Species
Species conservation lies at the heart of all WWF's work throughout Australia. Twenty per cent of Australia's animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction. Climate change, ongoing habitat destruction caused by land clearing, and the enormous risk posed by invasive weeds and feral animals, mean our native plants and animals face a bleak future if action is not taken now.
Leadbeater's possum
© WWF-Canon/Frédy MERCAY
WWF is addressing these major threats to species survival in Australia through broad-ranging campaigns and programs. We work directly with governments to ensure improved policy on species conservation, and our on-ground turtle conservation and shorebirds programs provide a coordinated, national approach to reversing population decline throughout Australia.
Our Threatened Species Network (TSN), now in it's 19th year and funded though the Australian Government's Caring for our Country, supports communities to preserve and protect at-risk species. The hands-on involvement of hundreds of volunteers around Australia has helped protect more than 370 threatened plants, animals and ecological communities.
In the years ahead, WWF-Australia will continue to analyse the effectiveness of long-standing species recovery plans and work with scientists to develop new models for recovery.
Recent Species News
Conservation Priorities for Western Australia
The next Government of Western Australia has the opportunity and responsibility to secure some of Australia's most important biodiversity assets and ecosystem services. It is far cheaper to maintain our natural systems than it is to attempt to restore them. WWF has identified its priority conservation issues for Western Australia, and how these can be best addressed by the next Government.
Continue reading 'Conservation Priorities for Western Australia'
Plodding whale meeting makes climate change breakthrough
Madeira, Portugal – The International Whaling Commission adopted a major climate change resolution on the last day of its 61st meeting, although it failed to take decisions on contentious whaling issues after days of negotiations that have hampered its progress in recent years.
Australia pledges big funds for small whale conservation
Madeira, Portugal – Australia’s top environmental official on Wednesday pledged AU$500,000 (€284,927) to help save the world’s small whales as part of a major contribution to the International Whaling Commission.
Disappearing dolphins clamour for attention at whale summit
Madeira, Portugal: Small whales are disappearing from the world’s oceans and waterways as they fall victim to fishing gear, pollution, and habitat loss – compounded by a lack of conservation measures such as those developed for great whales, according to a new WWF report.
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