Call for reform amid rampant land clearing, nature loss
The rapid clearing of native bush in Australia’s largest state is pushing at-risk species to the brink of extinction, conservationists say.
Environmentalists, led by the WA Conservation Council, are calling for sweeping natural law reforms to protect Western Australia’s unique and dwindling fauna and flora.
“In the first five months of 2026, we have seen more than 51,000 hectares of native vegetation approved for clearance,” WA Conservation Council executive director Matt Roberts said on Thursday. he said.
“There is another 128,000 hectares of land that will be recorded in 2026, and this is the habitat that creatures on the verge of extinction rely on.”
These include threatened species such as the northern quoll, olive python and black cockatoo.
“They are impacted by industrial projects across the state,” Mr. Roberts said.
“Whether it’s Alcoa in our south-west forests or the mining giants in the Pilbara… the balance is now out of whack and there’s no brakes on industry.
“We’re talking about a habitat that will never return; when you take out mine in the Jarrah forest, it’s gone forever and it’s the only Jarrah forest in the world.”
The council has produced a detailed plan called Back from the Brink, which includes 36 recommendations to the Western Australian government to better protect the vast and rich state’s unique biodiversity.
These include stronger environmental protection laws and government leadership, independent decision-making on projects that impact the environment, and strengthened monitoring, compliance and transparency.
“We also need regulations that have consequences for people who violate these practices,” Mr. Roberts said.
“We need clean areas where people cannot continue projects, because doing so would mean the end of an endemic species that will never return.
“We can’t just hand out exemptions and allow companies and corporations to destroy them in these areas.”
Mr Roberts said society could not rely on the good will of private companies and profit-driven companies to make the right decisions.
“That left us where we are now,” he said.
“What we need is clear and enforceable legislation from the government that shows courage and leadership in this area, rather than just using slogans.”
There are 450 plants and 250 animals listed as threatened in WA, and this number continues to increase every year.
Three ecological communities have already collapsed, and 46 more are critically endangered and at risk of collapse.
Another eight people are at risk, 10 are vulnerable and 391 people are on the priority list, none of whom have a rescue plan.
