CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

Extinction Peril
Australia has been named as one of the worlds worst performers on biodiversity. There has been an increase in de-forestation and businesses such as mining, logging and development have won, at the expense of our natural unique environment.
According to the Department of Environment and Heritage, more than 60 Australian plant species are now thought to be extinct, and over 1180 are threatened. Clearing for agriculture and urban development, hard hoofed animals such as cattle and sheep, altered fire and grazing patterns, changed drought and flood patterns, and the introduction of weeds, feral animals and diseases have affected the survival of many plant species.
Scientists state that plants account for 70% of Australia’s national threatened species list with 1,318 varieties considered critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable
According to The Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire Recovery Expert Panel, 471 plant species were identified as needing urgent management intervention to support recovery from the 2019-20 bushfires. The plants span a variety of vegetation types and include rainforest trees and shrubs and plants from subalpine vegetation.
Some of these plants, that were already threatened before the fires, are now at risk of extinction.
Extinction. Exterminated, dead, gone forever.
Scientists have called the situation that is affecting Australian threatened plants and animals a national disgrace and that we are experiencing an environmental crisis. We have the ability to save species from extinction, but we fail.
In this exhibition I have included two sculptures of plants that have been listed as critically endangered.
1) Caladenia patersonii var. hastata : CRITICALLY ENDANGERED due to the construction of an aluminium smelter on its only known location in Victoria.
2) Ricinocarpos gloria-medii: Glory of the Centre. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED due to wildfires.

Name:Louise Fowler-Smith