Malleefowl, regent parrots and more granted endangered status

The Mallee Bird Community of the Murray Darling Depression Bioregion is now listed as endangered, with the listing providing greater protection against major threats to the birds and their habitat and a chance at recovery through prioritised action.

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Humane Society International made the case for the Mallee bird community endangered status in 2015, with Federal Minister for Environment Sussan Ley's decision to list the ecological community following complex and thorough assessment by the Department of Environment and Threatened Species Scientific Committee.

"The Mallee bird community's endangered listing is a momentous conservation first for Australia," Humane Society International head of programs Evan Quartermain said.

"It is the only threatened habitat of 96 nationally listed that is defined by the animals within it, providing a new and potentially groundbreaking way of conserve our precious nature."

Malleefowl, mallee emu wrens, regent parrots and red-lored whistlers, all of which are considered threatened, are among the 20 mallee-dependent species that will benefit from the increased protection and recovery prioritisation afforded to the Mallee bird community.

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Many of these species provide key ecosystem functions across the community and are key to its integrity being maintained.

It was found that the restricted distribution of the community combined with severe fragmentation and increasing threats such as invasive species and fire more than met requirements for an endangered listing.

All six Threatened Ecological Communities to have been added to the schedules of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) this year were initiated by HSI.

The HSI is now responsible for nominations leading to 42 of 96 EPBC Act TEC listings and said it will continue to fight for stronger laws and investment to protect and recover them.

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