Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Recovery Plan— Phascolarctos cinereus (combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory)) Instrument 2022 (Cth)

Commonwealth of Australia

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Subsection 269A(3)

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Recovery Plan— Phascolarctos cinereus (combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory)) Instrument 2022

We, Sussan Ley, Minister for the Environment (Commonwealth) and James Griffin, Minister for Environment and Heritage (State of New South Wales), under subsection 269A(3) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth), jointly make a recovery plan titled:

National Recovery Plan for the Koala Phascolarctos cinereus (combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory)

This legislative instrument will commence on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Dated this 5^th day of April 2022

Sussan Ley

Minister for the Environment (Commonwealth)

Dated this 4 day of April 2022

James Griffin

Minister for Environment and Heritage (New South Wales)

National Recovery Plan for the Koala

Phascolarctos cinereus

(combined populations of Queensland,
New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory)

March 2022

The Species Profile and Threats Database page linked to this recovery plan can be found at:
by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

Made under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

© Commonwealth of Australia 2022

Ownership of intellectual property rights

Unless otherwise noted, copyright (and any other intellectual property rights) in this publication is owned by the Commonwealth of Australia (referred to as the Commonwealth).

Creative Commons licence

All material in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence except content supplied by third parties, logos and the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.

Inquiries about the licence and any use of this document should be emailed to [email protected].

Cataloguing data

This publication (and any material sourced from it) should be cited as: DAWE 2022, National Recovery plan for the Koala: Phascolarctos cinereus (combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory). Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra. March 2022. CC BY 4.0.

ISBN 978-1-76003-386-6

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone 1800 900 090

Disclaimer

The Australian Government acting through the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has exercised due care and skill in preparing and compiling the information and data in this publication. Notwithstanding, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including liability for negligence and for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying on any of the information or data in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Images credits

Cover page: (from left to right) Mother and joey, Magnetic Island, Qld. Image: © E. Vanderduys, CSIRO; Leaves of the river red gum E. camaldulensis which occurs across Australia and a favourite food of the Koala. Image: © S. Brown; Open grey-box woodlands (E. microcarpa) cleared for cropping resulting in habitat loss, scattered paddock trees, narrow corridors and small patches, central NSW. Image: © S. Brown; A young Koala in care rescued in the 2019–2020 summer bushfires. Image: © Marta Yebra; An iconic road-side sign warning drivers to be aware of Koalas. Image: © S. Brown.

Back page: Child’s drawing of a Koala. Image: © Tom Mallela-Leavesley.

Contents

Glossary............................................................................................................................................. 7

Acronyms......................................................................................................................................... 10

Overview......................................................................................................................................... 11

PART I Background and policy context....................................................................................... 16

Cultural significance............................................................................................................... 16

1.1 Significance of the Koala to Indigenous Australians.......................................................... 16

1.2 Non-Indigenous significance........................................................................................... 17

Conservation status................................................................................................................ 18

Purpose of the recovery plan.................................................................................................. 19

Planning and policy context.................................................................................................... 21

4.1 Australian Government................................................................................................... 21

4.2 State and territory governments..................................................................................... 23

PART II Goal, objectives and strategies........................................................................................ 26

Overview of threats................................................................................................................ 26

Goal....................................................................................................................................... 27

Objectives.............................................................................................................................. 28

Strategies and actions............................................................................................................. 29

National Koala Monitoring Program........................................................................................ 49

9.1 Governance structure..................................................................................................... 51

PART III Implementation............................................................................................................... 52

Introduction....................................................................................................................... 52

Governance, Recovery Team and structure......................................................................... 53

National coordination, regional implementation................................................................ 54

12.1 National implementation pathway.................................................................................. 54

12.2 Regional implementation plans....................................................................................... 54

12.3 Conservation and other translocations............................................................................ 55

Schedule and costs............................................................................................................. 55

Current recovery actions..................................................................................................... 56

14.1 Australian Government................................................................................................... 57

14.2 NSW Government.......................................................................................................... 58

14.3 ACT Government............................................................................................................ 58

14.4 Queensland Government............................................................................................... 59

Community interests and roles........................................................................................... 59

15.1 Indigenous communities................................................................................................. 59

15.2 Community conservation for the listed Koala................................................................... 59

Potential benefits and impacts........................................................................................... 60

16.1 Affected interests........................................................................................................... 60

16.2 Social and economic considerations................................................................................. 61

16.3 Broader biodiversity benefits.......................................................................................... 62

Monitoring, evaluation and adaptation of the recovery plan............................................... 62

PART IV Threats and impacts........................................................................................................ 64

Introduction....................................................................................................................... 64

Direct threats..................................................................................................................... 66

19.1 Climate change............................................................................................................... 66

19.2 Land use change............................................................................................................. 67

19.3 Natural systems modification.......................................................................................... 69

19.4 Other............................................................................................................................. 72

Ecological threatening processes........................................................................................ 75

20.1 Habitat loss and fragmentation........................................................................................ 75

20.2 Habitat degradation........................................................................................................ 77

20.3 Genetic effects............................................................................................................... 77

20.4 Genetic effects and disease............................................................................................ 78

PART V Distribution trends, genetic structure and diversity, and habitat.............................. 79

Distribution........................................................................................................................ 79

21.1 National.......................................................................................................................... 79

21.2 The listed Koala............................................................................................................... 81

21.3 Predicted 2070 distribution under climate change............................................................ 81

21.4 Queensland.................................................................................................................... 84

21.5 New South Wales........................................................................................................... 85

21.6 Australian Capital Territory.............................................................................................. 86

21.7 Victoria........................................................................................................................... 86

21.8 South Australia............................................................................................................... 86

Genetic structure and diversity........................................................................................... 87

Valued populations............................................................................................................ 89

Habitat............................................................................................................................... 90

Habitat critical to survival................................................................................................... 94

PART VI Biology and ecology........................................................................................................ 96

Species description............................................................................................................ 96

Behavioural ecology and demography................................................................................ 96

27.1 Reproduction.................................................................................................................. 97

27.2 Demography................................................................................................................... 98

27.3 Movement patterns....................................................................................................... 98

Foraging ecology................................................................................................................ 99

Physiology........................................................................................................................ 101

References..................................................................................................................................... 102

Appendices.................................................................................................................................... 120

Appendix 1 Costings.................................................................................................................. 120

Appendix 2 EPBC Act-listed fauna.............................................................................................. 125

Appendix 3 Predicted habitat loss under climate change............................................................ 127

Appendix 4 2019–2020 fire extent.............................................................................................. 132

List of figures

Figure 1. Modelled distribution (geographic range) of the listed Koala and unlisted Koala............. 12

Figure 2. Summary of the structural overview of the relationship between the
supporting strategies and the on-ground strategies to meet the recovery plan’s goal................... 14

Figure 3. Policies, programs, strategies and regulations at all levels of local, state,
territory and Australian governments that relate to the listed Koala recovery.............................. 23

Figure 4. Stylistic representation of the relationships between land use change affecting the landscape and Koala habitat, and Koala populations, exacerbated by climate change and natural systems change........ 27

Figure 5. Proposed governance structure of the National Koala Monitoring Program and
relationship with the National Koala Recovery Plan, and the state and territory strategies and
plans, and committees................................................................................................................ 51

Figure 6. Predicted listed Koala distribution in 2070 under a high global emissions scenario (RCP8.5) considering the impacts of climate-change driven changes to droughts and heatwaves on Koalas......................... 83

List of tables

Table 1: International, national, state and territory conservation status of the Koala..................... 18

Table 2. Proportion of forest or woodland by land tenure across the listed Koala’s
modelled habitat and states........................................................................................................ 61

Table 3. Estimated losses of Koala distribution due to climate change under a high
global-emissions scenario (A1FI or RCP8.5).................................................................................. 67

Table 4. The area and percentage of land burned in the 2019–2020 summer bushfires
by Natural Resource Management (NRM) areas within the area where the listed Koala
and its habitat for known or likely to occur................................................................................... 80

Table 5. Methods used to describe genetic diversity in the Koala, their benefits and limitations.... 87

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waters, and thank them for protecting this country and its ecosystems since time immemorial. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous Australians.

