Restoring Koala habitat around Gunnedah: building on a 1990s success

Final Report to the NSW Environmental Trust

• Read the introduction to the report
• Download the report (in three parts due to large file size)
• Restoring koala habitat in Gunnedah: building on a 1990 success - Part 1 (6.5MB)
• Restoring koala habitat in Gunnedah: building on a 1990 success - Appendix 1 (9MB)
• Restoring koala habitat in Gunnedah: building on a 1990 success - Appendices 2-6 (7.5MB)

Liverpool Plains Land Management Inc is very proud to have been associated with this most successful Environmental Trust Restoration and Rehabilitation Community Grants Project.

The project has been successful on a number of levels.

Firstly, it has proven the benefit of long-term landscape restoration work through revegetation initiated by Liverpool Plains Land Management Inc and its constituent Landcare groups and their landholder members through the 1990s.

Most of these projects were undertaken with the principal aim of reversing the spread of dryland salinity, a result of historical over-clearing, but an expected side benefit was to be improved and extended habitat for the local koala population, which had been assessed as both healthy and expanding. The fact that these plantings, although still young, are already providing that enhanced habitat, will be a stimulant to further revegetation activities, as it shows that the benefits accrue over a relatively short timescale.

Secondly, the project has refined our understanding of the types of plantings and their layout that best suit koalas. This knowledge will enable Landcare groups and others involved to plan cross-property revegetation and remnant protection activities to build towards a broad-scale koala-friendly landscape.

Thirdly, the project has sounded a timely warning, that the Liverpool Plains koala population is not immune from threats, and that we need to act with some urgency to further improve habitat extent and quality, to assist the population withstand and adapt to the impacts of climate change and habitat loss as a result of mining development.

Fourthly, the project has provided us with some clear ideas as to the needs for further research, to build on the information we have gained, and to refine koala management strategies so that the future of the koala population of the Liverpool Plains can be secured.

Finally, the project has demonstrated excellent collaboration between landholders and wildlife scientists, two groups who are not always considered to be natural allies. The landholders involved have been welcoming and cooperative, and this has enabled the project activities to proceed efficiently and effectively. No small part to this cooperation has been the attitude of the research team: they have been flexible and perceptive of the needs of the landholders, and well aware that they are guests on private land.