12 August 2019
Cross-party support required to prevent extinction of koalas in NSW
Koalas are on track to become extinct in 30 years without bipartisan political support for reducing threats, protecting critical habitat and revegetating over-cleared landscapes, conservation groups have warned.
The dire warning is contained in submission by Stand Up For Nature, an alliance of 11 conservation groups, to the NSW Upper House Inquiry into koala populations and habitat. [1]
The submission states: “Koala populations in NSW are in crisis. Since 1990, the population has declined by between 20% and 50%, to be in the range of 15,000 to 25,000 animals.
“Local extinctions have already occurred, and current trends suggest koalas could be extinct in NSW within 30 years. It is clear that urgent action is needed to ensure future generations can see these iconic species in the wild.
“Recently, the NSW Government recognised that koala populations are in steep decline and developed a strategy to begin to address this.
“Unfortunately, this strategy, and current government policy, fails to address the number one threat to koala populations - habitat loss and fragmentation.
“Koalas cannot be saved unless we ensure their remaining habitat is protected and restored, but right now the opposite is occurring.
“Areas of core koala habitat in NSW, called ‘koala hubs’, have been mapped by the Office of Environment and Heritage.
“These represent only a fraction of known habitat, but they are still being cleared for logging, agriculture and infrastructure at an increasing pace. We also have historically low rates of strategic additions to our National Parks network under the current government.
“Ensuring our remaining koalas survive and their populations rebuild will require:
- strong laws to protect their habitat, including ending major deforestation on private and leasehold land for agriculture, native forest logging, urban development, infrastructure, mining and gas,
- including more koala habitat in national parks and other protected areas, and
- investing in large scale revegetation of over-cleared landscapes, especially in modelled climate refuge and corridor areas.
“The NSW Parliament faces a choice: continue with business as usual and oversee the rapid decline and possible extinction of one of our most iconic Australian mammals or make urgent and major changes to protect vital habitat and restore our native forests.
“We urge the NSW Government, this committee and all Members of Parliament to work together to save koalas for future generations.”
References
[1] Koala populations and habitat in NSW, an inquiry of the NSW Legislative Council Portfolio Committee No. 7 - Planning and Environment.
Stand Up For Nature Alliance Members
- NSW Nature Conservation Council
- National Parks Association of NSW
- WWF-Australia
- Humane Society International
- International Fund for Animal Welfare
- Total Environment Centre
- Wilderness Society
- WIRES
- Colong Foundation
- National Trust
- North East Forest Alliance
- North Coast Environment Council
Tags
Forests and wildlife
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