Tomorrow is International Threatened Species Day and Tasmanians are being encouraged to learn about our threatened species and how they can play a role in their ongoing survival.
Being aware of species that are at risk, learning about their habitat and what we can do to help is an important part of efforts to protect these species for future generations to enjoy.
Sometimes our own actions, such as slowing down on the road in areas that are identified as wildlife hotspots at dusk and dawn, can make an important contribution to their ongoing survival.
With a theme of Size Doesn’t Matter, Threatened Species Day 2014 asks us all to consider our less conspicuous threatened species.
The Tasmanian devil and the wedge-tailed eagle are among our most celebrated threatened species but much less attention is usually afforded to species like the tiny Viking Creek snail and the Lake Fenton trapdoor spider.
As part of raising community awareness about some of the State’s threatened species, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is running free guided walks which will focus on native plants that are considered at risk in the wild.
There is more information about threatened species on the DPIPWE website www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au.
Matthew Groom, Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage
