National Recovery Plan for the Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) - 2006 - 2010
Jonathan Starks and Mark Holdsworth
Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2004
About the document
The Orange-bellied Parrot is an Australian icon in terms of a national conservation effort for a highly threatened species. It exemplifies an outstanding effort by four States and the Australian Government in working together to conserve a species which knows no State boundaries and yet is reliant on the resources within each of those States for its survival.
The Orange-bellied Parrot, or OBP as all those close to the welfare of this species like to refer to it, is an ideal test for governments and the private sector to put real meaning into the often quoted term "sustainable development". My understanding of this is to ensure that development does not have an adverse impact on the natural environment and its many components. With such a small population the OBP could easily be forced into extinction through changes to its environment. Its welfare is a substantial test for those who plan developments within its breeding and migratory range to ensure it is not adversely affected. It is essential that a close working relationship is maintained between the planners and those responsible for the management of the parrot.
Huge efforts to ensure the survival of the OBP have occurred for almost 30 years, involving governments, conservation organisations and community. The efforts still continue undiminished with, in many cases the commitment of individuals who have been actively involved for much of that time. It is great testament to so many people that their efforts continue unabated.
This Recovery Plan is the fourth plan for the OBP and includes the actions required to assist its conservation for the next 5 years. It comes at a time when the survival effort for the species will be increasingly tested due to the unprecedented development pressures on Australia's coastline, the preferred winter habitat of OBPs, including the unprecedented proliferation of development proposals for establishing wind farms throughout its entire range outside the breeding habitat. Cumulative impacts of large numbers of wind turbines are difficult to predict. It is to be hoped that the planners have got it right.
My own interest in the OBP dates back to 1979. I first saw a flock of more than 40 birds feeding in the saltmarshes at Point Wilson near Werribee. I well remember the excitement at that first sighting of such a rare and beautiful little parrot. My earnest wishes are that the efforts to secure it will continue undiminished and that the resources will be found to implement this Recovery Plan for the next five years.
This draft recovery plan is now closed for public comment
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- National Recovery Plan for the Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) - 2006 - 2010 (PDF) - (n-chrysogaster.pdf - 634 KB)
- National Recovery Plan for the Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) - 2006 - 2010 (ZIP) - (n-chrysogaster.zip - 2475 KB)
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