Open grey box (Eucalyptus macrocarpa) woodlands, central NSW. Image: © S. Brown.

Acknowledgements

This plan represents the combined efforts of many people, including those who have directly contributed to the content of the plan, those whose site and management action information has been captured, and those who have built the knowledge and understanding on which this plan relies.

Due to the vast number of contributors who have provided inputs to this plan representing the interests of a diverse range of stakeholder groups including traditional owners, land managers, landowners, conservation organisations, researchers, Koala friends’ groups and government agencies, attempting to list them all would be impractical and risk missing someone unintentionally.

We extend our sincerest thanks to every individual and organisation that has contributed and invested effort to support the recovery of this iconic and culturally significant species to remain in the Australian landscape for future generations.

Glossary

Area of Occupancy. The area within the extent of occurrence (distribution) that is occupied by the species using 2 x 2 km grid cells (IUCN 2019).

Barrier/s. Impediments to the genetic dispersal of Koalas such that fewer than one individual capable of breeding can naturally move between populations over three generations. Barriers include geographic features such as escarpments or inhospitable landscapes but do not include structures such as roads where movement is possible even if irregular or results in an increased rate of mortality.

Direct threats (anthropogenic). The proximate human activities or processes that directly cause changes to Koalas’ survival or breeding, or that reduce the quality of extent of their habitat. Direct threat classification is adapted from the IUCN Threat Classification Scheme (Version 3.2)(IUCN 2016). Examples include housing developments, road building, and harvesting using silvicultural systems that directly remove habitat trees and patches. The occurrence of dogs and vehicles may cause direct mortality of Koalas.

Drivers. Drivers are the demands from the society or human systems from which threats arise. Drivers can be direct or indirect. Indirect drivers are factors that influence the level of production and consumption of ecosystem services and the sustainable use of resources (sensu MA 2003), and can include biophysical, economic, social, cultural, or other factors.

Ecological threatening processes. The biophysical processes that may affect the survival, abundance or evolutionary potential of a native species or ecological community. Examples include habitat fragmentation, increased mortality and changes in habitat quality. Processes need not be outside the natural bounds of variability to be ecologically threatening. These can be grouped into landscape processes – those processes acting on Koala habitat and landscapes, and metapopulation processes – those processes acting on Koala populations and structure.

Indices (singular, index). Parameters or numerical metrics used to characterise a system of interest. An index is a single number compiled from one or more metrics and may be a direct or indirect metric. Direct metrics may be measures of abundance, density, and presence/absence (population parameters), or; homozygosity and allelic richness (genetic parameters). Indirect metrics may include measures of population change of the Koala inferred from changes in habitat area or a categorical measure such as an overall condition score for Koala health.

Landscape effects. The consequences of ecologically threatening processes acting on Koala habitat and landscapes. Examples include habitat loss and fragmentation, changes in habitat quality.

Listed Koala. The legal entity covered by this recovery plan, being Phascolarctos cinereus (combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory) which is listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act. This entity is considered to be a ‘species’ for the purposes of the EPBC Act. See also see Species (legal definition), in this glossary.

Metapopulation (synonyms: composite population, assemblage of populations). The set of biological populations within a larger area, where movement or gene flow from one biological population to at least some other patches is possible and is important for maintaining abundance and distribution at regional scale, even if such movement is infrequent.

Metapopulation processes. The processes acting on populations that influence spatial structure of populations. Processes that cause extinction and recolonisation and affect metapopulation structure may be caused by disruption to dispersal patterns and exchange of genes between populations, changes in the carrying capacity of habitat and therefore the size of populations and their viability, changes to sex ratios, and mortality rates.

Model. A physical or mathematical or conceptual representation of ideas, events or processes.

Patch. Location or area of habitat with all the necessary resources for the persistence of a population and that is separated from other patches by inhospitable habitat that does not contain all the resources necessary for long-term survival and reproduction (though the inhospitable habitat may allow movement). At any given time, a patch may be occupied or empty. Isolated patches are those patches separated from other patches by habitat or a distance that is unlikely to be traversed by Koalas.

Population (biological definition). A biological population as defined in this recovery plan is a set of individuals that live in the same habitat patch and interact with one another, commonly forming a breeding unit within which the exchange of genetic material is more or less unrestricted (synonyms: local population, subpopulation, deme).

Population effects. The consequences of ecologically threatening processes acting on Koala populations and individuals that influence the demographic structure and status of populations. Examples include stress, changes to mortality rates and recruitment.

Species (legal definition). Following the EPBC Act (s528) a species is a group of biological entities that (a) interbreed to produce fertile offspring; or (b) possess common characteristics derived from a common gene pool; and includes (c) a sub-species.

Under section 517 of the EPBC Act, the Minister for the Environment may determine that a distinct population of biological entities is a species for the purposes of the Act. On 27 April 2012, the Phascolarctos cinereus (combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory) was determination under this provision to be a species (Commonwealth of Australia 2012). In this recovery plan, the legal entity is referred to as the ‘listed Koala’.

Threats. Activities, events and processes, whether anthropogenic or natural, that directly or indirectly influence the biophysical environment or natural demographic or ecological processes and may interfere with the conservation of the Koala. Examples of indirect threats include habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, and population isolation.

Signage advertising the local Koala attraction, welcoming visitors. Narrandera, central NSW.
Image: © S. Brown.

Acronyms

Term	Definition
ABARES	Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences
ACT	Australian Capital Territory
BC Act	Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW)
CSIRO	Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (Commonwealth)
DAWE	Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (Commonwealth) (formerly DoEE and DotE)
DotE	Department of the Environment (Commonwealth) (former)
DoEE	Department of Energy and the Environment (Commonwealth) (former)
DECC	Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (former)
DES	Department of Environment and Science (Queensland) (formerly DERM)
DERM	Department of Environment and Resource Management (Queensland) (former)
DELWP	Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (Victoria) (formerly DSE)
DPIE	Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (NSW) (formerly OEH)
DSE	Department of Sustainability and Environment (Victoria) (former)
EPBC Act	Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)
IBRA/IBRA7	Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia. Version 7
IUCN	International Union for Conservation of Nature
KoRV	Koala retrovirus
Minister	The Australian Government Minister for Agriculture, Water and the Environment
NAILSMA	North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd.
NRM	Natural Resource Management
OEH	NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) (former)
SPRAT	Species Profile and Threats Database
TSSC	Threatened Species Scientific Committee
UNESCO	United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Overview

The Koala Phascolarctos cinereus (Goldfuss 1817), is recognised globally as an iconic Australian marsupial and is of cultural and emotional significance to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. To see a Koala is a highlight for most international and Australian tourists and, as a drawcard, it provides a significant contribution to Australia’s tourism economy (Hundloe and Hamilton 1997). The Koala is also of global biodiversity significance because it is the only surviving member of the ancient line of the marsupial family Phascolarctidae (Black 1999).

The Koala is associated with trees of the genera Eucalyptus, Corymbia, and Angophora, on which it predominantly feeds (Moore and Foley 2000), and is widely, but patchily, distributed across eastern and southern mainland Australia (Figure 1; section 21, DAWE 2021a).

In 2012, the Koala (combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory) was determined to be a species under s517 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), and was included in the Vulnerable category on the list of threatened species under the Act (TSSC 2012a). In 2021, a reassessment by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee up-listed these populations to Endangered (TSSC 2021).

Hereafter, the Koala will be referred to as either ‘Koala’ or ‘Koalas’ when referring to individuals or populations, ‘the Koala’ or ‘the species’ when referring to the species as a whole, or the ‘listed Koala’ when referring explicitly to the EPBC Act-listed Koala (combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory). The populations of Victoria and South Australia may be referred to by their state origin or collectively as either the ‘unlisted Koala’ or ‘southern populations’; the latter is consistent with the term used in research publications.

The overarching threats to the listed Koala are land use change and climate change. Other direct threats include disease, dogs and vehicles (Part IV) (TSSC 2021). These threats interact to impact population size of the listed Koala and distribution through associated ecologically threatening processes of habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, exacerbation of disease impacts, disruption of population processes, impediments to safe movement and loss of genetic diversity (Figure 4, Part VI). Because of the listed Koala’s large distribution, the relative importance of these threats varies at local scales.

This National Recovery Plan for the listed Koala (the recovery plan) is made under the EPBC Act. The purpose of this plan is to provide for the research and management actions necessary to stop the decline of, and support the recovery of, the listed Koala so that the chances of its long-term survival in nature are maximised. It is the road map to recovery.

This recovery plan is informed by the 2021 EPBC Act listing assessment and Conservation Advice (TSSC 2021), new research, state and territory Koala plans and strategies, and consultation with partners, interest groups and individuals. Although the recovery plan focuses on the ten years to 2032, it is also a plan for the conservation of the listed Koala beyond this time, when climate change impacts are predicted to increase.

This recovery plan is a nationally led, landscape-scale conservation framework for recovery therefore requiring cross-jurisdictional and multi-tenure considerations. It will provide for a national approach to listed Koala conservation, coordinate fragmented actions across many national policies, disciplines and multiple jurisdictions, and prioritise investment to maximise the potential for recovery. The approach to the implementation of actions is guided by a set of principles in community engagement, investment prioritisation and decision making, and landscape ecology (Part III). Although the recovery plan aims as a priority to complement and augment jurisdiction-level strategies and actions, it does not preclude locally driven activities.

Figure 1. Modelled distribution (geographic range) of the listed Koala and unlisted Koala*

Caveat: The information presented in this map has been provided by a range of groups and agencies. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness, no guarantee is given, nor responsibility taken by the Commonwealth for errors or omissions, and the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility in respect of any information or advice given in relation to, or as a consequence of, anything containing herein.

Species distribution mapping: The species distribution mapping categories are indicative only and aim to capture a) the specific habitat type or geographic feature that represents the recent observed locations of the species (known to occur), b) the suitable or preferred habitat occurring in close proximity to these locations (likely to occur), and c) the broad environmental envelope or geographic region that encompasses all areas that could provide habitat for the species (may occur). These presence categories are created using an extensive database of species observation records, national and regional-scale environmental data, environmental modelling techniques and documented scientific research.

* Note: modelled distribution does not equate to Koala habitat (see section 21.2 for further explanation on distribution modelling) Source DAWE 2021a.

The Australian Government acknowledges that, to appropriately manage the listed Koala, a national approach is required that considers the listed Koala in the context of its relationship with unlisted Koala populations in Victoria and South Australia. The implementation of the recovery plan will consider the management and populations status of Koalas across Victoria and South Australia through cooperation and collaboration, national governance and monitoring. The vision is that all respective Koala plans and strategies will mutually inform the conservation effort at a national scale.

The recovery plan has been split into the following parts:

Part I provides background and policy context for the listed Koala

Part II presents the national goal, objectives and six strategies, comprised of 37 actions to recover the listed Koala, and the newly established National Koala Monitoring Program

Part III outlines the nationally led implementation approach

Part IV details the relationships between drivers, direct threats and ecological threatening processes impacting the listed Koala

Part V presents background information on the distribution, population trends, habitat and habitat critical to the survival of the listed Koala

Part VI presents an overview of biology and ecology of the Koala important for recovery planning and actions

Appendices 1–4 provide further technical information and resource material.

The goal of the recovery plan is to stop the trend of decline in population size of the listed Koala, by having resilient, connected, and genetically healthy metapopulations across its range, and to increase the extent, quality and connectivity of habitat occupied.

To meet this goal, the recovery plan encompasses objectives and actions (Part II) that are multi-faceted and linked at the population level, while recognising the need to manage populations locally because of the heterogeneity of threats across landscapes (Part IV).

Angophora leiocarpa woodland, Western Creek, south-east Qld. Image: © E. Vanderduys, CSIRO.

Objectives are that by 2032:

The area of occupancy and estimated size of populations that are declining, suspected to be declining, or predicted to decline are instead stabilised then increased (Objective 1A).

The area of occupancy and estimated size of populations that are suspected and predicted to be stable are maintained or increased (Objective 1B).

Metapopulation processes are maintained or improved (Objective 2).

Partners, communities and individuals have a greater role and capability in listed Koala monitoring, conservation and management (Objective 3).

Addressing any individual driver, direct threat and associated ecological threatening process alone is unlikely to recover listed Koala populations. Recovery will require a holistic and integrated approach to action (Figure 2; Figure 4, section 8). The three objectives of this recovery plan are underpinned by four supporting strategies and two on-ground (direct) strategies, or action areas, as a way of organising and implementing coordinated action:

Build and share knowledge (Strategy 1)

Engage and partner with the community in listed Koala conservation (Strategy 2)

Increase the area of protected habitat for the listed Koala (Strategy 3)

Integrate listed Koala conservation into policy, statutory and land use plans (Strategy 4)

Strategically restore listed Koala habitat (Strategy 5)

Actively manage listed Koala metapopulations (Strategy 6).

The supporting strategies (Strategies 1–4) provide for governance to coordinate actions. They include: research to improve effectiveness of actions, mapping, monitoring and survey methods; data collation, curation and analysis; dissemination of information; community support and capacity building; and provision of principles for state-level conservation planning for the listed Koala. They also intend to increase the area of protected priority Koala habitat to prevent further habitat loss and fragmentation, and to maintain population viability.

The on-ground (direct) strategies (Strategies 5–6) relate to improving habitat quality and restoration, and the collective actions required to ensure metapopulation processes are maintained.

Figure 2. Summary of the structural overview of the relationship between the supporting strategies and the on-ground strategies to meet the recovery plan’s goal

Implementation of this plan will require commitment and collaboration between partners, with the Australian Government leading national coordination. A detailed National Implementation Pathway is to be developed within twelve months of the making of the recovery plan, subject to negotiation with major partners (section 12.1). Regional plans will provide the basis for planning and implementation prioritisation to reflect local land use patterns, risks and threats, and social and economic influences (section 12.2).

A national Recovery Team, representative of the diversity of those engaged with conservation for the listed Koala, will be the nucleus of recovery efforts. It will monitor progress in implementation, share and review information, and identify funding opportunities. The Recovery Team will be supported by an Expert Technical Advisory Committee and Community Advisory Committee, and Commonwealth and state and territory governments (section 11).

Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups will play a central role in the recovery of the listed Koala through co-designing, direct land management, habitat restoration, citizen science, welfare and rehabilitation of injured Koalas, and in many other ways.

