Baw Baw frog. Image: Zoos Victoria
The Victorian Government is supporting the ongoing protection of threatened wildlife, with nearly $1.9 million in Icon Species grants to support native plants and animals across the state.
The funding will support an additional 22 projects to increase conservation efforts for threatened species including the southern brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Watson’s tree frog and matted flax-lily.
Projects include:
- Baw Baw frog exclosure ($100,000) – In a state-first trial, Zoos Victoria scientists will build a specialised frog “exclosure” around baw baw frog habitat, to protect the critically endangered species from the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus and other diseases. Exclosure offspring will support translocations and other conservation activities.
- Orange bellied parrot mapping and monitoring ($50,000) – BirdLife Australia will map habitat and monitor population viability of the cryptic orange-bellied parrot. The project will also involve training for Sea Country Rangers and supporting Traditional Owner groups to monitor the critically endangered bird on Country.
- Southern brush-tailed rock wallaby habitat surveys ($100,000) – DEECA Gippsland will establish sites for translocation of new populations of southern brush-tailed rock wallabies, the most threatened vertebrate mammal in the state. These works will be supplemented by genetic assessments in preparation for translocations, to support this critically endangered species that has less than 60 individuals left in the wild.
Since 2016, more than $10.6 million has been provided for activities that contribute to the long-term survival of threatened species through the Icon Species Program and Faunal Emblems Program, with a further $1.52 million committed to support 7 Faunal Emblem projects from the 2023-24 Victorian Budget.
Project activities include genetic sampling of species, captive breeding programs, monitoring programs, revegetation, translocations and habitat surveys.
This Icon Species and Faunal Emblems programs are part of Biodiversity 2037, Victoria’s largest ever long-term investment towards the environment, with the Victorian Government having invested over $609 million in protecting our biodiversity since 2014.
Page last updated: 25/10/24