Ecosystems approach leaves endangered
wildlife out in the cold
The species-based approach to protecting Australia's environment is about to be replaced. Dwindling resources and increasing numbers of endangered species is forcing the Federal government to admit that it can't afford to save everything.
FAME Executive Director Cheryl Hill says "We have known for many years that a ‘triage' approach (abandoning species that are too expensive to save) to wildlife protection was on the cards. The decision by the Federal Government to allocate funding to ecosystems rather than individual endangered species is tantamount to an admission that some species will have to go."
Mrs Hill went on to say "It makes sense to look at the big picture, and examine the impact that the decline of natural systems has on the species mix in any given area. However, there are many species that simply will not survive without direct assistance. And the presence or absence of these same species may be the key to restoring the health of vegetation and soil."
Ms Hill concluded "You simply can't look at one part of the landscape without the other. It's acknowledged that the greater the biodiversity of an area, the more likely it is to function well. Once a species is lost, the hope of restoring the original mix is gone forever."
With the government stepping back from funding the recovery of individual Species, FAME's role in saving endangered wildlife will be more important than ever. Donate to FAME today to help us save more wildlife, more quickly.
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