Emergency Response and Recovery Plan

The catastrophic Black Summer bushfires took an unprecedented toll on native animals in 2019/2020 and this crisis event was preceded by a long-term drought that had lasted almost a decade in many parts of Australia. The fires saw millions of hectares of land burnt including threatened species habitat and an estimated twenty percent of Australian forests were impacted. As a result, hundreds of species are now closer to extinction with a WWF Report confirming that almost three billion animals were fire affected, including 143 million mammals, 2.46 billion reptiles, 180 million birds, and 51 million frogs.

The WIRES Emergency Fund was created to respond to these natural disasters and the ongoing threat of habitat destruction. This was made possible by the global financial support received in 2020 which enabled WIRES to provide immediate emergency response, establish longer term recovery plans and increase capacity for future extreme weather events.

Over the last 24 months and whilst negotiating the operational restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, WIRES has managed to deliver significant results for wildlife nationally with many more projects to be launched this year. WIRES is collaborating with leading environment organisations, wildlife groups, universities and government agencies nationally to deliver the best long-term outcomes for wildlife. Due to climate change, scientists are forecasting that temperatures are rising and that the frequency and intensity of natural disasters such as bushfires and extreme weather are predicted to increase.

WIRES Emergency Response and Recovery Plan outlines our strategic approach to the disbursement of the $90 million raised in the Emergency Fund in early 2020. In October 2020, the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) reviewed three major charities involved in the bushfire response and were beneficiaries of world-wide donations, including WIRES. Read the review.

STAGE 1 RESPONSE

WIRES priorities for Stage 1:

WIRES committed $12.4 million to Stage 1, including:

Key Projects Include:

*With multi-year programs the funding is allocated over several years and dispersed based on an approved schedule, aligned with the delivery of project outcomes. 

Read the WIRES Impact Report

STAGE 2 RESPONSE

WIRES priorities for Stage 2 are:

  1. Increasing national rescue and rehabilitation capacity
  2. Improving emergency wildlife response capability
  3. Supporting long-term species and habitat recovery projects

WIRES committed $41 million to Stage 2, including:

Key Projects Include:

*With multi-year programs the funding is allocated over several years and dispersed based on an approved schedule, aligned with the delivery of project outcomes. 

WIRES 2021 Impact Report

STAGE 3 RESPONSE

WIRES priorities for Stage 3 are:

  1. Review of Stage 1 and Stage 2 projects to assess and confirm impact delivered for wildlife
  2. Assessment of threatened species and habitat recovery requirements to identify any gaps
  3. Strategic investment in major projects to facilitate WIRES capacity for best practice rescue, rehabilitation and emergency response

WIRES has committed $37 million to Stage 3 and the final allocation of funds is expected to be confirmed by December 2023.

All Emergency Funds will be allocated to projects and programs that support wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and recovery.

PROGRAM / FUND MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

WIRES estimates less than 8c per dollar will be spent on essential program management and administrative costs.




Projects Updates

WIRES Major Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation and Recovery Partners

Animal Rescue Cooperative
Animal Rescue Cooperative
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
AussieArk
AussieArk
Currumbin Wildlife Hospital
Currumbin Wildlife Hospital
Landcare Australia
Landcare Australia
The University of Sydney
The University of Sydney

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