NSW government says state’s biodiversity ‘in crisis’ as it pledges first steps to reverse decline

NSW environment minister Penny Sharpe with a picture of a broad-toothed rat. The state’s biodiversity is ‘in crisis’, Sharpe says. Photograph: Environment minister

The New South Wales government says the state’s biodiversity is in crisis and must be put on a path to recovery to reverse the decline of beloved species and ecosystems.

The environment minister, Penny Sharpe, has released the government’s “first steps” in responding to a major review of the state’s nature laws, saying: “We cannot ignore the truth: biodiversity in NSW is in crisis.”