Substantial gaps exist in our knowledge of the distribution, population size and trends of the listed Koala in northern and inland Queensland, parts of inland New South Wales, and for the Australian Capital Territory. A National Koala Monitoring Program will be established in partnership with states and territories, and other interest groups to establish baselines, monitor population trends, increase predictive capacity, and understand the drivers and local threats affecting decline or recovery over the entire species distribution, including Victoria and South Australia. The National Koala Monitoring Program will work with other initiatives on Koala health, disease and habitat restoration. It will also allow the evaluation of the effectiveness of management actions through an adaptive management framework (section 9).

Habitat across the geographic distribution of the listed Koala supports more than 50 other threatened species and ecological communities listed under the EPBC Act. Consequently, actions in this recovery plan to manage and protect the habitat of the listed Koala may provide direct benefits to many other threatened species and communities.

The implementation of this recovery plan is expected to have social and economic benefits and costs. Measures to assist recovery of this species that involve restrictions in the use or management of land may result in economic impacts to some affected industries. Conversely, engaging positively with these sectors may provide benefits in terms of achieving sustainability certification or other indirect benefits, such as increasing the amenity of urban landscapes (section 16).

The Koala is an iconic and much-loved Australian animal. Supporting recovery of the listed Koala is likely to provide a positive image of Australia to the world and to Australians, and encourage tourism to regions where Koalas exist. The recovery of the listed Koala will be an exemplary representation of broader efforts to manage Australia’s environmental sustainably into the future.

PART I
Background and policy context

1. Cultural significance

1.1 Significance of the Koala to Indigenous Australians

The Koala is a deeply significant animal in the spiritual and cultural lives of many Indigenous Australians. It is embedded into numerous Dreaming stories and Songlines, and demonstrates Indigenous Australians’ deep understanding of Koala ecology (State of New South Wales 2020; Phillips 1990).

For many Indigenous Australians, the Koala is also an important totem. This status carries weighty responsibilities to protect Koalas and their habitat and to pass on specific Traditional Knowledge from generation to generation (State of New South Wales 2020). The many values, names and stories relating to the Koala reflect the diversity of Indigenous cultures across eastern Australia (Costello 2019; Schlagloth et al. 2018).

Indigenous Australians have developed sophisticated ecological knowledge frameworks over thousands of years that guide their management of the plants and animals of their lands. They also weave Traditional Knowledge with scientific best practice to maximise outcomes for biodiversity (Woodward et al. 2020). In some regions, these frameworks inform the management of the Koala and its habitat. For example, the Gumbaynggirr People from the Northern Rivers of New South Wales use fire to protect Koala habitat as well as the ground between trees and patches to enable Koalas to move freely.

Koalas are just one of many culturally significant species that we burn for. We need to make sure the canopy is healthy and safe. The pathways are also important. At home there are stories about the koalas and their song line pathways. They are pathways that we share as well. We burn to keep the pathways open. (Costello 2019, p. 23)

Indigenous Australians have long advocated for greater acknowledgement of their diverse ecological expertise and responsibilities. They also call for greater rights to manage land and waters their way and to be included in government land management planning and threatened species recovery (Costello 2019; Robinson et al. 2021; Woodward et al. 2020). The empowerment of Indigenous Australians to care for Country benefits Australia’s biodiversity. It also facilitates the flow of Indigenous Knowledge between land managers and improves the physical, psychological, cultural and economic wellbeing of Indigenous Australians (Costello 2019; Woodward et al. 2020).

The National Recovery Plan for the listed Koala recognises the extensive experience and wisdom of Indigenous Australians that informs complex ecological knowledge frameworks. The implementation of this recovery plan will support them to play an active role in recovery, maintain strong connections to Koalas and their habitat and share Traditional Knowledge where they see fit.

Engagement with Indigenous Australians as part of this recovery plan will be based on the five pillars critical to successful Indigenous partnerships (below) as identified by the National Environmental Science Programme (DotE 2014):

Building trust

Respectful interactions

Upholding rights

Mutual understanding

Enduring partnerships.

1.2 Non-Indigenous significance

Australians have an emotional connection to the Koala. This is reflected in the attention it receives in media stories, in the number of community groups dedicated to Koala conservation and is exemplified by its use as a symbol of the impacts of the disastrous bushfires during the 2019–2020 summer. The Koala is also an icon of Australian wildlife and is important in shaping Australia’s global image. As one of the major attractions for tourists, its appeal is widely used in campaigns to attract overseas travellers to the country, and local and international visitors to zoos and sanctuaries (Markwell 2020). The value of the Koala to the tourism industry for 2000 was estimated to be greater than $2.5 billion annually (extrapolated from 1996 figures) (Hundloe and Hamilton 1997). Today, this figure would be expected to be significantly greater.

Australians, especially children, have a special place in their heart for Koalas. Adults of today were raised as children on the adventures of Blinky Bill, the Magic Pudding, and Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (Phillips 1990), while modern stories familiar to today’s children that include Koala characters include Wombat Stew and Koala Lou.

Many Australians are also deeply passionate about the conservation of their local Koala populations as exemplified by the many Friends’ groups, dedicated Koala hospitals, wildlife rehabilitation groups, carers and research organisations that work on Koala conservation and the welfare and rehabilitation of individual animals.

Overseas visitors admiring a Koala. Image: © Moonlit Sanctuary, Victoria

2. Conservation status

The Koala (combined populations in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory) was uplisted from Vulnerable to Endangered in December 2021 under the EPBC Act (TSSC 2021).

The national Koala population was split due to contrasting conservation status across its range. Most of the populations in New South Wales and Queensland were found to be declining rapidly, whereas most of the populations in Victoria and South Australia were considered relatively stable, or in some cases, over-abundant. This required divergent management responses between the two clusters of states. Following advice from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) the northern population (Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory) of the Koala was determined to be a species for the purposes of the EPBC Act under s 517 (TSSC 2012c).

The listed Koala is considered Vulnerable under state and territory legislation in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The Koala also occurs in Victoria and South Australia, where it is not considered threatened. In contrast to other states, overall the populations of the Koala in Victoria and South Australia are largely stable, although in places such as the Otway Ranges (Victoria) and Kangaroo Island (South Australia) the Koala is intensively managed due to over-abundance (at least prior to the 2019–2020 summer bushfires). The (International Union for Conservation of Nature) IUCN Red List of Threatened species lists the whole population of the Koala (that is, including Victoria and South Australia) as Vulnerable. Table 1 provides a summary of the conservation status of the Koala.

Table 1: International, national, state and territory conservation status of the Koala

Legislation	Conservation status
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Phascolarctos cinereus (combined populations in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory)	Endangered
Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld) Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)	Vulnerable
Biodiversity Conservation ACT 2016 (NSW) Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)	Vulnerable
Nature Conservation Act 2014 (ACT) Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)	Vulnerable
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (VIC) Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)	Not listed
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (SA) Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)	Not listed
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)	Vulnerable

A young Koala in care rescued in the 2019–2020 summer bushfires. Image: © Marta Yebra.

3. Purpose of the recovery plan

Across the distribution of the listed Koala many policies and plans exist. Individuals, networks of community groups, Indigenous Australians, research institutions, and all levels of government, are working to protect and recover the listed Koala. Research in ecology, biology, genetics, health and disease is taking place, community groups are monitoring their local Koala populations, and revegetation projects are occurring.

Some of these activities are fragmented, uncoordinated, occur in isolation and lack a national-level focus.

This recovery plan sets out the road map for a national integrated recovery effort.

