Improving Conservation Outcomes: The Partnership Between Research and Management.

Abstract

Research, management and funding priorities for the conservation of rock-wallabies (Petrogale) has been widely considered at Federal, State and Territory levels in recent years. In general these reviews have been undertaken as part of broader examinations of conservation requirements for other mammal species and of other vertebrate classes. Accounts of the 15 recognised Petrogale species by various authors in Strahan (1995) shows the majority of species to be relatively common with two regarded as vulnerable and a further two regarded as rare. The overarching theme of the species accounts is nonetheless one of restricted distribution and diminishing numbers. The Marsupial and Monotreme Action Plan (Kennedy 1992) indicates a more serious situation with 6 species listed in endangered to potentially endangered categories. In preparing this paper on the priorities for rock- wallabies conservation there seemed to be no need for further review at a species level given the detail to be found in the above publications. Such evaluations are also the role of expert teams of national composition rather than a single individual having inevitable regional perspectives. What did seem important was to examine how we are faring in marshalling our resources to achieve tangible conservation outcomes from the efforts now being applied by the various Federal, State and Territory institutions involved in research and management. This paper attempts to place a quantitative measure of where research effort is being applied and how the involved agencies are combining to further the conservation of rock-wallabies.