The Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate has added one frog, two birds and two rare plants to its list of threatened species in the ACT.
Announced by the Minister for the Environment, Mick Gentlemen, the Northern Corroboree Frog (pictured), Swift Parrot, Regent Honeyeater and two species of orchids are now listed as ‘critically endangered’.
Mr Gentleman said a total of 17 other nationally threatened species had also been added to the ACT Threatened Native Species List across various categories.
Mr Gentleman said he had changed the status of the species to reflect their status in the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
“This will lead to stronger national collaboration for protection of biodiversity,” Mr Gentleman said.
“We will continue to work with other jurisdictions on monitoring, research and action for recovery of threatened species,” he said.
“Initiatives are in place to maintain the long-term survival of a number of these species, such as the successful Northern Corroboree Frog breeding program at Tidbinbilla.”
He said that since 2011, the breeding program had helped release hundreds of captive-bred Northern Corroboree Frogs back into the fragile high country wetland ecosystems that contained sphagnum moss.
“The Government’s Woodlands Strategy is helping to restore and maintain the habitat for both the Swift Parrot and the Regent Honeyeater,” the Minister said.
“The Canberra Spider Orchid and the Brindabella Midge Orchid are endemic to the ACT and are found in very small areas.
“Long-term action plans are in place to preserve the remaining populations in our nature reserves and in the Brindabella Ranges,” he said.
