ABOUT ODONATA
Conservation of animals cannot just be about preventing extinction – our future depends on wild animals thriving, not just surviving, eventually recovering in numbers to provide the ecosystem services on which we depend.
Simon Mustoe, author of Wildlife in the Balance: Why animals are humanity’s best hope.
The back story
Odonata Foundation is a leading Australian environmental conservation charity dedicated to saving species.
Alarmingly, Australia holds the record for being the world leader in mammal extinctions. As a continent we have suffered a chronic loss of arguably the world’s most remarkable mix of mammals – more than 87% are only found in Australia. Odonata exists to reverse this trajectory.
We have set our sights on recovering 9 core species over the coming decade, so that resources can be targeted, and impact can be quantified.
We are working concurrently to rebuild genetic resilience in each population, create and maintain feral-free habitats for animals to recover, and support healthy populations at multiple sites to insure against the increasing threat of climate related disasters such as fire, flood and drought.
Odonata’s work is underpinned by its scientifically backed We Save Species Recovery Model. This model asserts that once a species has been recovered to a minimum of 500 individuals across at least 5 sites, the species is secure and protected against climate related threats. For example, if fire or flood devastates one site, there will be multiple others with genetically diverse populations to ensure survival.
We collaborate with scientists, researchers, universities, landholders and other aligned organisations, informed by the latest technology.
The lesser-known story is that the unique animals we work with, such as bandicoots, bettongs and potoroos, act as ecosystem engineers, moving over 3 tonnes of soil per year. This does incredible things to enhance soil and vegetation carbon sequestration potential, along with increasing water holding capacity to create flood and drought resilience. This soil movement allows for soil aeration, seed dispersion and increased soil fertility for farm productivity – all services that support human life.
Our model is unique because we invite landholders to form part of the solution, supporting them to establish feral-free fenced areas on their land, often where farming and other operations are concurrently thriving.
When managed appropriately, wildlife can coexist alongside private land-use and farming. Our Tiverton Farm Sanctuary acts as a world-class example of this, and we work with other landholders to realise this potential through our Odonata Academy (funded by the Ian Potter Foundation).
Our role is to empower and support landholders to rebuild populations of threatened species, whilst supporting them to identify other possible income streams, including farming, tourism, carbon offsets, and opportunities within emerging nature repair markets.
Odonata’s achievements to-date include being foundational to the downlisting of the eastern barred bandicoot from ‘extinct in the wild’ to ‘endangered’ (just the second time this has happened with a land-based mammal in Australia) and leading the most successful semi-wild breeding program of the southern brush-tailed rock-wallaby (just 50 remain in the wild).
Saving species takes time.
Once lost they are gone forever.
We’d love you to join us in our mission.
Why we’re unique
A lean model
Traditional NGO sanctuary models rely on purchasing large swathes of land, which relies on huge philanthropic support and ongoing overheads.
We invite landholders to form part of the solution
There are a growing number of landholders who would like to leave a legacy of land rejuvenation and recovery.
Provide expertise
Odonata has worked over two decades to create world class sanctuary standards and provide threatened species management support to landholders in the 500-in-5 network.
Maintaining land for farming isn’t a barrier to conservation
Odonata explores innovative ways to support farming and carbon projects, alongside sanctuaries. Our Tiverton Farm Sanctuary acts as a world-class example of this
