Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 Priority Species

From: DCCEEW Threatened Species Action Plan 2022 - 2032 Priority Species

While all species and natural environments are important, focusing on a limited number of species can help target effort and resources so that tangible outcomes can be achieved, measured and shared.

The priority species list includes plants and animals found across Australia in a range of environments, from the arid deserts to rainforests, forests to grasslands, and inland waters to the sea. All taxonomic groups listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) are included. Recovery actions for many of the priority species will also benefit other threatened species that share their habitat.

Prioritising attention and effort on these selected species over the next 5 years will generate better outcomes for threatened species and other wildlife that shares the same habitat or threats. It also helps focus efforts of the Australian Government and others to collaborate, combining efforts to achieve better outcomes.

Selecting priority species

The 110 priority species were carefully and strategically selected using 6 prioritisation principles derived from consultation with threatened species experts and the wider community. Over 1800 species listed under the EPBC Act as either Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable were reviewed as part of this prioritisation process. Species were scored using national-scale data sets by independent ecologists and the Australian community was also invited to have a say on species important to them.

Prioritisation principles

• Risk of extinction Species under severe and imminent threat
• Multiple benefits Recovery action will benefit other species
• Feasibility and effectiveness Action can make a difference and is cost-effective
• Importance to people Culturally significant species
• Uniqueness Species without close relatives and not found anywhere else
• Representativeness Balance the overall list across taxa, land and seascapes, tenures and jurisdictions