The bilby has disappeared from 80% of its former range. Introduced animals and habitat change have decimated their numbers and drastically reduced their distribution.

Save the Bilby Fund is responsible for coordinating the National Recovery Plan for the species because, without this type of informed management of the wild, captive and semi-captive populations, bilbies risk becoming extinct.

There is good news. In the Fund’s bespoke predatory proof breeding-reserve they have grown numbers from just 6 to over 400 in just 4 years. The national recovery target is 10,000 - the number required to have a sustainable population, so the Funds next goal is to grow their impact in 2 new regions.

Core funding, Save The Bilby Fund. $4,000 April 2025.

Learn more at https://savethebilbyfund.org.au/

Since colonisation, Australia has lost one in ten mammal species – as an isolated island with unique species, we are incredibly vulnerable to biodiversity loss.

In the Top End alone, nine animal species are facing extinction within the next two decades. The situation for native flora is equally dire. In just 12 years leading up to 2017, the size of threatened plant populations shrank by 72 per cent.

There is good news. Research shows that nature is generally declining less rapidly on land managed by First Nations peoples compared to other lands.

The Karrkad Kanjdji Trust (KKT) funds Indigenous rangers located in Central and West Arnhem Land, who blend Indigenous ecological knowledge with Western science to control threats and support native species to thrive.

Core funding, the Karrkad Kanjdji Trust. $5,000 February 2025.

Learn more at https://kkt.org.au/

Platypus are thought to have declining populations due to habitat changes and non-native predators. These declines are poorly defined, because they are difficult to survey and there are few actual assessments of population size, especially outside of Victoria

A 2-year James Cook University project, in conjunction with Yungaburra Landcare and the Australian Platypus Conservancy aims to address these information gaps.

This research, near Atherton in Queensland is in an area with little quality data for over 20 years. It will utilise a variety of methods including eDNA sampling, a citizen science observation process, cameras and live trapping.

Research funds, James Cook University. $2,500, January 2025

Our wildlife, environment and economy is facing a huge challenge. The red imported fire ant is one of the worst invasive species in the world, and they are here in big numbers.

In Australia there are concerns for many native species that are declining already from other impacts, including threatened turtles, crocodiles, lizards, frogs, and ground-dwelling birds such as the malleefowl, black-breasted button-quail and plains wanderer, among many others.

The Federal Environment Department says that, if established, the economic impact of fire ants “is predicted to surpass the combined effects of pests regarded as Australia’s worst invasive species—feral cats, feral pigs, foxes, camels, rabbits and cane toads.”

Australia has a record of success in combating several invasive species if tackled early. The Invasive Species Council is leading the advocacy for an aggressive campaign to tackle this current and growing environmental threat. This includes a citizen science mobile app so you can do your own ID.

Campaign support, The Invasive Species Council. $2,000, December 2024.

Learn more at https://invasives.org.au/

Some of the world’s finest wild marine habitat is under threat in Tasmania

Foreign-owned Atlantic open-pen salmon companies are releasing tonnes of antibiotics, chemicals, feed waste and faeces into waterways, creating an industrial biomass that; suffocates marine life and habitat and contaminates beaches and bays. This is in addition to staff firing underwater grenades at native wildlife.

Soon one of the world’s most endangered and rare sea animals - the Maugean Skate will be lost. Forever.

To tackle this, volunteer-led Neighbours of Fish Farming is campaigning to remove salmon feedlots and hatcheries from the vulnerable, shallow coastal waters and rivers of Tasmania.

Campaign funds, Neighbours of Fish Farming. $5,000, November 2024.

Learn more at https://www.noff.au/

Preserving habitat is the key to species protection and climate action.

That’s why preserving the last of our great national native forests is both essential and sensible.

However rather than use plantation logging the Tasmanian government subsidise foreign-owned timber companies to log and then incinerate native forests. 80% of these ancient timbers are used for wood pulp. Native species are wiped out in bulk in both the logging process and post-logging napalm fire-bombs released to clear remaining habitat. So how do we change minds and encourage more professional government choices?

