Six animals and five plants added to State's threatened species list

12/12/06
Two mammals, three fish and one bird have been added to Western Australia's threatened species list, Environment Minister McGowan announced today.
Mr McGowan said the list also included another five plants, including the newly discovered Lepidosperma - a sword sedge found in the Mt Gibson area.
One marsupial, the Boullanger Island dunnart, was removed from the list because investigations showed it also occurred on the mainland.
The new listings include:

• the green sawfish - threatened because it is taken as by-catch in the northern prawn and barramundi fisheries;
• the mud minnow and Balston's pygmy perch - restricted to freshwater rivers in the South-West, where they are threatened by rising salinity and habitat loss;
• the northern quoll - threatened because of the decline in its range and numbers and the added threat posed by the potential invasion of the cane toad into the Kimberley region;
• the brush-tailed phascogale - occurs in the South-West and has had an ongoing significant decline in its population;
• the black browed albatross - threatened by long-line fishing;
• Lepidosperma - a newly discovered sword sedge found in the Mt Gibson area;
• Reedia spathacea - a sedge that is declining due to threats from pig activity and inappropriate fire regimes; and
• Acacia caesariata, Latrobea obovata and Laxmannia grandiflora brendae - only known from rare occurrences in isolated areas.

"The new additions to the list bring the total number of specially protected flora to 378 and the total number of threatened fauna to 204," the Minister said.
"It is always regrettable and disappointing to add new species to the lists but by doing so, we are able to offer greater protection.
"The fauna listing provides special protection under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950, raising the maximum penalty for taking the species without authority to $10,000.
"Flora listed as threatened are protected on private property, as well as on Crown and leasehold lands.
"Recovery plans are implemented by the Department of Environment and Conservation for threatened species with priority given to those most threatened with extinction."
The Minister said there were 14 flora and 18 fauna presumed to be extinct in Western Australia.
"Unfortunately, the past 178 years of western settlement has not been kind to our biodiversity and a lot of damage has been done," he said.
"However, we are well ahead of many other States - and indeed, nations - with many of our ecosystems still intact.
"The Carpenter Government is working on a number of fronts to reverse the decline in our biodiversity through legislation, recovery and conservation programs and research.
"Key programs such as the Western Shield campaign against feral predators have prevented the extinction of key species such as numbats and woylies.
"We are committed to continuing this work and have provided the Department of Environment and Conservation with an extra $2.3million this year for threatened species recovery work under the biodiversity conservation initiative."
The Minister approved the revised lists of threatened flora and fauna based on recommendations by the WA Threatened Species Scientific Committee, which includes scientists from Edith Cowan University, the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, the WA Museum and DEC.
Minister's office - 9222 9111