Melbourne to lead Adani’s Black-throated Finch Management Plan review

University of Melbourne Professor of Conservation Ecology Brendan Wintle will lead a six-member panel of conservation and wildlife science experts to review Adani’s Black-throated Finch Management Plan (BTFMP).

Professor Wintle assembled the panel at the request of the Queensland Government.

“The black-throated finch is listed as endangered under Australian law,” said Professor Wintle who is based at the University’s School of Biosciences.

He is also the Director of the Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program.

“The black-throated finch only survives in a relatively small area and much of the remaining population occurs in the proposed Carmichael Mine development area," Professor Wintle said.

“Having a sound plan is important to ensure the species is not adversely impacted by this development. Any further declines in this endangered species could push it toward extinction.”

Professor Wintle noted that several of the panel members have previously been engaged by mining companies to provide expert advice on threatened species management.

“In combination the six panel members have more than 150 years of experience in threatened species conservation planning and management,” Professor Wintle said.

"They are nationally and internationally recognised experts in environmental science and experienced in undertaking reviews of this nature.”

The BTFMP review panel members:

• University of Melbourne Professor of Conservation Ecology and Director of the Threatened Species Recovery Hub at the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program Brendan Wintle (Panel Chair)
• Charles Darwin University Professor of Conservation Biology John Woinarski
• Charles Darwin University Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods and author of the Action Plan for Australian Birds Stephen Garnett
• Australian National University Professor of Wildlife Conservation and University of Queensland Principal Research Fellow Sarah Legge
• Experienced wildlife ecologist Don Franklin
• Australian National University Professor of Ecology and Conservation Biology, member of the Australian Academy of Science and 2014 member of the Order of Australia (AO) for contributions to science, David Lindenmayer.