The Challenge

Like many of Australia’s productive agricultural regions, the landscapes of Habitat 141 have suffered disproportionate loss and degradation of habitat over many centuries. Small and often isolated remnants of habitat still support a high number of threatened and endangered species, however biodiversity loss continues at an alarming rate.

By isolating previously connected areas of land, plants and animals lose their ability to move between suitable environments in search of food, habitat and breeding partners. This forces them to travel across largely open agricultural areas where they are vulnerable to environmental threats and predators.

The Solution

Habitat 141 is a 50 year long vision, which brings together local landholders, businesses and government to restore and reconnect the iconic landscapes along the 141st longitude. These environments are some of the last few places in Australia where extensive wilderness areas form a series of stepping stones from the south coast right through to the arid zone. These patches of wilderness are surrounded by some of the most highly modified and fragmented ecosystems in Australia. Furthermore, by restoring and reconnecting habitat within this agricultural region we enable native wildlife and plants to move more easily across the landscape again.

Supported by an alliance of active partner organisations from South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, Greening Australia is leading the on-ground stakeholder action group ‘Habitat 141 Woodlands and Wetlands’. This group engages landholders, individuals, land managers and project officers to share information, plan projects and get involved in delivering on-ground work.

Priorities for action across the landscape are captured in comprehensive Conservation Action Plans. These include our aim to increase the cover of six critically endangered woodland and grassy woodland communities to 5% of their original extent. Additionally, we want to protect and enhance a number of wetlands to provide drought refuge for highly mobile species. These actions will have a profound long-term impact on increasing connectivity across the landscape and provide habitat for a diverse range of threatened species.

Key Greening Australia Habitat 141 programs:

• Malleefowl linkage program
• South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
• Biodiverse Carbon
• Alcoa 1 Million Trees
• The Handbury Fund

Visit the Habitat 141 Website