There used to be lots of them here

How often do we hear people saying things like this when they are talking about the natural world? 

There used to be, koalas, wombats, platypus, giant earthworms, gliders, ferns, lyrebirds, wildflowers, mountain ash, fish, butterflies, insects, quolls and so the list goes on, but they are not here now.

Older people, and some not so old, have witnessed the dramatic decline of wildlife species all around us. 

These changes seem gradual because we live with them, but if we think back one, two, three or more decades, we can see that the decline has been dramatic.

In the last 200 years, Australia has had more mammal species become extinct than any other country. 

The most recent was Melomys rubicola, which went extinct this century in 2009 and was declared so in 2012. 

In February this year, the Victorian government declared the platypus an endangered species in Victoria. 

Also this year, Queensland, N.S.W. and the A.C.T. declared the koala endangered. 

Informed opinion is that, unless things change, it is likely that the koala will be extinct by 2050.

Land holders in South Gippsland are very aware of this decline of wildlife and many are trying to do something about it. 

So too, are many community groups.

I am a member of Prom Area Climate Action (PACA), which is a regional group of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and I write this on their behalf.

Recently, we were dumbfounded by the results of an ACF survey of more than 2000 people which revealed that only 16% of those surveyed were aware that there is a crisis right now for our wildlife!
Across South Gippsland, wildlife populations and locations are declining, but so far we still have them. 

The ACF through PACA is undertaking wildlife monitoring so that decisions can be made about where to restore, create and protect habitats. 

You can be involved in this, if you wish.

You can join us on a constant basis, and/or you can join our special events.

The ACF (like many other groups) uses the wildlife app iNaturalist, that is free and readily available. 

Please download it onto one of your devices and become a citizen scientist. 

Link to the Citizen Science initiative of the ACF using the iNaturalist app. (www.acf.org.au/citizen science)

Upload your findings with location, particularly if you think that what you have found is uncommon in that area. 

Families could share some special times together doing this as a regular pass-time.

PACA occasionally organises events to locate a single species which we will advertise and invite your attendance.

Our next such event is to locate platypus at a site in Toora North on Saturday, September 17, at 9:30 a.m. 

This is limited to 20 places, so if you are interested, please apply to platy-project on email:  (promareaclimateaction@gmail.com).

Search our website (www.promareaclimateaction.org) for further information about us. 

Fred Weight (PACA), Foster