BAKING FOR BIODIVERSITY: CORANGAMITE CMA HIGHLIGHTS THREATENED SPECIES THROUGH NATIONAL BAKE-OFF

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) staff have again traded their desks for mixing bowls and cake tins, taking part in the 2026 Threatened Species Bake-off to celebrate and raise awareness of Australia's unique and threatened wildlife.

Now in its 10th year, the national Threatened Species Bake-off encourages Australians to create edible tributes to threatened plants, animals and ecosystems while sparking conversations about the importance of conservation.

Corangamite CMA has proudly participated in the Bake-off since the COVID-19 lockdown years, with the annual event becoming a much-anticipated opportunity for staff to combine creativity with environmental education.

This year's bakers crafted an impressive array of threatened species-inspired creations, including the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster), vulnerable Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis) and endangered Southern Bent-winged Bat (Miniopterus orianae bassanii) all of which are listed in the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032, Priority Species list.

Other creations included endangered Little Galaxias (Galaxiella toourtkoourt), the Large Ant-blue butterfly (Acrodipsas brisbanensis) as well as threatened ecosystems, such as a special dessert showing salt-wedge estuaries of western and central Victoria!

Corangamite CMA CEO, Dr. Amber Clarke, said the Bake-off is a fun and engaging way to start meaningful conversations about biodiversity and the species that need our help.

"Behind every cake is a conservation story. While the Bake-off is a fun event, it also helps shine a spotlight on the very real challenges facing many of Australia's threatened species and ecosystems.

"Our region is home to an extraordinary diversity of plants, animals and habitats. Events like this encourage people to learn more about these species and understand why protecting them matters.

"The Orange-bellied Parrot and Southern Bent-winged Bat are among Australia's best-known threatened species, but there are many others, such as the Little Galaxias, that play important roles in our waterways and often go unnoticed."

The Corangamite CMA region supports a remarkable range of biodiversity, including internationally significant wetlands, waterways, grasslands and coastal habitats. However, many native species and ecological communities continue to face threats from habitat fragmentation, invasive species and climate change.

Through programs that restore habitat, improve waterway health, protect wetlands and support sustainable land management, Corangamite CMA works alongside landholders, Traditional Owners, community groups and partner organisations to help safeguard these species and ecosystems.

As Corangamite CMA staff gathered to admire the colourful creations and share a slice of cake, they were also reminded that protecting biodiversity requires action beyond the kitchen.

Whether it's planting native vegetation, reducing pest plants and animals, participating in citizen science projects or learning more about local wildlife, everyone can play a role in supporting threatened species.

As the Threatened Species Bake-off celebrates a decade of raising awareness, Corangamite CMA is encouraging the community to take a closer look at the species and ecosystems that make the region special and consider how they can help ensure their survival for generations to come.