The number of endangered animal and plant species in Australia is increasing. Since the continent was colonized in 1788, 39 species of mammals have gone extinct. That’s more than any other continent, according to a research team from the University of Sydney. The main reasons are deforestation and forest fires.
The Ministry of the Environment in Canberra published an inventory on Tuesday, which is carried out every five years. For this purpose, more than 30 researchers collected data from rivers and oceans to air and ice to rural and urban areas over two years. Their main finding: The number of endangered animal and plant species in Australia has increased by eight percent in the past five years. While there were 1774 endangered species in 2016, there are now 1918. These include mammals, birds and frogs.
400 species of mammals in the country
Since 1788, 39 species of mammals have become extinct. At the same time, 80 percent of the country’s nearly 400 mammal species live in Australia alone, the research team said. Examples include koalas, wombats, and egg-laying platypus (platypus). “Overall, the state and development of Australia’s environment is poor and continues to deteriorate due to increasing pressures from climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution and resource extraction,” the report said. Deforestation (about 7.7 million hectares between 2000 and 2017) and the 2019/20 wildfires are identified as the main reasons for habitat loss.
Government wants to combat climate change
Environmental development has a negative impact on people’s health in Australia and on their standard of living. The previous red continent government under Scott Morrison had already received the report in December 2021, but withdrew it due to the general election in May. The new government under Anthony Albanian, on the other hand, has put the fight against climate change on the agenda. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said on Tuesday the report reflected “more than a decade of passivity and willful ignorance”.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