A recovery plan under the EPBC Act must provide for the research and management actions to stop the decline of, and support the recovery of, a listed threatened species so that its chances of long-term survival in nature are maximised.

This recovery plan for the listed Koala replaces the National Koala Conservation and Management Strategy (2009–2014) (NRM Ministerial Council 2009). It has been developed with relevant state and territory governments to provide an overarching national conservation framework for the listed Koala that aligns with local, state and territory government plans, programs and strategies. It does not replace these pre-existing plans, programs and strategies but aims to complement them. It is the first recovery plan for the nationally listed Koala.

The Australian Government acknowledges that to appropriately manage the listed Koala a national approach is required that considers the listed Koala in the context of its relationship with unlisted Koala populations in Victoria and South Australia. The implementation of the recovery plan will consider the management and populations status of Koalas across Victoria and South Australia through cooperation and collaboration, national governance, and monitoring. It is envisioned that all respective Koala plans and strategies will mutually inform conservation effort at a national scale.

Prior to the 2019–2020 summer bushfires, Victorian and South Australian populations were considered overall to be stable or increasing, although in some places there are local declines (Menkhorst 2008). Nevertheless, these populations are susceptible to the direct threats and threatening ecological processes outlined in this recovery plan. For example, some of the unlisted Koala populations have low genetic diversity and display evidence of inbreeding (section 22), while the Kangaroo Island population (introduced) was significantly impacted by the bushfires in 2019–2020.

The Victorian and South Australian populations may also become of greater significance as a stronghold in the future as climate change impacts progress, or if some unpredicted widescale catastrophe befalls the listed Koala populations. Thus, although this recovery plan does not legally inform management of the populations of the Koala in Victoria and South Australia, the principles and actions outlined here are also largely applicable to those populations, and engagement of Victoria and South Australian Koala management agencies will be sought as part of a broader national, coordinated Koala conservation effort.

Locally known as Koala Reserve (Narrandera Nature Reserve) is home to over 200 Koalas. Murrumbidgee Valley National Park, central NSW. Image: © S. Brown.

4. Planning and policy context

Across Australia, biodiversity conservation and protection are delivered through the combined efforts of the Australian Government, local, state, and territory governments, along with the actions of landholders, communities, traditional owners, the private sector, and non-government organisations. Conservation of the listed Koala is therefore influenced by a variety of cross-jurisdictional, Australian Government, and state, territory and local government policies, legislation, regulations and programs. This recovery plan is informed by, and interacts with, these policies and frameworks at multiple levels (Figure 3). It is the key national planning document guiding national and collaborative recovery efforts for the listed Koala. The Australian Government will take a lead role in coordination of recovery effort across national policies and will respond to new initiatives.

4.1 Australian Government

Australia is a Party to the international Convention on Biological Diversity, which aims to conserve biological diversity and promote sustainable development. The listed Koala occurs in areas where development is occurring. A sustainable development approach is required to meet the international obligations of this treaty. Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2019–2030 (Commonwealth of Australia 2019) is a national plan to implement the Convention’s Strategic Plan and meet the Aichi Targets. Together with Australia’s Native Vegetation Framework (COAG Standing Council on Environment and Water 2012). These polices provide broad frameworks for conservation planning. They recognise the essential role that vegetation plays in conserving and promoting a biodiverse and thriving natural landscape and the shared responsibility at all levels of government to manage and protect Australia’s environment for all Australians.

The listed Koala also occurs in five World Heritage Areas in Australia (UNESCO 2021): the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, the Greater Blue Mountains Area, K’gari (Fraser Island), the Wet Tropics of Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. It also intersects with a variety of National Heritage places such as the Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves, Warrumbungle National Park and the Royal National Park and Garawarra State Conservation Area.

The listed Koala is not listed in the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It is not traded, there is no suspected or demonstrable potential demand for trade, and future commercial trade is unlikely (CITES 2019).

The EPBC Act is the Australian Government’s key piece of environmental legislation that provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places. These entities (including the listed Koala) are defined in the EPBC Act as Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES). Consequently, the listed Koala is subject to regulatory decision making under the EPBC Act, which is triggered when an action has, will have, or is likely to have, a significant impact. These actions require referral to the Australian Government for assessment and approval under the EPBC Act to be carried out lawfully.

The EPBC Act also provides a framework to plan for the long-term recovery of listed threatened species and ecological communities through assessment to determine eligibility for listing, conservation advices and the development of recovery plans. This recovery plan is informed by the 2021 listing assessment and associated conservation advice (TSSC 2021). As national plans, these statutory documents guide collaborative investment and participation in recovery efforts by all levels of government and the broader community. The EPBC Act provides a significant foundation upon which long-term conservation planning and action is directed, and is a major step in reporting on Australia’s international responsibilities in protecting biodiversity.

The EPBC Act is part of a broader framework that aligns legal protection with Australian Government program investment with biodiversity policy in order to direct focus on priority national-level matters. The Australian Government directly invests in the protection and recovery of Australia’s biodiversity through the Natural Heritage Trust funding package. Environmental programs are delivered through the national Regional Land Partnerships Program with benefits for listed threatened species and ecological communities (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Policies, programs, strategies and regulations at all levels of local, state, territory and Australian governments that relate to the listed Koala recovery. The Conservation Advice (TSSC 2021) is the foundation document used in the development of the recovery plan

4.2 State and territory governments

States and territories are responsible for regulating environmental matters in their respective jurisdictions and are the primary regulators for Australia’s native plants and animals. All state and territory governments have legislation to conserve biodiversity and to retain and manage habitats, including through a conservation reserve system. State and territory governments operate native vegetation conservation programs, while also providing for sustainable development of lands and waters within their jurisdictions.

NSW Government

The NSW Government has in place several laws and policies to help secure the future of the listed Koala in the wild.

In May 2018, the first New South Wales Koala Strategy was released. The strategy delivered actions under four pillars: Koala habitat conservation; conservation through community action; safety and health of Koala populations; and building our knowledge and education. In 2020, the NSW Government committed to doubling the New South Wales koala population by 2050 with more than $193 million in funding announced in 2021 to meet this goal (section 14.2).

The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (BC Act) contains provisions for identifying and protecting threatened species. The Koala is listed as a Vulnerable species under Schedule 1 of the BC Act. The BC Act also establishes a framework for assessing and offsetting biodiversity impacts from proposed development. The listing of Koalas as Vulnerable means they must be considered under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 when preparing environmental planning instruments and when undertaking development assessments. The BC Act also requires a Biodiversity Conservation Program be established to maximise the long-term security of threatened species and threatened ecological communities in nature. The NSW Koala Strategy fulfils this requirement.

In addition, on 17 March 2021 the NSW State Environmental Planning Policy (Koala Habitat Protection) 2021 (Koala SEPP) was made and commenced. The principles of the Koala SEPP 2021 are to:

help reverse the decline of Koala populations by ensuring Koala habitat is properly considered during the development assessment process

provide a process for councils to strategically manage Koala habitat through the development of Koala plans of management.

The primary legislation for native forestry on State forests and Crown-timber lands in New South Wales is the Forestry Act 2012, which provides for the Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals (IFOAs). IFOAs integrate the regulatory regimes for environmental planning and assessment, protection of the environment and threatened species conservation and include specific provisions for the identification and protection of Koala habitat.

The BC Act, Local Land Services Act 2013 and State Environmental Planning Policy (Vegetation in Non-Rural Areas) 2017 establish the regulatory framework for managing impacts to native vegetation in New South Wales.

