The Victorian Forest Products Association wants environmental activists who illegally enter worksites, chained to trees or equipment, to divert their energies to the fight against invasive species. Source: Timberbiz
VFPA CEO Deb Kerr said recent research on invasive species had again shown the threat invasive species pose to native wildlife.
She said it was a stark reminder that much needs to be done to protect Australia’s iconic species from pests.
The research, published in the journal Diversity and Distributions and supported by the Threatened Species Recovery Hub, shows that each year, feral and domestic cats and foxes kill:
- more than 1.4 billion mammals
- almost 700 million reptiles, and
- and around 510 million birds.
“Killings by domestic cats make up a massive 78% of animals killed,” Ms Kerr said.
The research also confirmed a CSIRO report released late last year which had found invasive species were the greatest threats facing Australia’s native wildlife.
“Here in Australia and even internationally, people were appalled at three billion native animals killed in the 2019-20 bushfires. Yet each year foxes and cats kill nearly as many without any concern raised by the public,” Ms Kerr said.
Researchers estimate that foxes alone kill around 367 million mammals each year, with possums and gliders the most common native mammal found in their diet.
Other invasive species such as feral deer put additional stress on our ecosystem. Deer browsing hampers the establishment of new trees that play a significant role in addressing climate change.
“Forest workers regularly find themselves face to face with environmental activists who illegally enter worksites, chained to trees or equipment,” Ms Kerr said.
“They cause danger to themselves, and forest workers doing their job and lock up the native forestry industry in expensive protracted litigation. Maybe it’s time those activists direct their time, effort, and – clearly substantial – resources to where it matters – joining us in the fight against invasive species,” Ms Kerr said.
