Protection plan includes SW mammals

Two South West mammals are listed on Australia's first Threatened Species Strategy Action Plan that will be launched today at the first Threatened Species Summit in Melbourne.The plan - 20 mammals by 2020 - aims to reverse the decline of 20 threatened mammal species in five years, backed by a Federal Government policy framework and measurable targets.

Twelve mammals have been chosen so far, including the western quoll or chuditch and WA's fauna emblem, the numbat.

Gregory Andrews was appointed as Australia's first Threatened Species Commissioner in July last year by Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt, who will host the summit, to work with government and non-government organisations, scientists and the community to "draw a line in the sand on extinction."

Mr Andrews will chair the summit where targets for birds and plants will also be announced, covering almost 90 per cent of threatened species in Australia.

Mr Andrews said $80 million had been earmarked to help protect threatened species.

"Our animals and plants define who we are as a nation, we put them on our money, on our sporting teams," Mr Andrews said.

"When we lose them we lose a part of who we are as Australians."

Mr Andrews said feral cats were a huge threat to native mammals.

"We have already lost 29 mammals to extinction in Australia - and 28 of those were due to feral cats," he said.

DPaW WA director of Science and Conservation Dr Margaret Byrne said predator control was in place in the South West through fauna recovery program Western Shield to help maintain wild populations of native animals, including the numbat and chuditch.

After success in fox control led to an increase in cat numbers, Dr Byrne said a bait specially designed for cats was being trialled in the South West.

"With the registration of Eradicat, it gives us a significant tool to improve the recovery of native animal populations by removing a key predator," Dr Byrne said.

Dr Byrne said the department would get more money after today's summit to integrate cat control with Western Shield.