Rainforest on the NSW North Coast is habitat for the Southern Pink Underwing Moth. This threatened species will benefit from a $215,000 grant from the Albanese Labor Government.
Across Australia, $24 million has been awarded to 61 projects through Saving Native Species grants to better protect frogs, birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles and plants.
Dan Cox, Restoration Ecologist from Envite Environment said: “The Southern Pink Underwing Moth caterpillar has only one food plant. This is Carronia Vine which grows in our local rainforest. Loss of habitat and degradation by weed infestation are major threats to the rainforest and the species that live there.”
The funding will assist recovery of the Southern Pink Underwing Moth and over 28 other threatened species through reducing the threat of weeds and assisting regeneration of rainforest habitat across 38 sites and 687 ha in NE NSW. Rainforest habitat being restored includes Big Scrub rainforest in the Byron, Ballina and Lismore region and further south around Coffs Harbour. Restored habitat will assist the population of Southern Pink Underwing Moths to increase and help prevent extinction.
Dan Cox said: “Little is known about the Southern Pink Underwing Moth. Surveys to locate the caterpillars are being undertaken and they have recently been discovered on 16 new sites. Further surveys will increase knowledge of the species to assist recovery.”
The Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon Tanya Plibersek said “Our government is committed to achieving our target of zero new extinctions in Australia and our $24 million investment in grassroots projects will help to better protect our threatened species.”
Read Minister Plibersek’s media release: https://minister.dcceew.gov.au/plibersek/media-releases/threatened-native-australian-species-get-24-million-lifeline
For information on the 61 Saving Native Species projects, visit: Saving Native Species – DCCEEW
Photography Credits:
Southern Pink Underwing Moth – Photographer Mark Graham
Southern Pink Underwing Moth caterpillar – Photographer Iain Stych
