Laws ‘powerless’ as Aussie animals deemed endangered

Eight Australian animals and five plants have been deemed endangered and laws to protect them are “powerless” as the destruction or degradation of their habitats continue.

The updated threatened species list was revealed by the Australian Conservation Foundation on Wednesday and includes three freshwater fish, three lizards, one frog and a turtle.

New flora additions include one rainforest tree, two flowering shrubs, a daisy and an orchid species.

Each of the new animal listings is under threat from habitat destruction or degradation.

Australian Conservation Foundation nature campaigner Darcie Carruthers detailed how human-led changes to habitats were linked to endangering species.

“More than 90 per cent of the lizard’s known range in the NSW Hunter Valley has been damaged by open cut mining and agriculture,” she said.

“Plant species are also being affected by deforestation. One rainforest tree has hurtled directly to the ‘critically endangered’ category.”

There are at least 20 coal mines within the species’ known habitat range.

Three freshwater fish species – all found at South Australia’s Witjira-Dalhousie Mound Springs – have also been added to the list.

Each have been deemed critically endangered.

The springs are fed by the Great Artesian Basin and many have dried up due to water extraction for mining, petroleum operations and pastoral use.

“As is the case for so many plants and animals, climate change is exacerbating other threats,” Ms Carruthers said.

“These latest listings show our nature laws are powerless to stop Australian plants and animals being wilfully destroyed.”

Ms Carruthers said toughened nature laws were needed to protect Australia’s forests, lizards, bush, wetlands and frogs.

Pig-nosed turtles, Pugh’s sphagnum frogs, Hunter Valley delmas, Alpine water skink and Ringed thin-tail geckos complete the list of newly-endangered fauna.

Australian flora which made the list include the Spyridium cinereum, Brachyscome brownii, Fontainea sp. Coffs Harbour, Sannantha whitei and Caladenia amnicola.

The federal government recognises 2224 species as being under threat of extinction.

 

Holly Hales
(Australian Associated Press)

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