What is happening?

2009 review. The Trust has undertaken a review of its activities and structure. One of the things we will be doing in 2010 is to develop a strategic plan that examines how the Trust manages its relationships, how we allocate funding and what our long-term (10yr+) objectives are. It is imperative that we set clear targets and paths, so that we check on own progress and not fall into the trap of patting ourselves on the back for a job well done while the status of the flashjack remains unchanged. Ultimately the goal of threatened species conservation should probably be to be able to downgrade threatened species - we are an awfully long way from downgrading the flashjack from Endangered.... In fact, it is more likely that it is ready to be upgraded to critically endangered.

The Bridled Nailtail Wallaby Trust will be developing a research program to identify the most suitable locations for the release of flashjacks back into the wild. The project will be lead by the University of Queensland, and is a critical step in avoiding common mistakes in reintroductions of threatened species. More as this project develops.

2009 has seen massive efforts by Hunting & Conservation Queensland at Avocet Reserve. The group have now established a local branch that run weekend feral animal control trips in addition to the bi-annual state-wide exercises. H&C are a branch of the Sporting Shooters' Association Australia, and apart from providing ongoing and significant support for the Trust and the flashjack, the project is an example of how conservation relies upon broad support from the Australian public, and how novel partnerships can lead to really great benefits for conservation programs.

The BNW Trust is continuing to push for coordination of bridled nailtail wallaby conservation. Currently several organisations and groups are working to conserve the animal, but with little cooperation between them. This has been the situation for many years now, and as a result the situation for the species is becoming more and more precarious. The Trust believes that unless widespread cooperation is seen between the government and NGO sectors the Flashjacks will soon become extinct in the wild. Any action must address all sub-populations in Queensland and New South Wales.