Today on World Environment Day, the Coalition is delighted to announce that a re-elected Turnbull Government will commit $20,000 to local efforts to protect the iconic Ormeau Bottle Tree.
The funding will help the Friends of the Ormeau Bottle Tree fence off populations, collect seeds for seed banking, control weeds and propagate and replant this critically endangered species.
This community project will be among the first to be supported by the $5 million Threatened Species Recovery Fund, announced today by Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt.
Minister Hunt said the Fund would support local communities in the fight to protect Australia’s vulnerable flora and fauna.
“The Fund will provide seed money and community grants for local projects that strongly align with the targets of Australia’s Threatened Species Strategy,” Minister Hunt said.
“Across Australia local communities, environment groups and ‘friends of’ groups are working tirelessly to protect our vulnerable species. We want to support their efforts.”
Federal Member for Forde, Bert Van Manen, said the Turnbull Government understands the importance of supporting community efforts to protect Australia’s unique wildlife.
“The Threatened Species Recovery Fund will help galvanise community action on the ground, where it is needed most,” Mr Van Manen said.
Australia’s unacceptably high rate of species extinction is a problem that needed a fresh approach. That is why the Coalition Government appointed Australia’s first Threatened Species Commissioner and released Australia’s first Threatened Species Strategy.
The Strategy contains ambitious but achievable targets to turn around the trajectory of 20 priority birds, 20 priority mammals and 30 priority plants by 2020.
It also commits to the creation of five feral cat-free islands, 10 mainland feral cat-free wildlife enclosures and the culling of two million feral cats.
Since the appointment of the Threatened Species Commissioner in June 2014, the Australian Government has mobilised more than $208 million for projects that directly support and protect our threatened species.