Restoring Australia’s Biodiversity Will Cost $583 Billion a Year for 30 Years

 

Research has found the cost of fully restoring all of Australia’s threatened species is estimated at $583 billion annually for 30 years – but cost-effective strategies can help.

Australia is a Mega-Biodiverse Nation

Australia has the most endemic species in the world, making it one of only 17 mega-biodiverse nations. However, issues such as land clearing, feral predators, changes to Indigenous fire regimes, and other human impacts have resulted in one of the greatest biodiversity losses on the planet.

Currently, Australia has 1,657 species under threat, both flora and fauna, with over 100 species already lost since colonisation. With populations falling 2-3% every year over the last 25 years, Australia is facing one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time.

Biodiversity loss threatens ecosystems, it impacts our cultural heritage, economic stability, and societal wellbeing. While the current Labor Government has pledged to halt the damage and prevent any new extinctions, it’s not understood the true cost of this task, until now.

Efforts must be made to save our endangered wildlife

About the New Research

New research led by Professor James Watson of Conservation Science at the University of Queensland examined the actions needed to reduce current threats and calculated the costs including labour, transport, and consumables.

The findings are staggering – Australia needs an estimated 25% of its GDP, or $583 billion per year for at least 30 years, to restore its threatened species to their full viable range. This figure alone indicates how much damage has been done over the last 250 years.

The costs have been calculated on a per-hectare basis, with drastic variability across the country, from $0 to $12,600 per hectare, with the most expensive regions being the east and South West of Australia.

Surprisingly, the highest costs stem from managing invasive weeds like blackberry and lantana rather than replanting habitats or controlling feral animals.

Local Action Offers Hope

While large-scale restoration is expensive, there are smaller, more local, and affordable practices, such as fire and predator management, that can protect many species. For example, these methods have safeguarded the Night parrot, once thought extinct, in southwest Queensland.

In Western Australia, projects like the Western Shield and Cape Arid National Park initiatives are successfully managing feral cats and foxes.

How Recovering Threatened Species Helps Humans Too

Restoring Australia’s biodiversity would have considerable benefits on its communities as well:

• This project will need around one million people working full-time for 30 years, creating jobs in regional and rural communities
• Introduced animals cost farmers billions each year so weed and feral animal control will benefit the agricultural industry
• With habitats restored, it’s estimated an additional 11 million tonnes of carbon will be stored, helping move Australia towards net zero emissions
• It will create new, more sustainable and biodiverse pathways for Australia’s future
• This research will help guide nature-related decision-making within governments and other organisations

The research highlights the need for collaboration between governments, conservationists, and the public to repair the damage and create a sustainable future.

Feature image thanks to Wayne Lawler