ACT Government

The Australian Capital Territory lies within more marginal habitat for the listed Koala, and although currently there are no known extant populations, populations existed in the past (section 21.6). In 2019, the Koala was listed as Vulnerable under the ACT Government’s Nature Conservation Act 2014, and a Conservation Advice notified (ACT Scientific Committee 2019). The ACT Government continues to liaise with the NSW Government in relation to populations and potential habitat along the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory borders.

Queensland Government

Despite protection measures to date in Queensland, an independent review determined that the decline in peri-urban Koala populations in the Koala Coast and Pine Rivers areas of South East Queensland showed no evidence of slowing, and may even be increasing (Rhodes et al. 2015). These declines were linked to ongoing habitat loss in South East Queensland resulting from increasing urbanisation as well as other threats, such as dog attacks, disease and road mortality associated with development. These causes for decline have been the driver for an increase in the extent and level of protection of Koala habitat and other management actions for Koala conservation in South East Queensland.

The introduction of amendments to the Koala conservation planning framework in 2020 has resulted in the strongest Koala habitat protections Queensland has ever seen. This framework provides increased protection for Koala habitat in South East Queensland by increasing both the size and level of protections for Koala habitat areas compared with the state’s previous regulatory framework. Koala habitat areas (including both core Koala habitat areas (KHA) and locally refined Koala habitat areas (LRKHA)) now cover 714,040 ha of land across South East Queensland. Of this, 332,278 ha, including 10,012 ha within the South East Queensland Urban Footprint, falls within Koala priority areas in which the clearing of Koala habitat areas is prohibited by the Queensland Government, subject to certain exemptions. These exemptions balance protecting Koala habitat with the need to allow clearing for limited development such as essential services.

The new planning protections introduced by the Queensland Government are supported by state-of-the-art Koala habitat mapping using advanced modelling techniques. The new methodology was endorsed by the Koala Expert Panel and independently reviewed by the CSIRO. The mapped Koala habitat represents the best habitat for Koalas, based on the combination of biophysical measures (including climate), suitable vegetation and Koala occurrence records. This approach will allow the new Koala habitat modelling and mapping to be updated and refined periodically, and enable the government to continue to accurately identify the best quality Koala habitat and track changes over time.

Outside South East Queensland, Koala populations are protected by a range of measures under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and subordinate Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan, including requirements in relation to clearing habitat in areas containing Koalas. Koala habitat outside South East Queensland is also regulated through the Vegetation Management Act 1999 as Essential Habitat.

PART II
Goal, objectives and strategies

5. Overview of threats

The human-induced threats of land use change and climate change, and their social, economic, and cultural drivers, underpin the impacts on listed Koala populations that this recovery plan aims to address. With a wide distribution, Koalas are impacted by a broad range of interacting direct threats that vary at local scales: land use threats such as urbanisation, grazing, agriculture, transport infrastructure, mining and energy extraction; modification of natural systems that includes vegetation change through forest harvesting and altered fire regimes; droughts and heatwaves, exacerbated by climate change; and other direct threats such as disease and dog and vehicles (Figure 4).

These threats interact to impact populations of the listed Koala via the ecologically threatening processes such as habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, changes to population processes that alter demographics, impact from disease, and genetic effects (Figure 4, see Part IV for further details on threats).

Addressing individual drivers, threats, and resultant ecological threatening processes in isolation from each other is unlikely to recover listed Koala populations (Beyer et al. 2018; Rhodes et al. 2011). Therefore, an integrated strategy that simultaneously manages multiple threats, is appropriate to local conditions and undertaken at an appropriate scale, is the most effective and efficient response to address declines.

Figure 4. Stylistic representation of the relationships between land use change affecting the landscape and Koala habitat, and Koala populations, exacerbated by climate change and natural systems change. Changes in landscape configuration and habitat quality mediate the disruption of population processes of both Koala trees and Koala populations through many interrelated and synergistic processes culminating with changes to population sizes, dominated by declines for the listed Koala. Disease is both a direct threat and ecologically threatening process due to increased stress from anthropogenic threats, resulting in increased mortality and reduced fecundity. Red = direct threats; Green = landscape processes and effects; Brown = population processes; and Black is the impact on Koala populations. Direct threat classification is adapted from the IUCN Threats Classification Scheme (Version 3.2) (IUCN 2016) and the Conservation Advice (TSSC 2021)

Each recovering population will require an integrated package of coordinated actions that recognises high profile but complex conservation context for this species. This includes the integration and harmonisation of recovery actions for the listed Koala into existing and future planning, policy and land use plans; improved governance structures; increasing the area of protected habitat; building and maintaining strong community engagement and partnerships; building knowledge to inform priority settings, strategies and planning; and adaptive metapopulation management (section 8).

6. Goal

To stop the trend of decline in population size of the listed Koala, by having resilient, connected, and genetically healthy metapopulations across its range, and to increase the extent, quality and connectivity of habitat occupied.

7. Objectives

To progress the long-term recovery goal, three objectives are set for the 10-year life of this plan that complement and build upon state and territory plans and strategies for the listed Koala, and the 2021 Conservation Advice (TSSC 2021).

Attainment of the first two objectives (1A, 1B and 2) will ensure that national and regional trends of populations improve in terms of distribution, abundance, the quality of habitat, and the health of populations. The third objective is an enabling objective to determine the effectiveness of national coordination and engagement in listed Koala conservation. Effective engagement, whereby on-ground efforts are realised, will result in positive outcomes for the first two objectives. For example, strategic habitat restoration, supported by research, planning and engagement by community groups to plant trees or improve habitat quality, will likely improve the status of the listed Koala; however, it may take several years before trends can be detected with certainty.

1A. The area of occupancy and estimated size of populations that are declining, suspected to be declining, or predicted to decline are instead stabilised then increased

Performance Criteria: By 2032,

Indices of population size (abundance) of a representative sample of populations show that population size has increased.

The area of occupancy of a representative sample of populations has increased.

The area and quality of refugial habitat of populations whose primary threat is climate change, and indirectly drought and heatwaves, has increased. Importantly, it is increasingly apparent that parts of the listed Koala’s range will become climatically unsuitable for the species’ persistence in the future (sections 19.1, 21.3). Evaluation against this objective will necessarily involve some allowance for strong effects that are unable to be mitigated thus requiring a ‘shifting baseline’. Where such losses are unavoidable, conservation translocations may be considered to maintain adaptability of surviving populations to a changing climate (section 12.3, Action 6b).

1B. The area of occupancy and estimated size of populations that are suspected and predicted to be stable are maintained or increased

Performance Criteria: By 2032,

Indices of population size (abundance) of a representative sample of populations show that population size are maintained or increased.

The area of occupancy of a representative sample of populations is maintained or increased.

Performance Criteria (1A and 1B): By 2032,

Across all representative populations, there is a total net increase of habitat (excluding offset areas) five-yearly.

2. Metapopulation processes are maintained or improved

Performance Criteria: By 2032,

Indicators of population health (genetic and disease) are maintained or improved.

Indicators of ecosystem health are maintained or improved.

3. Partners, communities and individuals have a greater role and capability in listed Koala monitoring, conservation and management

Performance Criteria: By 2032,

There is an increase in the number, locations and activities of Indigenous Australians participating in recovery for the listed Koala, including leadership, agenda setting, citizen science, training and capacity building and on-ground works across the range of the listed Koala.

There is an increase in the number, locations and activities of the general community participating in recovery for the listed Koala, including leadership, agenda setting, citizen science, training and capacity building and on-ground works.

There is an increase in the number, locations and activities of the partners participating in recovery for the listed Koala, including leadership, agenda setting, citizen science, training and capacity building and on-ground works across the range of the listed Koala.

