BUSHFIRE RECOVERY FOR AFFECTED NATIVE WILDLIFE IN RIVERINA AND CENTRAL WEST
A project to help native wildlife recover from the devastating impact of the recent summer bushfires has been given the green light from the Federal Government.
The large-scale freshwater project will assess the effects of the recent bushfires on freshwater biodiversity across south-eastern Australia, including in the Murrumbidgee River and Lachlan River systems.
Riverina MP and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack welcomed the project and said the local activities included using environmental DNA to assess the effects of fire on biodiversity in the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan rivers.
“The people of the Riverina have been deeply affected by the bushfires and seeing the environment recover around them along with the return of native animals is an important part of the recovery process,” Mr McCormack said.
“We know the recovery will be a long one, but the Federal Government is committed to working with the local community to ensure our region gets through this in the best possible way.”
Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the Government has made a $200 million commitment to the long-term recovery of threatened species, native animals and local habitats.
“We are working with ecologists, Indigenous leaders, bushfire experts, scientists, wildlife experts and community organisations in preparing strategies to build back better for our wildlife and landscapes,” Minister Ley said.
The Government committed a further $150 million in May for bushfire recovery for native wildlife and habitat areas in addition to the additional $50 million funding. These funds will be invested in bushfire-affected regions over the next two years.
Details on the project to be delivered in the Riverina are included in the below table. Many of the successful projects are working across multiple states and regions.
More information about work to support bushfire recovery for wildlife and habitat can be found online at http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/bushfire-recovery.