Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01095:body:0:p4
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01095
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 8882–11981

(Blakers et al. 1984; Priddel 1989).
This recovery plan considers the conservation requirements of the Malleefowl across its range. It identifies the actions to be taken to ensure the species' long-term viability in the wild, and the parties that will undertake those actions. This plan seeks to achieve a viable, self-sustaining wild population of Malleefowl capable of persisting through extended poor breeding seasons, and to put in place long-term management arrangements that ensure Malleefowl habitat is appropriately managed. To achieve this outcome, it is intended to resolve uncertainties in the effectiveness of management actions such as control of invasive predators through adaptive management.
The success or failure of management strategies and actions will ultimately be evaluated by their benefits to Malleefowl populations, which will be measured by monitoring programs that are already underway in many regions. These programs are run by stakeholders in each state, consisting largely of volunteers under the guidance of the National Malleefowl Recovery Team.

2.1 Conservation status

Malleefowl numbers have declined greatly over the past century (Benshemesh 2007b). Malleefowl are currently threatened by a range of factors. In many areas, there has been such loss and fragmentation of their habitat that remaining populations are small and isolated, and prospects for their long-term conservation are poor. It has proven difficult to assess the conservation trajectory of Malleefowl across their extensive range except in broad terms.
Nationally, the Malleefowl is listed as Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The Malleefowl occurs in all mainland states except Queensland and is recognised as threatened wherever it occurs:
       * In New South Wales (NSW), the Malleefowl is listed as Endangered under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

       * In the Northern Territory (NT), the Malleefowl is listed as Critically Endangered under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976 and may be extinct there (Kimber 1985, Barrett et al. 2003).

       * In South Australia (SA), the Malleefowl is listed as Vulnerable under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 – Schedule 8.

       * In Victoria (Vic), the Malleefowl is listed as Vulnerable under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action).

       * In Western Australia (WA), the Malleefowl is listed as Vulnerable under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

In addition to the national and state listings, the Malleefowl qualifies as Vulnerable under international criteria for threatened species (IUCN 2022 criteria: A2bce+3ce+4bce).
Volunteers training day, Goonoo National Park, NSW ©Melanie Bannerman, NPWS, NSW.

2.2 Role and interests of Indigenous people

The preservation of Malleefowl in central Australia is important both for the species' conservation and because Malleefowl feature in Indigenous mythology and are associated with certain 'Dreaming' sites and trails.