The Australian Government is directing an extra $4 million to the rainforests of south-east Queensland and $802,000 to fund local captive breeding programs for endangered native animals.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management and Deputy Leader of the Nationals David Littleproud said that bushfire impacts on native wildlife and habitats has been significant.
"We know that it will take a diverse range of projects to assist with the recovery of our unique flora and fauna devastated by last summer's fires," Minister Littleproud said.
"Helping our environment to recover from the devastating impact of the Black Summer bushfires is a critical part of our overall community recovery effort, which is why we have committed over $200 million out of the more than $2 billion in bushfire assistance through the National Bushfire Recovery Fund."
Speaking from Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the Government was focused on supporting the long-term recovery of native plants, animals and ecological communities following the devastating Black Summer bushfires.
"We are funding on-ground action in south-east Queensland fire-affected regions and we are investing in captive breeding programs to ensure the populations of some our most at-risk species," Minister Ley said.
"Captive breeding has become an important tool for conservationists post bushfires, helping to steady the numbers of endangered species like the endangered Smoky Mouse and Regent Honeyeater.
"That is why I am pleased to announce that Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary will receive $802,000 to boost populations of the Eastern Bristlebird and Kroombit Tinkerfrog, leading to a greater number of these threatened animals released back into their natural habitats."
South-east Queensland is one of seven regions identified for environmental recovery under the Morrison Government's $200 million wildlife and habitat recovery package. More than $1.95 million has already been invested in the region with recovery work to date focusing on weed and pest control and field surveys of threatened plant and animal species to identify fire impacts.
"This additional bushfire recovery investment will fund on-ground activities such as pest animal control for deer, cattle and pigs and for predators like foxes and feral cats on private property adjacent to the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area," Minister Ley added.
The new investment, to be delivered by the Queensland Government and Healthy Land and Water, was guided by a regional co-design workshop held in August which brought together natural resource management groups, traditional owner representatives, environment organisations, scientists, wildlife experts and governments to set the priorities for recovery to June 2022.
For more on bushfire recovery is available here: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/bushfire-recovery/regional-delivery-program.
