Approval of Adani’s Black-throated finch plan could send species to brink

The area where Adani wants to dig the Carmichael coal mine is home to the largest known population of Black-throated finches and some of the best remaining habitat.

The Queensland Government’s decision to approve Adani’s management plan for the endangered Black-throated finch is scientifically dubious, the result of corporate bullying and could lead to the finch’s extinction, the Australian Conservation Foundation said.

“Adani’s proposed Galilee Basin coal mine would devastate critical habitat for this endangered bird,” said ACF campaigner Christian Slattery.

“The Black-throated finch has already lost 88 per cent of its historical range and recent analysis shows six of the coal mines planned for the Galilee Basin would completely clear nearly 35,000 hectares of the finch’s best remaining habitat.

“The area where Adani wants to dig the Carmichael mine is home to the largest known population of Black-throated finches and some of the best remaining habitat,” he said.

Adani’s planned ‘conservation area’ for the finch is on the proposed Alpha North mine site.

Ecologists have warned Adani’s plans could drive the finch to extinction.

“The Black-throated finch is already endangered and this decision by the Queensland Government – which comes after months of pressure and coercion by Adani and the mining lobby – may have sealed its fate,” Mr Slattery said.

“Politicians should stand up to corporate bullying, not roll over and roll out the red carpet.

“Adani still has several hurdles to clear before it could dig any Galilee Basin coal, including an unapproved groundwater management plan and some ongoing court cases.”

Among other plans, Adani hopes to take up to 12.5 billion litres of water – 5000 Olympic-sized swimming pools – from the Suttor River in central Queensland, a river that floods and dries up at different times and on which farmers and wetlands rely.

ACF is challenging the Federal Environment Minister’s failure to apply the water trigger to Adani’s proposed water pipeline project in the Federal Court.

Black-throated finch footage here

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