Fire poses extinction risk

A bushfire that burnt 90 per cent of the world's rarest marsupial's last- known wild habitat last month has prompted emergency intervention by the Federal Government.

Threatened Species Commissioner Gregory Andrews visited Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve on Sunday to see first-hand the fire's impact on the critically endangered Gilbert's potoroo.

The fire, sparked by a lightning strike, scorched 1230ha and is believed to be the worst in the area in more than 50 years.

Mr Andrews toured the fire ground with Department of Parks and Wildlife staff and members of Albany volunteer conservation groups, Gilbert's Potoroo Action Group and Friends of the Western Ground Parrot.

The parrot, which is WA's rarest bird and restricted to Cape Arid National Park near Esperance, was also recently ravaged by bushfires.

Mr Andrews said he was devastated and deeply saddened to return to the reserve about a year after his first visit.

"Seeing it before and after (the fire) was dramatic," he said. "The fire has really damaged that habitat … experts have told me it will take about a decade before it can support potoroos again.

"These two species are in a very serious situation."

The parrot is included on Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt's Threatened Species Strategy, released in July.

The strategy will identify 20 birds and mammals the Federal Government has committed to boost by 2020, with 12 of each selected so far.

Mr Andrews said the remaining eight birds and mammals were previously slated to be announced by July, but he would be making a recommendation to Mr Hunt next week.

"Being there and getting a firsthand assessment of how dire the situation is will be very useful for me, in terms of providing that advice to the minister," he said.

"I wanted to give the recovery teams and friends of groups some reassurance and let them know the Threatened Species Commissioner is standing with them in the current disaster."