Boosting Australia’s Key Biodiversity Area Network: A sneak peek

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Welcome Stephanie Todd to the KBA team! Stephanie started a couple of months ago, so we thought an introduction and update from Stephanie was overdue:

 
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I am very glad to have joined the Birdlife Australia team recently to work on updating our KBAs and adding new ones. The KBA project aims to recognise, map and help protect areas that are of global biodiversity significance. My background may be a little unusual for this organisation – I’m more familiar with fur than feathers, but hopefully you won’t hold this against me….

Many KBA updates, extensions and new KBAs proposals are in the pipeline. Here is a taste of what may be to come, if they make it through the review process:

  • Updates to the many Great Barrier Reef KBAs with new seabird data and an exciting addition of green turtles as a trigger species for Raine Island

  • Update and extension of Coastal Wet Tropics KBA to include stream-gobies and the mahogany glider

  • Extension of the Fitzgerald River KBA (WA) to include Endangered Carnaby’s black cockatoo nest habitat

  • As many as 20 (or more!) entirely new KBAs in Tasmania’s Cradle Coast to protect a range of endemic or threatened species including crayfish, snails, orchids, insects, 30 species of birds, Eastern Barred Bandicoots, Eastern Quolls and Tassie Devils.

  • A new KBA at Cape Le Grand (WA) for Endangered Australian Bittern wetlands

  • An extension of Low Rocks & Sterna Island (Kimberley) for seabirds

Many thanks to all the very knowledgeable people across the country who have put forward proposals, provided data, advice and feedback.

Anyone can propose a KBA, so if you have ever wondered why a particular area that is teaming with rare birds or wildlife is not a KBA or part of a KBA, then please get in contact. My email address is stephanie.todd@birdlife.org.au

Watch this space – you may see a KBA pop up near you if there isn’t one already.

Anna Wilson