State Government removal of the green tape around tree clearing should only happen if there are increased 'boots on the ground' for policing to prevent abuses of the new system...

That's according to Professor Frank Carrick AM from the University of Queensland, who was attending a Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland planning day, hosted by CQUniversity this week.

L-R at the workshop are Professor Frank Carrick AM (Uni of Qld), Graham Strachan (Rton Zoo), Dr Flavia Santamaria (CQUni), Rolf Schlagloth (CQUni), Shirley Hopkins (CQ Koala Volunteers), Dr Alistair Melzer (CQUni), Yvette Fenning (Rton Zoo), Gail Tucker (CQUni) and Carmen Beazley-Drake (CQ Koala Volunteers)

Professor Carrick joined other attendees reviewing the plight of the koala in the 12 months since its federal listing as a threatened species.

Planning day organiser Dr Alistair Melzer reflected on various regional populations where the koala is either surviving, struggling or near extinction. He said a common issue was the linear expansion of resource industry road and rail infrastructure corridors which not only reduce habitat but also prevent the animal crossing between habitats, as evidenced by road kills.

Both Prof Carrick and Dr Melzer called on governments to do more to facilitate cooperation between miners, farmers and conservationists.

Those in attendance at the meeting in Rockhampton included Professor Carrick, Dr William Ellis and Dr Sean FitzGibbon from the University of Queensland, Dr Alistair Melzer, Dr Flavia Santamaria, Gail Tucker and Rolf Schlagloth from CQUniversity, Graeme Strachen and Yvette Fenning from Rockhampton Zoo, and members of the Central Queensland Koala Volunteers.

The researchers reviewed current research activities and debated future research directions for the CQ region.