Status of koalas uncertain and declining, Melzer tells Senate hearing
Published on 31 May, 2011
The status of the koala is uncertain, nationally, and local and regional populations are declining, according to CQUniversity researcher Dr Alistair Melzer.
Drawing on two decades of fieldwork, Dr Melzer recently contributed a submission to the Australian Senate Inquiry into the status, health and sustainability of Australia's koala population.
LINK HERE for all submissions to the Australian Senate Inquiry
Dr Alistair Melzer and Gail Tucker
Meanwhile, at the same hearing, a mention was made by the Australian Forest Products Association of a report, authored by CQUniversity researcher Gail Tucker, on the relationship between koalas and forestry practice.
The AFPA stated that the CQUniversity report showed that koalas were not necessarily disadvantaged by forestry practice and may prefer regrowth forests. The peak body indicated the report would be submitted to the Senate on its finalisation.
Dr Melzer and Ms Tucker both operate within our Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland at CQUniversity's Centre for Environmental Management. The former recommended to the Senate that a proactive approach be taken by the Commonwealth.
This proactivity would include "a move away from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) criterion-based assessment of the koala's status, proactive implementation of the actions of the national koala strategy within the Commonwealth's sphere of influence, Commonwealth resourcing of research and community organizations pursuing the objectives of the national koala strategy, support for the establishment of a network of koala sentinel sites monitoring trends in population and habitat status".
"A strategic review of the approach to managing the koala and its habitat is required taking account of the distinctly different needs in (a) the over-abundant, genetically depauperate race of the koala in South Australia and Victoria, (b) the expanding urban and industrial footprint in predominantly coastal eastern Australia, and (c) the rural and regional western and northern habitats affected by climate extremes, fire and drought."