Download a copy of the 2000 (existing) strategy
Threatened Species Strategy (PDF 524Kb)
This strategy was prepared in 2000 and a review process is underway (2023 - 2024).
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) is developing a new Threatened Species Strategy to guide Tasmania’s actions to support our plants, animals and ecosystems to survive in the wild.
A Discussion Paper was made available at the end of 2023 for feedback, as the first step in the process to develop a new Strategy. More than 100 submissions were made which are being analysed in early 2024 to inform the next stage.
Summary of current Threatened Species Strategy (Publ. 2000)
More than 600 species of plants and animals are threatened in Tasmania. They are classified according to their level of threat as endangered, vulnerable or rare in the schedules of the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.
The existing Strategy was developeded to help conserve Tasmania's threatened species and has the following aims:
- To ensure that threatened species can survive and flourish in the wild;
- To ensure that threatened species and their habitats retain their genetic diversity and potential for evolutionary development; and
- Prevent further species becoming threatened.
The Strategy takes two broad approaches towards these aims:
- Addressing key threatening processes; and
- Addressing priority threatened species
There are many threatening processes which impact on Tasmania's native plants, animals and ecosystems. Six processes are identified as having the greatest impact and are considered in the strategy in detail:
- clearance of native vegetation;
- impacts of pests, weeds and diseases;
- degradation of water systems;
- inappropriate use of fire;
- inappropriate and illegal harvesting; and
- impacts of stock.
The Strategy has objectives for addressing the threatening processes and a number of actions are identified. Addressing threatening processes can be efficient and cost-effective and help the conservation of many species.
Protecting and recovering individual threatened species is also part of the Strategy. As there are so many listed species, it is necessary to prioritise those in greatest need of action. The Strategy looks at methods for prioritising individual threatened species. Factors considered include the species' distinctiveness, its cultural significance, its reservation status and its level of endemism.
Seven primary mechanisms are addressed in the Strategy in order to integrate threatened species conservation across all sectors of the Tasmanian community:
- community participation;
- working with land owners, land managers and industry;
- consideration of social and economic factors;
- establishing an adequate knowledge base;
- improving resources for implementing the strategy;
- a recognition of threatened ecological communities; and
- reviewing the Strategy.
The Strategy has actions and performance indicators to address each of these primary mechanisms.
This Strategy aims to involve all Tasmanians in the work of conserving threatened species. To be successful it needs to be adeqautely resourced, supported and understood. This Strategy will be replaced by a new Strategy and Implementation Plan being developed in 2024.