The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020

The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020 is the most comprehensive review of the status of Australia's avifauna ever attempted, authored by over 300 bird experts and featuring more detail than any earlier plans. It covers key themes such as the increasing impact of climate change, including fires on Kangaroo Island, and highlights successful predator control efforts. The plan identifies the birds most threatened by the 2019/20 fires and draws attention to the broader role climate change is now playing in bird declines.

Format: Hardback
Length: 816 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2021
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing

The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020 is a comprehensive review of the status of Australia's avifauna, marking the most extensive effort ever undertaken. This latest action plan, following a series produced every decade since 1992, stands as the largest in its series. Authored by over 300 esteemed bird experts, the plan offers unparalleled detail, surpassing previous plans. Additionally, it includes accounts of over 60 taxa that have been successfully delisted, primarily due to sustained conservation efforts spanning decades.

This comprehensive volume addresses key themes that have emerged over the past decade, particularly the escalating impact of climate change as a significant threat. This is evident in Queensland's tropical rainforests, where many birds are being forced to ascend mountains due to rising temperatures. However, the effects of climate change are not limited to direct impacts, as demonstrated by the catastrophic fires of 2019/20, which caused substantial damage to bird populations, particularly on Kangaroo Island. While the fires resulted in the loss of over half the island's bird population, there are also positive stories of recovery. Islands that have achieved remarkable successes in predator control have seen threatened species recover and threats alleviated.

The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020 provides an overview of the conservation status of all Australian birds in 2020, encompassing both those not yet threatened but known to be declining. It offers readily accessible status information for each species, including reasons for listing and distribution maps. The plan outlines the necessary actions for conservation and highlights numerous birds where conservation efforts have led to their downlisting, as they are now secure.

In conclusion, the Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020 represents a significant milestone in our understanding and conservation efforts for Australia's avifauna. Through the collective expertise of over 300 bird experts and the implementation of effective conservation actions, we can make progress toward securing the future of our bird species and preserving the rich biodiversity of our country.

Weight: 3190g
Dimension: 295 x 306 x 48 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781486311903