Australian Wildlife Conservancy Announces a $100M Plan to Protect 5% of the Continent

The Australian Wildlife Conservancy has released a ten-year strategy, introducing plans to expand protected land, enter new partnerships, and establish safe havens to protect wildlife by 2035.

What’s in the plan?

Global conservation leader, Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s (AWC) plan to protect 5% of Australia’s land mass by 2035 would more than double its existing managed land. The organisation plans to execute its new strategy by acquiring land, entering new partnerships, and establishing additional safe havens to increase its protection of threatened species by 50%.

The strategy also includes plans to more than double financial support and allow $100 million investment per annum into the preservation of Australia’s unique landscapes and wildlife by 2035.

The six key focuses of the new strategy include:

• Delivering effective wildlife conservation to help stop extinctions
• Extending conservation reach by collaborating with First Nations communities and new partners
• Empowering and engaging employees to maintain a steady 80% engagement rate
• Becoming a more financially sustainable and efficient organisation
• Increasing financial investment in nature to up to $100 million a year
• Building public awareness and support of Australia’s conservation challenges by 5% year on year

Waulinbakh Wildlife Sanctuary in NSW

No Time to Waste

AWC says that conservation of Australia’s wildlife is more pressing than ever, with the Australian Government listing more than 140 species as critically endangered, including the Northern Hairy-Nosed wombat, which is now one of the rarest mammals on the planet.

‘Australia has already lost at least 33 mammal species since colonisation — and we’re losing more every year’, said CEO of the AWC, Tim Allard. 

‘We’re drawing a line in the sand. This plan is the boldest private response to the extinction crisis in our nation’s history’, he said.

AWC’s recent conservation work includes establishing ten feral predator-free areas and reintroducing more than 20 native species. These include the return of Bilbies to NSW after a century-long absence and safeguarding nearly 10% of Australia’s nationally threatened mammal species at its Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Australia.

‘This isn’t just a plan. It’s a lifeline’, says Allard. ‘We’re calling on Australians to get behind us, because the next ten years will decide the future of our wildlife.’

Northern Bettong released at Mt Zero-Taravale Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland

Former Politician Joins AWC

The launch of the plan also comes with news that Matt Kean, Chair of the Climate Change Authority and former Energy Minister for NSW, joins the AWC’s Board of Directors. 

‘Our wildlife is at a tipping point. This is about more than conservation, it’s about mobilising Australians to protect our extraordinary animals. I’m joining Australian Wildlife Conservancy because they get results — and now is the time to raise the stakes — and speed up the response’, Kean says.

Matt Kean and Ecologist Dr Laurence Berry before releasing a Numbat at Mallee Cliffs National Park

Read the full strategic plan find out how to get involved on AWC’s website.

Photos by Brad Leue