Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Syrian leadership approved the return of spy Eli Cohen's archive to "Israel": Reuters citing sources
Government Media Office in Gaza: The [Israeli] policy of starvation has led to more than 300 cases of miscarriage among pregnant women during the same 80-day period
Government Media Office in Gaza: The [Israeli] policy of starvation has resulted in the deaths of 326 people due to malnutrition and the lack of food and medicine over the past 80 days
UN says no aid distributed yet in Gaza
EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas asks for a review of EU-"Israel" trade deal
Rubio says Syria could be weeks away from 'full-scale civil war'
Sweden seeks EU sanctions targeting "individual Israeli ministers": Minister to AFP
UK pauses trade deal talks with "Israel", summons ambassador over new Gaza offensive
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 67 martyrs in Israeli strikes on Gaza since morning.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in West Bank: Occupation executes large-scale operation in Al-Jamasin, al-Eyada neighborhoods in Old Askar Camp, East of Nablus.

Australia's threatened species list grows despite improvements

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Mar 2022 16:40
3 Min Read

The environmental conditions have jumped four points from 2020 in 2021.

  • x
  • Australia's threatened species list grows despite environmental improvements
    Endangered Gouldian finches at a waterhole in Australia (natureaustralia.org)

According to Australia's Environment 2021 Report, the environmental condition increased four points from the previous year, getting a 6.9 in 2021 on a scale of ten.

The news comes as Australian authorities announced Friday that the Great Barrier Reef has been plagued by "widespread" bleaching once again, as higher-than-average water temperature conditions threaten the already ailing World Heritage site.

Conservationists warn against complacency, blaming the recovery of the Australian landscape on frequent rainfall and milder temperatures.

These conditions are expected to be short-lived, with the Bureau of Meteorology anticipating rainfall to return to normal when the La Nina reaches its height.

James Tremain from the Nature Conservation Council said "This wet spell is just a shot of Red Bull and doesn't address underlying issues facing the environment,"

The study shows a worrying pattern.

"It's clear the general trend is going in the wrong direction, and it's quite a steep trend," Tremain said. 

Shoshana Rapley, an ANU researcher, says the picture provides insight into the degradation of many components of Australia's environment.

It discovered that the oceans stored 6.5 percent more heat in 2021 than the previous year, and that we had the sixth hottest year on record.

According to Rapley, one of the most serious issues raised was the continued and rapid reduction of animal and plant species, which is a key indicator of where things stand.

34 new species have been threatened in the previous five years, including eight bird, four frog, and two fish species.

Related News

Australia delivers decommissioned Abrams tanks to Ukraine: PM

Erin Patterson denies charges in deadly mushroom poisoning case

There have been no animals removed from the list of endangered species.

"There's just this ever marching forward of the number of precious Australian species that are threatened with extinction and no real decline in the numbers that are being listed."

Koalas too

Koalas and the gang-gang cockatoo are also considered endangered now.

According to Tremain, "the government spends $50 million on improving koala habitat and $2 billion on diesel fuel subsidies."

Despite above-average rainfall and runoff over eastern Australia, waterbird populations have continued to drop.

Rapley cautioned that the relief from drought conditions may not truly help species.

"Even though we have this small amount of respite it's not enough to give animals a break and built back those numbers in meaningful terms," she said.  

She also added that in order to recover from the challenging climate, conditions will need to be much more lengthy.

A silver lining

Except for South Australia, vegetation growth has been significantly above normal, with improved conditions in all major farming zones.

National river inflows were about 30% greater than in the previous two decades, although wetland flooding remained considerably below normal.

In south-east Australia, tree cover has recovered after bushfire losses.

But Rapley believes that would simply provide more fuel for fires in coming seasons as drier conditions return. 

"We can use this window of opportunity for social change to really ask 'what is the future we want to build?'" Rapley said.

  • Australia
STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

Most Read

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

  • Politics
  • 15 May 2025
Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025
Abu Obaida

Abu Obeida posts shortly after Israeli reports about his assassination

  • Palestine
  • 15 May 2025
YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben-Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

  • MENA
  • 18 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
A 3D render of China's planned 'drone mothership' Credit: X/@XH_Lee23
US & Canada

China unveils drone mothership capable of swarm attacks

Half of UK youth would give up the internet: Survey
Technology

Half of UK youth would give up the internet: Survey

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaks to the media during a meeting with President of the Conference of Italian Bishops, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi at the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See in Rome, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Politics

Trump focused on peace while Europe pushes for war: Rubio

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after a press statement at the Carmelite Monastery in the Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary, April 3, 2025 (AP/Denes Erdos)
Europe

Hungary votes to begin withdrawal from International Criminal Court

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS