Protecting our biodiversity is up to all of us.

One of Australia’s key threatened mammal conservation strategies is having unintended negative consequences which could jeopardise long-term conservation outcomes. The research on woylies found that animals bred in predator-free conservation havens lost the traits they need to detect and escape predators, likely making them less able to survive in the wild if reintroduced back to former areas.     

This factsheet summarises research findings on the impact of Australia’s pet cats on wildlife. It also provides information for cat owners and local government organisations about how to reduce the impact and improve the welfare of pet cats.

The South-East Marine Park Network requires reconfiguration, rigorous and transparent prioritisation with stakeholders, addition of new areas, and an increase the number of areas where fishing and mining are not allowed, to ensure the representation of all biodiversity in the region, including areas of high conservation and cultural value, biodiversity hotspots, and areas under greatest threat currently missing or outside of the current protected area.

The Biodiversity Council welcomed the opportunity to provide feedback into the Parliament of Victoria’s Select Committee Inquiry into Native Bird Hunting Arrangements. The Biodiversity Council does not support a continuation of recreational native bird hunting in Victoria in light of a range of factors, threats and documented declines. This  includes a decline in all waterbird species over the last 40 years observed in the annual Eastern Australian waterbird survey which began in 1983.

The Victorian Government today announced that it will exit native forest logging on 1 January 2024, six years ahead of the previous planned end date.  The Biodiversity Council welcomed the end of native forest logging in Victoria which it described as ‘highly unsustainable both ecologically and economically’, and flagged that active management of forests will be needed to heal damage, manage fire, and stem the massive impacts of invasive species.