MODULE 1 RESOURCES
We Save Species
Dive into the work of the Odonata Foundation, where science, sanctuary, and community intersect to bring Australia’s most threatened species back from the brink. This video captures who we are and what we do: from hands-on conservation at predator-free sanctuaries to collaborative habitat restoration and species return initiatives.
Government policies, strategies and reports
-
Commonwealth of Australia, 2022
This report gives a sobering snapshot of our biodiversity in decline, from species extinctions to habitat loss and ecosystem collapse. It’s a must-read overview of what’s happening to our wildlife and landscapes, and why urgent action is critical to turning the tide.
-
Threatened Species Index, 2024
The Threatened Species Index reveals concerning trends in the decline of Australia's threatened species, with an average population decrease of 73% since 1985. Despite declines in plant and mammal species, recent data indicates a slight stabilisation or even modest recovery in some groups, such as birds and amphibians, underscoring the importance of continued conservation efforts and active management.
-
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, 2024
This blueprint lays out a bold 30-year plan to restore Australia’s soils, waterways, native plants, and coastlines. With 24 practical actions, it shows how we can boost farming, support regional communities, and meet big biodiversity and climate goals, arguing that repairing our landscapes is urgent, doable, and worth it.
-
Commonwealth of Australia, 2019
This strategy sets a national framework to halt biodiversity decline and restore healthy ecosystems. It encourages collaboration across communities, governments, and industries to protect and sustainably manage nature and outlines clear goals and a shared roadmap to guide conservation efforts through to 2030.
-
DCCEEW, 2023
This action plan charts a pathway to protect, manage, and restore Australia’s most at-risk species and vital habitats. Building on extensive expert and community input, it sets ambitious new goals like preventing extinctions, expanding protected areas to over 30% of the land, and tackling key threats such as feral cats and invasive weeds. The plan also emphasises empowering communities to lead recovery efforts and embracing modern, effective conservation approaches.
-
The Red List is the most internationally recognised conservation assessment tool, although many listings remain data deficient. It evaluates and monitors species globally, providing a unified framework for understanding conservation status and supporting international policy and funding decisions, making it particularly important when applying for grants from global bodies.
-
The EPBC Act List of Threatened Fauna is Australia’s official register of nationally protected threatened species under federal law. It assesses species based on their risk of extinction within Australia and guides legal obligations, funding priorities, and land-management decisions. Note that this takes species into account on a national scale. So, for instance, a species being common in Tasmania, may result in it having a better conservation rating, even though it is extinct on the mainland.
Data, lists and reports
Books
-
Simon Mustoe, 2022
Wildlife In The Balance explores the vital role animals play in maintaining and restoring ecosystems. Mustoe emphasises how wildlife helps "engineer" ecosystems and why changing our relationship with animals from one of domination to cooperation is essential.
Available for purchase
-
The Conversation, 2025
Discover what it would really take to bring Australia’s threatened species back from the brink and why private land plays a crucial role in the nation’s recovery effort. This powerful piece breaks down the staggering cost of continent-wide restoration and makes the case for smart, targeted action starting right now, in the places where it matters most.
-
S. Kearney, A. Reside, J. Watson, R. Nelson, R. Spindler & V. Adams, 2022
This article shines a light on how landholders are uniquely placed to safeguard critical habitat across Australia’s working landscapes and encourages them to see themselves as key partners in the nation’s conservation mission.
-
The Conversation, 2020
This article highlights the bandicoot’s vital role in ecosystem health, digging through soil to support nutrient cycling and promote plant growth. Their natural soil turnover benefits a wide range of plants and animals, underscoring why protecting species like bandicoots is essential for keeping ecosystems thriving.
-
ABC News, 2024
This article highlights the remarkable role of bandicoots in Australian ecosystems. Despite their small size, these marsupials are vital for soil health and biodiversity. By digging through the earth, they aerate the soil, promote seed germination, and enhance water infiltration, making them essential contributors to ecosystem function.
-
ABC News, 2025
This article breaks down the latest additions to Australia’s threatened species list and what’s driving their decline, offering a timely snapshot of the pressures facing our wildlife.
-
The Project, 2024
The clip gives an inside look at Mt Rothwell’s feral-proof sanctuary, the threatened species being brought back from the brink, and the hands-on conservation work that’s making it happen.