The Nature Conservation Council welcomes the Federal Government’s commitment to spend $50 million on koala research and care, but the package fails to address the biggest threat the species faces.
Habitat loss from logging and land clearing is the number-one threat to koalas and must be stopped to give the species a chance a chance of surviving beyond 2050.
“It’s great the government is kicking in another $50 million for koalas – they need all the help they can get,” NCC Acting Chief Executive Jacqui Mumford said.
“But realistically, this funding will make virtually no difference. It’s like putting a Band-Aid on an amputation.
“We don’t need more research and koala hospitals. We know what the problem is — it’s habitat loss. Habitat loss is driving our koalas to extinction.
“To save the species, we have to stop cutting down the forests and woodlands where trhey live.
“If the Federal Government is serious about saving koalas, it needs to work with the states to ban the logging and clearing of koala habitat and create large new koala reserves, like the one proposed on the mid-north coast.
“Sadly, our politicians keep putting developer profits ahead of koala conservation, which is killing the species one housing block and one paddock at a time.”
REFERENCES
[1] Federal koala recovery funding tripled as populations continue to decline, ABC, 29-01-22
Government commits $50 million to save koalas, 28-01-22, SMH, https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/government-commits-50-million-to-save-koalas-20220128-p59s2t.html