Research and Recovery of
Endangered Species Group
Evidence-based conservation for Australia’s most poorly known threatened species
The problem we face
Since the arrival of European settlement, many species of Australia’s unique fauna have suffered serious declines, with some going extinct. For many species, the reasons behind the declines are well-known; habitat loss and invasive species for example, are two of the most common and severe threatening processes. However, for many others, we have little idea why the species is declining and what best to do to save it. Effective conservation requires this information.
Although increasing numbers of threatened species are now conservation dependent, funding available for their conservation is dwindling. It is critical that any activities aimed at conserving a species are evidence-based, and have the best chance of working. This requires a detailed understanding of the ecology of the particular species being conserved and why they are threatened. In many cases, this knowledge does not exist.
Our solution
We focus on poorly-known threatened species that urgently require conservation attention. Working collaboratively, we investigate how these species interact with both their environment and the threatening processes that affect them. Armed with that knowledge, we develop practical conservation strategies with key partners that can be implemented, and the outcomes assessed, to improve the conservation status for a species.
