Malleefowl Conservation - Informed and Integrated Community Action
Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata is a species endemic to Australia which is listed as vulnerable nationally under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and recognized as vulnerable by the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Malleefowl occurs in semi-arid to arid shrublands, and low woodlands and has a widespread distribution across Australia, including all mainland states except Queensland. Across its range, the Malleefowl is subject to a number of ongoing threats including introduced predators, habitat loss and fragmentation, and habitat modification, particularly due to inappropriate fire regimes and grazing.
Community groups and volunteers have the potential to play a significant role in biodiversity conservation. This is exemplified by community involvement in long-term monitoring of Malleefowl populations across Australia. There are a range of community groups and volunteers active across the Malleefowl’s range that make a major contribution to the monitoring and conservation of this species. In some parts of Australia, Malleefowl have become a flagship for broader conservation principles and actions in rural communities.
This case-study outlines the contribution of community groups in Malleefowl conservation across its range. It also outlines the role of the Threatened Species Network, a community based program of the Australian Government and WWF-Australia, in facilitating and supporting ongoing community involvement in Malleefowl Conservation. Lessons learnt from 17 years of community-based conservation experience are discussed.