The preliminary DECCW Koala survey report was released last week
'Bearly' hanging on inthe south east forests
In addition, the logged compartments will be burnt after logging, which, according to John Hibberd, director of the Conservation Council ACT, could result in the extinction of south coast koalas, by destroying habitat and expansionary corridors. “Koalas need space for their young to move into new territories, and the post-logging fire will spell the end for them”, he said.
Australia’s top koala experts recognise the far south coast as a region where our national icon is in serious trouble. Leading koala expert Dr Steve Phillips said on ABC radio recently “We have got the management prescriptions [for koalas] wrong, especially in the south east …They have just got to be protected so they can continue to expand…there is no longer any argument about what is important habitat.”
“Koalas have a range up to 50km, so leaving small ‘cells’ for koala habitats is not effective to safeguard populations, said Mr Hibberd. “These koalas need space if their population is going to grow to a viable size, capable of withstanding major events, such as fire or disease. Koalas must find trees with nutrient rich leaves for their highly specialised diet, and males need to find new territory”.
The DECCW report states that “this population is undoubtedly small, probably less than 50 mature animals. Thus it will be important to ensure that the population does not experience any further loss and that provision is made for its expansion into any apparently unoccupied but suitable habitat.”
In a region where there were once hundreds of thousands of koalas, and they were often sighted in the main street of Bega, the Mumbulla population is the only tiny remnant yet definitively identified. Despite its small size though, it is genetically strong, and potentially able to increase without inbreeding problems.
These forests are also home to other endangered species, such as Long-Nosed Potoroos, Sooty Owls and Eastern Grey Headed Flying Foxes, as well as being critical habitat for the endangered Swift Parrot.
Prue Acton, spokesperson for the South East Region Conservation Alliance said that there is no need to log our native forests. “The koala, one of our iconic native animals, could face extinction in these forests, for the sake of a short term supply of woodchips and sawlogs, when there are now enough plantation resources on-line in Australia to ensure that no native forest needs to be logged. The NSW government appears to be placing very short sighted interests over the survival of this courageous animal, over our natural heritage and over the expansion of industries such as tourism on the south coast,” she said
Conservationists will meet with environment Minister Sartor on Friday to discuss the issue. “He has a wonderful opportunity here to demonstrate the government’s environmental credentials in the lead up to the next election. We don’t believe that the Keneally government will want to leave the demise of the koala on the south coast as part of its legacy.” Mr Hibberd said.
