan.
The possum, found only in a small part of the Central Highlands, likes the hollows of old mountain ash that can take up to 200 years or more to grow.
The endangered long-footed potoroo, also known as “rat kangaroo”, is found only in NSW, East Gippsland, and the Great Dividing Range.
Mr Jennings said the plan was a practical way to save the species. “This is a great example of the Department of Sustainability and Environment and VicForests working together to balance conservation efforts while also giving the timber industry greater certainty with a steady, sustainable supply of timber from Victoria’s eastern forests,” he said
on July 5th, 2008 at 12:51 am
[...] 25) The State Government of Victoria is to set aside 75,000 hectares to help protect 3 of Victoria’s most endangered wildlife species, including Leadbeater’s possum, the state’s faunal emblem. The Government is expected to announce the plan on Monday. It will include a 30,000-hectare reserve in central Victoria for the possum, 40,000 hectares in East Gippsland and the state’s north-east to protect the long-footed potoroo, and 5500 hectares to protect the most significant habitat of the Baw Baw frog. “This package is a powerful way of protecting the habitat of endangered species and ensuring their future protection,” Environment Minister Gavin Jennings said. He will also announce a plan, including an in-depth study to be completed by 2010 to protect Victoria’s remaining rainforests and help prevent the spread of the fatal plant virus myrtle wilt. The plan has won the support of key environment groups, which have spent years lobbying the Government. “Any new reserves that enable endangered species greater protection is always welcomed by environment groups,” said Sarah Rees, spokeswoman for MyEnvironment Inc. “For Victoria’s only native frog, this is the best action the Government could take to secure its future.” The Baw Baw frog has all but disappeared, with the population falling to a few hundred, from about 15,000 in 1994. It is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list for critically endangered species. The population of the tiny nocturnal Leadbeater’s possums has been reduced by half to about 2000 since it was listed as critically endangered in 1996, despite a decade-long joint federal and state plan to save it. http://www.moving-to-melbourne.co.uk/news/?p=60 [...]