Extinction roulette – who’s going next?

Australia is in an extinction crisis, and many species are dangerously close to the edge.

ACF has worked with scientists to identify 10 plants and animals that could be the next to go if we don’t urgently shift businesses and governments to stop harming and start protecting nature.

But first, why is our nature in so much trouble?

Australia’s iconic bush, forests and grasslands are being bulldozed and logged. Agriculture, mainly for beef, is the biggest cause of deforestation.

Since our national nature protection laws took effect 24 years ago, more than seven million hectares of threatened species habitat has been destroyed, and the effects on wildlife have been devastating.

Extreme fires, droughts and floods fuelled by climate-wrecking gas and fossil fuels are further destroying landscapes.

Australia’s nature protection laws continue doing little to rein in the destruction and protect species and the special places in harm’s way. As of September 2024, there are 2,245 species on our national list of flora, fauna and ecological communities threatened with extinction.

Which species are at most risk?

Perhaps in the most precarious position of all is the Coffs Harbour fontainea, a rainforest tree endemic to the area around Coffs Harbour in New South Wales.

There are estimated to be fewer than 10 individual trees left.

Historical destruction of forests to make way for agriculture in the area likely significantly reduced the fontainea tree, and today it exists entirely within the bounds of a New South Wales Government road construction project and could be the next Australian plant to go extinct.

Also listed as critically endangered because of the destruction of its home, is the beautiful regent honeyeater. This now rare bird has had up to 90% of its preferred woodland habit bulldozed to make way for agriculture and townships. A bird that used to flock in the thousands is now down to around 300 remaining individuals in the wild.

Mick Roderick, Birdlife Australia’s Woodland Bird Recovery Lead, who contributed to the report said “It doesn’t make sense to destroy a habitat type that is on the border of extinction itself. We’ve broken the back of the breeding strategy of a formerly prolific, highly mobile and uniquely Australian bird”

We know the Top End narbalek and the Victorian grassland earless dragon are in huge trouble, but a lack of data means we don’t even have an estimate on their population size. The earless dragon was actually thought to be extinct for 54 years before it was sighted again in 2023.

“The Victorian grassland earless dragon is now listed as critically endangered after being recently rediscovered. This means its home should be protected, and yet native grasslands continue to be destroyed. This dragon needs nature laws with teeth.” – Deon Gilbert, Threatened Species Biologist, Zoos Victoria.

Big business and the government must turn promises into action

Food businesses like supermarkets Coles and Woolworths are under pressure to get deforestation out of their supply chains, and all eyes are firmly fixed on the Albanese Government to deliver a thorough overhaul of Australia’s broken nature protection laws, complete with a tough and fully independent national regulator to enforce them.

If we don’t see significant and urgent change, many more of Australia’s irreplaceable species will be sent to extinction.

What can you do?

Raise the alarm, read and share our Extinction Roulette – who's going next?

Demand that Australian supermarkets get deforestation out of their supply chains.