Indices and metrics for the performance criteria

The indices and metrics used to monitor progress for these objectives will be overseen by the Recovery Team, the Technical Advisory Committee and workshopped with experts and key partners. They will consider natural stochastic variability. These will be collectively informed by the National Koala Monitoring Program (section 9), the Koala Health Research Initiative and the Koala genomics projects initiated with key partners in 2021, as well as monitoring programs run by the jurisdictions.

It will not be practicable to frequently measure every population, thus a sample of populations which are representative across the listed Koala’s range will be monitored and baselines of population size and abundance informed by robust modelling.

8. Strategies and actions

To meet these objectives, actions are grouped under strategies, or action areas, as a way of organising and implementing coordinated action. Actions from any of the six strategies are cross-cutting to meet one or more objectives. Furthermore, many actions are predicated on other actions; for example, strategic habitat restoration is predicated on having up-to-date habitat mapping information and understanding of the nutritional quality of habitat within the landscape of interest. Also, many actions are iterative within an adaptive management framework. This means that the performance of a single action, or subset of actions, cannot be directly evaluated against a single objective. Therefore, each performance criterion applies only to the objectives, and no performance criterion or prioritisation is placed against individual actions.

Four supporting strategies and two on-ground (direct) strategies are identified.

Supporting strategies:

1) Build and share knowledge

2) Engage and partner with the community in listed Koala conservation

3) Increase the area of protected habitat for the listed Koala

4) Integrate listed Koala conservation into policy, statutory and land use plans

On-ground strategies:

5) Strategically restore listed Koala habitat

6) Actively manage listed Koala metapopulations

Supporting strategies provide for governance to coordinate actions, led by the Australian Government in partnership with the states and territory. They provide for research and capacity building to improve effectiveness of actions, such as: enhanced mapping, monitoring and survey methods; improved data collation, curation and analysis; to better sharing and communication of information; and building on community capacity, support and engagement. They also provide for improved planning frameworks and principles for state-level conservation planning for the listed Koala.

Increasing the area of priority listed Koala habitat that is protected is a key strategy to prevent further habitat loss and fragmentation and prevent further loss of listed Koala populations (see section 19). Once identified (Actions 1a–c), areas of priority listed Koala habitat should include areas of large intact landscapes that have the greatest potential to retain viable populations and have the potential to also act as source populations to adjacent areas.

On-ground (direct) strategies relate to improving habitat quality and restoration of habitat, and the suite of collective actions required to ensure metapopulation processes are maintained. The former will generally be implemented at the site-level, while the latter is a holistic landscape-scale approach to metapopulation management.

Many state-level actions have been ongoing, or recently commenced, under various state and territory environment-related, or specific strategies for the listed Koala (for detail, see section 14).

Conservation of the listed Koala is complex, and there is local-scale variation in the nature and intensity of threats, land use patterns and land management activities. Recognising this complexity and variation, it is essential that regional-level implementation plans are developed (Action 1c; Part III Implementation), prioritising areas where gaps exist. These plans will include fine-scale mapping, spatial prioritisation, and more prescriptive details on land management actions (e.g. fire and weed management, revegetation) of appropriate scale to each region.

NB. Prioritisation seeks to complement, not replace or duplicate, that undertaken by state and territory jurisdictions.

Actions that may potentially have the greatest impact on recovery include Actions 3b and 4b. These will reduce the cumulative loss of habitat and improve the likelihood of retaining habitat on private lands.

Priorities assigned to actions under each of the six strategies are interpreted as follows:

Priority 1:

Urgent. Prompt action is needed in advance of implementation of other management actions, to ensure effective coordination or to provide crucial information for planning and management. Early action might also be necessary to avoid or mitigate the most significant threats.

Priority 2:

Essential. Action is necessary to avoid or mitigate direct threats, implement planning and management, undertake research, and develop tools towards the long-term recovery

Priority 3:

Highly beneficial. Action is desirable, and while not critical, will provide for longer term maintenance of recovery.

NB. Threats are outlined in Part IV and level of risk categorised in TSSC 2021.

Indicative costs for actions by priority and year are in Appendix 1.

Strategy 1: Build and share knowledge

The actions here comprise knowledge-based inputs or activities that support direct actions in the recovery plan. These inputs will provide information for a strategic and coordinated approach to conservation for the listed Koala, now and into the near future.

Action no.	Description	Potential partners/responsibility	Priority	Timeframe	Indicative cost
1 a	Identify nationally important populations and habitat for recovery across the listed Koala range under current and future conditions. This includes considering impacts of projected climate change such as drought, heatwave and fire. This is assessed by undertaking modelling and analysis of Koala habitat, distribution and abundance, and genetic and genomic analysis (sections 14.1 and 20.3), allowing for iterative updates using a robust scenario-based approach. Prioritise areas for gathering information that are poorly understood or potentially of greatest risk, including, but not limited to, areas of inland and northern Queensland and inland New South Wales; prioritise populations at greatest risk from climate change and land clearing (Table 2, section 16.1 ). NB. This prioritisation seeks to complement, not replace or duplicate, that undertaken by state or territory jurisdictions which may, for example, focus on securing currently robust populations into the future.	Coordinated by the Australian Government with: state and territory government agencies using internal or external mapping and modelling experts; or Expert Technical Advisory Panel and the National Koala Recovery Team; or researchers.	1	Year 1	$100,000 to $200,000 for a desk-top project
1 b	Identify spatially and temporally strategic areas of high priority for: (i) restoration and revegetation based on Koala and eucalypt population viability; (ii) climate and fire refugia; and (iii) corridors facilitating movement and metapopulation processes of Koalas, allowing for iterative updates using the latest models available in a robust scenario-based approach. Prioritise areas for information gathering that are poorly understood or potentially of greatest risk, including, but not limited to, areas of inland and northern Queensland and inland New South Wales; prioritise populations at greatest risk from climate change and land clearing (Table 2; section 16.1). NB. This prioritisation seeks to complement, not replace or duplicate, that undertaken by state or territory jurisdictions which may, for example, focus on securing currently robust populations into the future.	Coordinated by the Australian Government with: state and territory government agencies; local government and natural resource management organisations; or non-government conservation organisations; or researchers.	1	Year 1 and ongoing	$30,000 to $60,000 per regional-scale document for a desk-top project
1 c	Develop prioritisation at regional or other appropriate scales for the long-term implementation of actions. These include threat risk assessment, prioritisation of habitat attributes for the recovery of the listed Koala, local actions and land management planning (see Part III Implementation). Prioritise regions that are poorly understood or potentially of greatest risk, including, but not limited to, areas of inland and northern Queensland and inland New South Wales, and climate refugia. NB. This prioritisation seeks to complement, not replace or duplicate, that undertaken by state or territory jurisdictions which may, for example, focus on securing currently robust populations into the future.	Governments appropriate to scale, with: natural resource management organisations; mapping and modelling experts; Expert Technical Advisory Panel and the National Koala Recovery Team; and researchers.	1	Year 2	Highly variable depending on size and location of area and socio-economic complexity. $50,000 to $1m per regional-scale document, plus in-kind contribution through normal government business
1 d	In consultation with each range state and territory, including Victoria and South Australia, scope out and establish a fit-for-purpose long-term National Koala Monitoring Program (NKMP) to improve understanding of trends in populations, distribution and population health across the Koala’s range, and efficacy of management interventions.	Coordinated by the Australian Government with: CSIRO, state and territory government agencies; local governments, natural resource management organisations; community groups; non-government conservation organisations; Koala research community; Koala rehabilitation organisations and groups; and the Expert Technical Advisory Panel and the National Recovery Team.	1	Year 1 to 2	$ 2.25m
1 e	Implement National Koala Monitoring Program; review design to ensure it remains fit-for-purpose and adaptive (see section 9).	Coordinated by the Australian Government with: state and territory government agencies; local governments and natural resources management organisations; community groups; non-government conservation organisations; Koala research community; Koala welfare and rehabilitation organisations and the Expert Technical Advisory Panel and the National Recovery Team.	1	Year 2 and ongoing	$2–3m per year (depending on number of monitoring sites)

