Half the remaining habitat of Australia’s most at-risk species is outside protected areas

"Our new research examines how much habitat is left for 305 of Australia’s critically endangered species – more than 70% of the total. Alarmingly, we found almost half the remaining habitat is outside the protected area estate. That means the last remaining areas where these species are clinging on could very easily be cleared.

Agricultural potential poses another challenge. More than half (55%) of the habitat we identified has a clear overlap with lands suitable for farming or grazing. These preferred areas are usually flat and on fertile soils.

Conversion of habitat to farms or paddocks is a major reason why Australia is still one of the top land-clearing nations. In just one year, 6,800 km² of woody vegetation was cleared in Queensland – largely to make way for agriculture. ">
https://theconversation.com/half-the-remaining-habitat-of-australias-most-at-risk-species-is-outside-protected-areas-256818
#biodiversity #grazing #cattle #IllegalLandClearing #agriculture #extinction #regulation

The biosecurity officers' fight against fire ants and allegations of threats, harassment and stalking
A Glen Turner Déjà vu

“We’ve had threats of ‘If you come on my property, I’ll shoot you’. ‘If you try and come on my property, I’ll set my dog on you...Australian police are routinely escorting biosecurity officers onto private properties after they reported being threatened with dogs and guns. In cases when people were “incredibly hostile”, program staff would “proactively engage with the police to escort us and to keep the peace and to keep everyone safe in that environment, because we need to complete the treatment”
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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/03/fire-ants-australia-eradication-biosecurity-officers-queensland-ntwnfb

The environmental officer Glen Turner
was shot in Croppa Creek, near Moree in 2014 investigating illegal land clearing. "There is an interweaving between the physical murder of Glen Turner, and the ecological ‘murder’ of the brigalow through the voracious demand for agricultural land." Book review: ‘The Winter Road’ by Kate Holden
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https://residentjudge.com/2022/04/09/the-winter-road-by-kate-holden/
#conservation #biosecurity #FireAnts #InvasiveSpecies #BiosecurityOfficers #OHS #biodiversity #IllegalLandClearing #GlenTurner #violence #crime #Moree #GoldCoast #Grafton #SunshineCoast #LandOwnership #IndividualPropertyRights #PossessiveIndividualism #liberalism #pseudolaw #community #pests #EnvironmentalImpacts #insecticide #EnvironmentalLaws #NSW