Care4esk is pushing Somerset Council to keep to its election promises regarding environmental conservation, following National Threatened Species Day (NTSD) last week, September 7. This day marked the date that the last living Tasmanian Tiger passed, officially declaring the Thylacine species extinct in 1936.
Care4esK president Darren Bate is highlighting the importance of accountability and responsibility that the community have as a collective, and is adamant about the role locals play in sustaining and protecting the environment. “The extinction of any species is a choice,” he said. “The destruction of precious eco-systems and habitats is a choice. A choice most often made by our leaders.
“Wildlife and environment are a crucial part of any community. Unfortunately, what is often seen as progress is given precedence over our native flora and fauna, because they have no voice. Their representation is too often missing.”
Mr Bate is pushing for progress to be made locally to protect and preserve surrounding wildlife, saying Council needs to do more to preserve the threatened and endangered species of the area.
“At a local level, much was said in the lead up to our March election about representation for the Environment in the Somerset Region,” he said. “At six months in, our Councillors have wasted no time traversing our beautiful countryside, yet we hear little to no talk of what must be done to protect our wildlife and environment.”
According to Darren, NTSD is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate Australia’s incredibly unique flora and fauna, many of which are revered throughout the world. According to Mr Bate, experts are fearing koalas may be completely extinct by 2050, along with many other native species found in the Somerset region, such as the brush-tailed rock wallabies, glossy blackcockatoos, greater gliders, and the grey-headed flying fox. “NTSD offers time to consider what needs to change and how we can each affect that change to prevent further species from becoming Threatened or Extinct,” he said.
“Every choice, every decision, has an effect.
Gone is gone...gone is forever.”
