Australia’s biggest species discovery project, Bush Blitz, is set to continue discovering flora and fauna across the country thanks to a $5.5-million funding commitment from the Australia Government. Project partner BHP will match the funding.
Through world-leading scientific research Bush Blitz has led to the discovery of more than 1700 plant and animal species – that’s a new species every 42 hours.
Scientists and researchers from across the country come together for each ‘blitz’ to identify and catalogue plants and animals – in many cases working alongside the region’s traditional owners who possess valuable traditional knowledge.
Each expeditions has found species either unknown to science or plants and animals never before recorded in the area they were discovered. New species have been revealed in every state and territory as well as within our vast marine network and more than 45,000 different plants and animals have been recorded.
Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg said he looked forward to the project building on the thousands of species already added to our knowledge bank.
He said it would increase the science communities’ understanding of Australia’s plants and animals and help us protect and maintain Australia’s biodiversity for generations to come.
