POLICY PERSPECTIVE

Acting fast helps avoid extinction

  1. Tara G. Martin1,8,
  2. Simon Nally2,
  3. Andrew A. Burbidge3,
  4. Sophie Arnall4,
  5. Stephen T. Garnett5,
  6. Matt W. Hayward6,
  7. Linda F. Lumsden7,
  8. Peter Menkhorst7,
  9. Eve McDonald-Madden1,8,
  10. Hugh P. Possingham8

Article first published online: 23 MAY 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-263X.2012.00239.x

Issue

Conservation Letters

Conservation Letters

Volume 5, Issue 4, pages 274–280, August 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Martin, T. G., Nally, S., Burbidge, A. A., Arnall, S., Garnett, S. T., Hayward, M. W., Lumsden, L. F., Menkhorst, P., McDonald-Madden, E. and Possingham, H. P. (2012), Acting fast helps avoid extinction. Conservation Letters, 5: 274–280. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-263X.2012.00239.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Rd, Dutton Park, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia

  2. 2

    Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, GPO 787 Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia

  3. 3

    87 Rosedale St, Floreat, Western Australia 6014, Australia

  4. 4

    School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia

  5. 5

    Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory 0909, Australia

  6. 6

    Australian Wildlife Conservancy, PO Box 432, Nichols Point, Victoria, 3501, Australia & Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

  7. 7

    Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment, PO Box 137, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia

  8. 8

    ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia

*Tara G. Martin, CSIRO GPO Box 2583, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia. Tel: +61 7 3833 5727. E-mail: Tara.Martin@csiro.au

  1. Editor  Dr. Andrew Knight

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 7 AUG 2012
  2. Article first published online: 23 MAY 2012
  3. Received  , 29 June 2011 , Accepted , 23 March 2012

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (590K)

Keywords:

  • Christmas Island Pipistrelle;
  • captive breeding;
  • endangered species;
  • governance;
  • leadership;
  • monitoring;
  • Orange-bellied Parrot

Abstract

Failure to act quickly on evidence of rapid population decline has led to the first mammal extinction in Australia in the last 50 years, the Christmas Island Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus murrayi). The fate of another iconic species, the migratory Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster), monitored intensively for over 20 years, hangs in the balance. To inform future conservation management and decision making, we investigate the decision process that has led to the plight of both species. Our analysis suggests three globally relevant recommendations for minimizing species extinction worldwide: (1) informed, empowered, and responsive governance and leadership is essential; (2) processes that ensure institutional accountability must be in place, and; (3) decisions must be made whilst there is an opportunity to act. The bottom line is that, unless responsive and accountable institutional processes are in place, decisions will be delayed and extinction will occur.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (590K)