Forest Watch has been established by the Bob Brown Foundation to share logging industry data to provide both transparency and data-driven conversations about this poorly managed industry.

Program support, Bob Brown Foundation. $5,000. November 2024

Learn more at https://forestwatch.org.au/

Remarkably, logging continues in NSW native old growth forests. Safeguards to survey and map greater glider habitat within these areas are poor and routinely ignored by loggers. So how do we address this?

Wilderness Australia and partners (WWF and South East Forest Rescue) has been conducting glider surveys, where they bushwalk through dense forest areas, locating pockets of old, hollow-bearing trees, and then wait for nightfall to see whether the marsupial emerge from the hollows. When they do, they record the den trees on the government’s database, which immediately establishes logging exclusion zones. This work is now being supplemented by thermal drones.

This work is highly successful in establishing large swathes of protection zones. Without this grassroots work this habitat and these animals would be flattened.

Direct action, Wilderness Australia. $2,500, October 2024.

Learn more at https://www.wildernessaustralia.org.au/

Karst is a type of landscape where the dissolving of the bedrock has created sinkholes, sinking streams, caves, and springs. They are unique and fragile places in their own right - but also contain unique flora and fauna.

The Australian Speleological Federation aims to protect the cave and karst environment of Australia.

Projects have including protection of fragile landforms, and supporting research on unique fauna. An area of specific interest is Tasmanian Karst systems - some of the most geologically developed in the country.

Project grant to support Tasmanian projects. The Australian Speleological Foundation. $3,000, September 2024.

Learn more at https://caves.org.au/

There are about 120 Wedge-tailed Eagle breeding pairs left in Tasmania, less than 110 pairs of Grey Goshawks and less than 200 pairs of White-bellied Sea Eagles

Funds for rehabilitation and release of native raptors, Raptor Refuge. $3,000, September 2024.

Learn more at https://www.raptorrefuge.com.au/

Wildlife carers play an invaluable role rescuing and rehabilitating native fauna. Often a key role is providing authentic food sources - such as Koala's preferred gum leaves.

But what happens when the carers properties are burnt clean by high intensity bushfires?

Gippsland Wildlife Rescue Group have a project to re-vegetate properties of wildlife carers in their group who have lost vegetation due to bushfire. This will produce feed for the animals in their care prior to release.

Funds for revegetation works and plantings, Wildlife Rescue & Protection (Gippsland Group). $1,000 September 2024.

Learn more at their Facebook Page.

All native animal rescue centres seek to provide exceptional care for rescued wildlife. But many also play a very important role in advancing research to improve their survival rate.

Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue (SKER) based in South Australia is such a centre. It operates science-driven advocacy, rescue and rehabilitation for a broad variety of species - specialising in koalas and echidnas. Importantly they partner with other organisations and universities to grow our collective knowledge.

SKER has a wholistic approach to their mission - also supporting habitat revegetation and education projects.

Funds for veterinary equipment and testing, Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue. $2,000, August 2024.

Learn more at https://www.sker.org.au/

Urban remnant vegetation plays a crucial role in our cities, serving as pockets of biodiversity that offer numerous benefits to both humans and wildlife.

These patches of native vegetation are often the last remnants of once extensive ecosystems, providing critical habitat for many rare plant and animal species.

Conserving these green spaces is essential for maintaining biodiversity and sustainable cities for the future.

The national seed-banking programme in an initiative of The Australian Seedbank Partnership - an alliance of 14 organisations, bringing together expertise from Australia’s leading botanic gardens, state environment agencies and NGO. This project aims to stop threatened species extinctions and assist in the recovery of others. One of the ways this is achieved is to collect and store seed in seed banks. Globally this is one of the most powerful ways to combat the decline of plant diversity.

Direct action, Australian Seedbank Partnership. $4,000. July 2024

Learn more at https://www.seedpartnership.org.au/