Skip to content

Conservation

The future of Australia's conservation efforts?

by Dave Armstrong 09 Apr 2015
The future of Australia's conservation efforts?

Sugar gliders, Petaurus breviceps are closely related to Leadbetter’s possum (or fairy possum), which cannot glide but they provide support for David Lindermeyer’s long-term conservation efforts for marsupials in eucalyptus forest, as long they keep those darn cats out. This species is thriving in parts of northern and eastern Australia.Sugar glider image Credit: © Shutterstock

Australia leads the world in many ways. They export more of their coal than anybody else and they lead in number of extinctions. One of these is their fault and the other is down to a profusion of IAS (Invasive Alien Species.) We havea profligate number of articles on these species, from cats to rats and pythons, if you need any reminders! To deal with the collapse of marsupial biodiversity is an essential, if saddening process. David Lindermeyer of the Australian National University (the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society) has proposed that culling cats and foxes might help, but a much more long term approach by scientists could provide the necessary fuel for species’ recovery.

He published Continental-level biodiversity collapse in PNAS on April 6th. Australians face the possible loss of 20% of their remaining marsupials, which are currently classed as threatened. The rate of loss has been 10X that of the US over 2 centuries, obviously connected to the non-placental mammals involved in these extinctions. With the Leadbetter’s possum, Gymnobelideus leadbeateri, one of his focal points in Victoria, the industrial clear-felling, salvage logging and wildfire threats are seen as simply adding to an already threatening history of logging operations. This species of possum needs big, old-growth trees such as the great mountain ash, Eucalyptus regnans, just like 300 other species of many different phyla that rely on such oldsters. The animal was rediscovered in 1961, after being declared extinct, so the giant effort needed to maintain it in modern forest types is a real test of determination.

The ubiquitous acacias also play a big part in forest and savannah habitat, not only for this possum, but providing for a larger variety of animals across the continent. More feral invaders are on the way, according to the Professor, after pet-trade releases have added to the mix. Such conservation could be Australia’s forte in the future, according to the Lindermeyer point of view. Since 1788, the rapid loss of species contrasts with the loss of a single mammal in North America. We still can’t forgive them for the passenger pigeon, but North Americans have a good recent record with reintroductions and even the conservation of invertebrates.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping