Environment
Conservation
Exclusive
Biosecurity
A weed masquerading as a shrub killed Anna’s two ponies. It’s still sold in garden centres
Cestrum nocturnum, a decorative, sweet-scented but highly toxic shrub popular in gardens, is taking off as a weed in NSW – but the government has not banned it.
- by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Latest
‘Trashed and trampled by feral horses’: Alpine species at risk of extinction
With feral horse numbers soaring in the Australian Alps the federal government’s own threatened species advisory body has called on it to intervene.
- by Nick O'Malley
Victoria’s koalas: abundant and widespread? Or diseased and dwindling? It’s complicated
Victoria still has a large koala population, but they face threats like poor genetic diversity, the risk of disease and climate change.
- by Miki Perkins
A pit lake larger than Sydney Harbour: Hazelwood owners plan for coal mine site
Hazelwood’s owners say a giant pit lake is the best way to provide geological stability to the mine void, but environment groups fear it could strain the river system.
- by Miki Perkins
Opinion
Environmental protection
A koala colony gave hope of a better tomorrow. Not anymore.
The discovery of a flourishing koala colony at Gunnedah once held great optimism for the species’ future. As it declined, it became a political football.
- by The Herald's View
How the healthiest koala colony collapsed into extinction
Calamity has struck the koalas of Gunnedah, the NSW town that still calls itself the “koala capital of the world”.
- by Nick O'Malley and Wolter Peeters
Tonight, Barry Jane will cook ducks he shot. It could be his last supper of this kind
The 76-year-old has enjoyed duck hunting since he was 16. But he understands a parliamentary inquiry into the future of recreational native bird hunting could end duck shooting in Victoria.
- by Miki Perkins
Exclusive
Biodiversity
From faded crocodile signs to damaged ranger stations: National Parks get funding boost
The federal government will invest $262.3 million in the upcoming budget to address the underfunding of many of Australia’s iconic national parks.
- by Laura Chung
Healing seagrass ‘scars’ to make Sydney Harbour cleaner and clearer
The world’s biggest harbour restoration project is focusing on an ancient, self-cloning species of seagrass.
- by Angus Dalton
At 22, Eric discovered an ‘extinct’ possum. It lived in his pocket
The man who rediscovered Victoria’s faunal emblem, the Leadbeater’s possum, 60 years ago now fears he may live to see it go extinct for real.
- by Sherryn Groch
The woman with four of the state’s most important portfolios
New environment minister Penny Sharpe has spent almost 20 years in politics. Now she’s stepped into the biggest role of her life.
- by Laura Chung and James Brickwood