2025-04-24
The Mount Lofty Ranges is one of South Australia’s most prominent biodiversity hotspots. Unfortunately, the region is facing threats from habitat loss, altered fire regimes, and the impacts of grazing animals.
Throughout the Ranges, seventy-eight woodland bird species are in decline, with twelve already regionally extinct.
Today the Australian Greens are calling for a $15 million federal investment over three years to restore and protect critical bird habitats in the Mount Lofty Ranges, as part of a comprehensive community action plan to ‘ReBird the Ranges’.
The ‘ReBird the Ranges’ initiative is a collaborative action plan led by conservationists, community groups, landscape boards and local councils working together to revive the region’s ecosystems and safeguard South Australia’s threatened bird species from extinction.
The Greens’ $15 million commitment is for shovel-ready projects in the Mount Lofty Ranges, including:
- Restore 300 hectares of grassy woodland on private land in the eastern Mount Lofty Ranges, providing habitat for the endangered Hooded Robin, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Southern Whiteface, and Diamond Firetail.
- Plant 15,000 paddock trees on grazing properties and 100,000 native plants in priority areas across the Mount Lofty Ranges to benefit threatened woodland bird species.
- Reconstruct 150 hectares of heathland and swampland on the Fleurieu Peninsula to help save the endangered Western Beautiful Firetail, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren and Southern Emu-wren.
Comments attributable to Sarah Hanson-Young, Senator for SA and Greens spokesperson for the environment:
“South Australians care about our natural environment. The Mount Lofty Ranges is a special place for many of us, and this investment will go a long way to protecting it for the future.
“The Greens’ $15 million investment to ‘ReBird the Ranges’ will provide local communities with the resources they need to restore habitats and help save our unique bird species from disappearing forever.
“Natural spaces that South Australians know and love like the iconic Deep Creek Conservation Park are home to incredibly special native birds, and it’s crucial that these areas are protected both for our wildlife, and for locals and tourists to enjoy for generations to come.
“For too long, the burden of environmental restoration has fallen on volunteers and community groups. It’s time the government stepped up and shared the responsibility.
“The Greens are the trusted voice for the environment and nature in our Parliament.
“This election, Australians have the opportunity to elect more Greens MPs to be strong voices for our environment, nature and wildlife.
“With more Greens MPs in Parliament, we can keep Peter Dutton out and get Labor to act.”
ReBird the Ranges partners added:
“Around 90% of the original woodland habitats of the Mt Lofty region were cleared by 1980. The birds that survive in the remaining habitat have continued to decline over the last 40 years. Many species have already been lost and many more will disappear from the region unless much more action is taken.” – Associate Professor David Paton AM, Managing Director of Bio·R
“We need to reconstruct habitat for woodland birds at scale across the whole Mt Lofty Ranges. The benefits of action will extend far beyond birds, they will support biodiversity and the health of the region – this is critical in a changing climate.” – Professor Patrick O’Connor AM, President of Nature Conservation Society of SA
“Community action and awareness and the involvement of First Nations are central to our plan. We can only fix this by all working together.” – Natasha Davis, CEO of Trees For Life
“Engaging landholders is also critical. Improving and restoring native vegetation can be a win-win for production and biodiversity.” – Ross Oke, General Manager of Second Nature Conservancy