Threatened Species Day

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles today (Wednesday) officially launched Threatened Species Day by highlighting the important work being done in Queensland to safeguard at-risk species.

Speaking in Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall, Dr Miles said the day was “acknowledged right across the country’.

“Not only does the day raise awareness nationally of the plight of many species, but it also highlights the amazing work people are doing to save them,” Dr Miles said.

“It’s an opportunity to showcase successful recovery projects underway in Queensland to safeguard a number of threatened species as part of National Threatened Species Week, which runs from September 4 - 11.

“Sunday is also National Bilby Day, and we are working with Save the Bilby Fund to protect these special Queenslanders, by releasing them into their natural habitat at Currawinya National Park in south-western Queensland through the Greater Bilby captive breeding program”.

Dr Miles said department staff marked Threatened Species Day by selling Richmond birdwing butterfly vines at their wildlife display in Queen Street.

“This beautiful butterfly was once abundant in the streets of Brisbane,” Dr Miles said.

“But its rainforest habitat has been extensively cleared and it is now classified as vulnerable. Sadly, permanent populations of the Richmond birdwing no longer exist in the Brisbane area.

“The department’s focus this year will be on revegetation projects that aim to bring back the endangered Richmond birdwing by planting a vine that the larvae feeds on.

“People wanting to help, can buy it today at our display in Queen Street,” he said.

Dr Miles stressed habitat destruction was one of the biggest threats to Queensland's threatened species.

“That is why I announced a review into how tree-clearing was driving Queensland’s plant and animal species to extinction,” Dr Miles said.

“I wrote to the Species Technical Committee (STC) to request an impartial, scientifically sound report on the role of land clearing in the decline of native wildlife.

“There were 21 species recently assessed as facing an upgraded threat at the last committee meeting, which is very concerning.

“Action needs to be taken before more of Queensland’s world-famous plants and animals are wiped out,” he said.

The review into the impact of tree-clearing will take place over coming months to give a snapshot of the specific damage that tree clearing has on our native wildlife.

Please visit the EHP website for more information:

https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/threatened-species-week/

If you are interested in recovery actions for the Richmond birdwing please go to: https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/threatened-species/vulnerable/richmond_birdwing_butterfly.html

ENDS

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