A conservation strategy is like a healthcare plan for threatened plants, animals and ecological communities across New South Wales under the Saving our Species program.
Every listed threatened species and ecological community in New South Wales, under the Biodiversity Conversation Act 2016, is required to have a conservation strategy. This is a document that outlines the actions ('where', 'what' and 'how') to secure the species from extinction in the wild.
The development of these strategies is informed by expert knowledge and research and takes into consideration practical and cost-effective actions that will bring the most benefit to biodiversity across the state.
Learn more about Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
Priority management sites (the 'where')
Each species' strategy identifies locations or areas that are crucial to their protection and conservation in the wild. Priority management sites are considered by Saving our Species to be those that are most important to secure the species. For instance, they might be the largest and healthiest populations of the species, or the locations which are assessed to be the best suited to protect the species in future climates. These locations are where we focus our conservation efforts, as it is here that the team can have the greatest impact.
Critical threats (the 'what')
For each species, their strategy identifies the critical threats to its survival. These can be things like habitat loss, fire, disease, or weed invasion. Only the threats that directly put the species at risk of extinction are included and flagged for mandatory action. Strategies will include descriptions of specific actions, offering Saving our Species staff and partners practical options to manage these threats, and this is what makes up the 'how'.
Management, research and monitoring actions (the 'how')
'The how' of a strategy are management, research and monitoring actions - essentially, the 'next steps' that break down what needs to happen in the species' habitats and ecosystems. Different types of conservation actions include:
- management: for example, pest and weed control, installing educational signs, translocation or seed banking
- research (to fill in the gaps in our knowledge): for example, what types of fires might help or damage this plant species?
- monitoring (to find out if the management actions are helping): for example, are more seeds germinating and seedlings growing after we removed weeds?
Priority carers (the 'who')
Just as a well-designed healthcare plan details the essential professionals and carers that support a patient's recovery, saving threatened species takes the work of many. Saving our Species conservation strategies help guide our staff to support experts, land managers and volunteers to take the most important actions to prevent extinction. This means that, together, we can work towards reversing biodiversity decline. Together, we're one step closer to a flourishing future.
