The Australian Wildlife Corridor

Being Australian means loving this country of dramatic landscapes and unique animals, of colourful contrast and iconic places that are distinct from anywhere else in this world. You may have enjoyed some of these during your summer holidays.

I invite you to join me in caring for the future of the natural wonders that lie at the heart of our Australian identity.

In 2008 we have a unique opportunity to realise a great vision for our country - the Great Australian Wildlife Corridor.

From the snow-capped mountains of the Australian Alps in Victoria to the misty rainforests of the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland, the Australian Wildlife Corridor is a broad band of undisturbed native bushland. It follows the Great Escarpment and is home to a diversity of plants and animals unsurpassed anywhere else on this continent.

In the age of climate change Australia’s animals and plants need larger areas to move and adapt to a changing environment. Land clearing is therefore the greatest threat to our species survival.

The Australian Wildlife Corridor is our last opportunity to protect a large forest ecosystem in Australia in its natural state. We must act now and protect our bushland and native forests while they are still intact. Today, you can make your contribution to this great Australian vision.

13% or 21 million hectares of Australia’s native forests are already protected as national parks and owned by the people of Australia. This offers the best protection in the world for such large wilderness areas.

With your support the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife has already added large pieces of native bushland to the corridor.

In NSW alone 22% of natural forests are protected. 8% of protected land, 350,000 hectares, came from the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife and its supporters, like yourself.

Protecting Snowy Ridge

Australia's Snowy Mountains are unique not only in Australia but in the world.

Winter snow cover and high altitude combine with short, dry summers and roaring bushfires to form an environment of dramatic contrast.

Life adapted to this harsh evnvironment, creating the most delicate and fragile plants and animals to survive in these extreme conditions.

The Corroboree Frog, just the size of a finger nail and the tiny Mountain Pygmy-possum, Australia's only hibernating mammal, not only survive in freezing winters and scorching summers, they can only live in the unique fragile natural balance of Australia's alpine areas.

Much of this unique ecosystem is protected in Kosciuszko National Park, but there are still many areas of invaluable native vegetation unprotected.

Snowy Ridge is one of these properties.

Situated in the Byadbo Wilderness on the sub-alpine slopes of the Snowy River valley, it provides important summer breeding habitat for the vulnerable Gang-gang Cockatoo. The threatened Diamond Firetail, Speckled Warbler and Pink Robin are also at home at Snowy Ridge, and its stands of white box eucalypts provide habitat for the endangered Regent Honeyeater.

Equally if not more important than the area's fauna, are the delicate plant communities found at Snowy Ridge. Alpine plants, though tough looking, are extremely fragile, and trampling by lifestock and people can cause irreversible damage to mosses and lichen. At Snowy Ridge endangered plants such as the Shining Cudweed, the Small Snake Orchid and the Anemone Buttercup are still surviving and deserve protection.

Please help us buy and protect Snowy Ridge as part of the Byadbo Wilderness and the Australian Wildlife Corridor.

Thank you, Leonie Gale, CEO