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Threatened Species and Threatened Ecological Communities
National Threatened Species Day is held on 7 September each year to encourage the community to help conserve Australia's unique native fauna and flora. We can all take action to prevent further extinctions by restoring healthy numbers of endangered species and ecological communities in the wild.
National Threatened Species Day was first held in 1996, to commemorate the death of the last Tasmanian Tiger in captivity in 1936 in Hobart. The concept was developed by the Threatened Species Network, a community based program of the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Commonwealth Government's Natural Heritage Trust, as a way to showcase Australian threatened species. By focusing attention on the plight of many of our threatened animals and plants, Threatened Species Day aims to encourage greater community support and hands-on involvement in the prevention of further losses of Australia's unique natural heritage.
A number of events are coordinated across Australia for National Threatened Species Day to raise community awareness about the plight of threatened species in Australia and to encourage community participation in conservation activities. Activities range from exhibitions and festivals, to displays, guided walks, workshops and a range of other community education and promotional activities. Free National Threatened Species Day information kits can be ordered from the Department of the Environment and Heritage Community Information Unit, email: ciu@deh.gov.au, or freecall 1800 803 772.
A Calendar of Events is available on the Threatened Species Network web site. Community groups can register their events online
A lead up to Threatened Species Day is the announcement of the Threatened Species Network Community Grants by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. Funding from the the Commonwealth's Natural Heritage Trust assists groups to conduct conservation activities. For information on projects receiving funding see:
To find out about the Community Grants program go to the Threatened Species Network web site.
In addition to on-ground threatened species protection activities, the Department of the Environment and Heritage has joined forces with Cadbury Yowie to run the annual Hands on for Habitat Awards. As a lead up to Threatened Species Day, the Awards aim to encourage 6-12 year olds learn more about Australia's threatened species and participate in activities to protect these native Australian animals and plants. There are great prizes for schools and the artwork of winning entries is featured on the annual Threatened Species Day poster and stickers.
Winning entries from the Hands on for Habitat Awards are featured on the annual Threatened Species Day poster and stickers.
To find out how you can help our threatened species
