More than 130 people gathered for a Blue Mountains Conservation Society Threatened Species Day forum recently, with the overriding concern that more needs to be done to protect species that could become extinct.
The event was held on September 8 at the Wentworth Falls School of Arts. The meeting unanimously endorsed a push to ask local, state and federal governments and all people who care for the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area to ensure biodiversity is maintained, that no threatened species becomes extinct and no non-threatened species becomes threatened.
The presenters, all experts in their fields, included artists, researchers, teachers, scientists, poets, authors and a musician. The speakers were united by their passion for conserving biodiversity.
“The Society held the forum as the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area is recognised and celebrated around the world for its outstanding biodiversity values”, said Madi Maclean, BMCS president.
“The Mountains is home to a significant number of threatened species - around 10 per cent of the threatened species in NSW are found in the Mountains [and] the Society is concerned that the number of threatened species in the region continues to increase”.
Photographer Akos Lumnitzer’s images of threatened owls were a highlight, “the swooping birds and hatchlings were right there in the auditorium with us,” remarked forum participant Don Morrison.
Young naturalist Kalang Morrison-Jones lamented that losing a species was akin to losing a friend.
Ms Maclean said there was overwhelming support within the local community for state and federal governments to take immediate and effective action to save threatened species in the world heritage area.
