Bushfire-affected zones get $150m boost for wildlife recovery

An extra $150m of funding will be spent over two years across ­bushfire-affected regions.

A koala bushfire survivor is given his daily formula at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Bushfire recovery funding for ­endangered plants and animals is being boosted to $200m to protect habitats and ­species including koalas, Wollemi pines, dragonflies, spiders and frogs.

An extra $150m of funding, to be announced on Tuesday, will be spent over two years across ­bushfire-affected regions.

There will be a focus on world and national heritage-listed areas including the Blue Mountains, ­alpine regions and the NSW north coast.

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley says the Morrison government will partner with states and territories, indigenous communities, scientists, zoos, landcare groups and non-government organisations to develop programs for the funding.

The funding is in addition to $50m already announced as an emergency response. The new funds will be used to roll out recovery projects, update threatened species conservation plans and measure the recovery effort.

The wildlife and habitat bushfire recovery response is in ­addition to a $94.6m package to support zoos and aquariums ­during the COVID-19 crisis, and a $6m investment in koala hospitals. “We have listened to the ­experts from the Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire ­Recovery Expert Panel, from wildlife carers, conservation ­organisations and community groups,” Ms Ley said.

The funding will be used to provide shelter for native animals, captive breeding programs for species most at risk of extinction, growing seed banks and genetic stores of native plants and supporting translocations of plants and animals to safe, healthy habitats.

Animals targeted in the program include koalas, the Kangaroo Island dunnart and northern corroboree frog, as well as insect species such as dragonflies, ­millipedes, spiders and grass­hoppers.

Target plant species include the Wollemi pine, banksia and bottlebrushes and sub-alpine ­vegetation such as the critically endangered Bredbo gentiana.