Fully recovering Australia’s threatened species would cost 25% of GDP. We can’t do it all at once – so let’s start here

An endangered golden-shouldered parrot Imogen Warren/Shutterstock

Australia has already lost at least 100 species since European colonisation. Across land and freshwater habitats, 1,657 species are currently threatened with the same fate. Their populations have fallen 2-3% every year over the last quarter century.

The accelerating loss of species is one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time. Losing biodiversity threatens cultural values, economic stability and society’s wellbeing.