1 f	Mapping of key metrics (distribution, habitat restoration, habitat condition and habitat loss) is reviewed at appropriate timeframes to detect changes, is coordinated across jurisdictions, and provides for landscape management now and at least 20 years into the future.	Coordinated by the Australian Government with: state and territory government agencies; internal or external mapping and modelling experts; or Expert Technical Advisory Panel and the National Koala Recovery Team; or researchers.	1	Year 1 and 5 yearly	$200,000 to $300,000 coordinated by Australian Government; plus absorbed by normal government business
1 g	Coordinate pre-existing relevant Koala databases; coordinate and develop data standards (including metadata standards) (section 9, National Koala Monitoring Program); survey and sampling design standards to improve the quality of Koala monitoring (e.g. Community of Practice for Survey and Monitoring). Collate and synthesise existing data (e.g. from past research projects) that may improve understanding of Koala population dynamics and threat profiles across habitats and scales.	Coordinated by the Australian Government with: state and territory government agencies; internal or external mapping and modelling experts; local governments, natural resource management agencies; Koala research community; Koala welfare and rehabilitation organisations and the Expert Technical Advisory Panel and the National Recovery Team.	2	Years 1 to 5	$30,000 to $500,000 coordinated by Australian Government; plus absorbed by normal government business
1 h	Establish national research priorities targeted at applied outcomes, that inform and improve Koala management. This action will identify national research needs in: · effective partnerships and structures for Koala conservation · social, economic and institutional barriers and constraints, and solutions to improve effective implementation of Koala strategies · cost-benefit analysis and effectiveness of incentive mechanisms on private lands · climate change refugia, and climate-resilient re-vegetation and restoration practices (Actions 1b, 5b) drivers of broad-scale population dynamics and processes · translocation decision support tools (Action 6b). This action builds on research priorities identified by the states and territory including the NSW Koala Research Plan and priority research identified by Expert Technical Advisory Panel and the outputs of the first Koala expert elicitation workshop for New South Wales (Hemming et al. 2018).	Coordinated by the Australian Government with: state and territory government agencies; with local governments, natural resource management organisations; Koala research community; Koala welfare and rehabilitation organisations; the Expert Technical Advisory Panel and the National Recovery Team.	1	Year 1 and ongoing	$60,000 to $80,000 per workshop
1 i	Establish national-level recurring forums to complement gaps in existing forums and enhance existing collaboration and knowledge sharing among researchers, managers, Koala rehabilitation workers and carers, and other interested parties to make the most effective use of research outcomes, techniques in Koala rehabilitation and habitat restoration, and identify and address any further key knowledge gaps.	Coordinated by the Australian Government with state and territory government agencies and the Expert Technical Advisory Panel.	2	Annually	$60,000 to $80,000 per workshop, plus sponsorship
1 j	Initiate and facilitate a network to establish and support an active National Koala Recovery Team, Expert Technical Advisory Panel, Community Advisory Committee with strong governance in place (Figure 3, Part III Implementation).	Coordinated by the Australian Government with state and territory governments.	1	Year 1	Absorbed by normal government business
1 k	Share knowledge across experts, government organisations, conservation groups, rescue and rehabilitation groups, Indigenous groups and the general public through regular Koala workshops and conferences. This includes a national Koala conference every three to five years that brings together researchers, policy makers, planners and interested conservation groups and citizens; Exceptional circumstance workshops, such as following responses after major crises (e.g. fire and drought).	Coordinated by the Australian Government with state and territory governments, and the Expert Technical Advisory Panel and the National Recovery Team.	3	5 yearly	$300,000 to $550,000 per conference, plus sponsorship
1 l	Facilitate the ongoing capture, storage and sharing where appropriate, including by intergenerational transfer, of traditional knowledge on the Koala. Build and demonstrate the strong connection to Koalas and their habitat maintained by Indigenous Australians (e.g.	Coordinated by Indigenous people in partnership with: the Australian Government, state and territory governments; local governments, natural resource management organisations non-government organisations and philanthropists.	1	Year 1 and ongoing	$400,000 to $500,000 per year, plus absorbed by normal government business and sponsorship

Woodward, W, Ellis, WA, Carrick, FN, Tanizaki, M, Bowen, D & Smith, P 2008, Koalas on North Stradbroke Island: diet, tree use and reconstructed landscapes, Wildlife Research, vol. 35, no. 7, pp. 606–611. DOI: 10.1071/WR07172, accessed 15 November 2021.

Woodward, E, Hill, R, Harkness, P, Archer R (eds) 2020, Our Knowledge Our Way in caring for Country: Indigenous-led approaches to strengthening and sharing our knowledge for land and sea management, Best Practice Guidelines from Australian experiences, NAILSMA and CSIRO, Canberra.

Wu, H 2018, Influence of leaf chemistry on dietary choice and habitat quality of Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations in southwest Queensland, PhD Thesis, The University of Queensland, accessed 15 November 2021.

Wu, H, Levin, N, Seabrook, L, Moore, BD & McAlpine, C 2019, Mapping Foliar Nutrition Using WorldView-3 and WorldView-2 to Assess Koala Habitat Suitability, Remote Sensing, 3, vol. 11, no. 3, p. 215, DOI: 10.3390/rs11030215, accessed 15 November 2021.

Youngentob, K 2015, Emerging priorities final report: Charting forage quality for Koala conservation, National Environmental Research Program, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra.

Youngentob, KN, Lindenmayer, DB, Marsh, KJ, Krockenberger, K, Foley, WJ 2021, Food intake: an overlooked driver of climate change casualties? Trends in Ecology & Evolution, vol. 36, no.8, DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.04.003, accessed 15 November 2021.

Zanette, L 2001, Indicators of habitat quality and the reproductive output of a forest songbird in small and large fragments, Journal of Avian Biology, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 38–46.

Zylstra, DP 2019, Fire regimes for risk management of koalas on the NSW Southern Tablelands, University of Wollongong, Report to the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, accessed 15 November 2021.

Appendices

Appendix 1 Costings

Table 1. Summary of the indicative costs for priority 1 recovery actions over ten years.*

Action No.	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Total	In-kind and government contribution
1a	$100,000 to $200,000	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$100,000 to $200,000 for a desk-top project	NA
1b	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$30,000 to $60,000 per regional-scale document for a desk-top project	NA
1c	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$50,000 to $1m per regional-scale document	Plus in-kind contribution through normal government business
1d	$1m	$1.25m	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$2.25m	NA
1e	NA	NA	$2–3m	$2–3m	$2–3m	$2–3m	$2–3m	$2–3m	$2–3m	$2–3m	$16m–$24m (depending on number of monitoring sites)	NA
1f	$200,000 to $300,000	NA	NA	NA	$200,000 to $300,000	NA	NA	NA	NA	$200,000 to $300,000	$600,000 to $900,000	Plus absorbed by normal government business
1h	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$600,000 to $800,000	NA
1j	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	Absorbed by normal government business
1l	$400,000 to $500,000	$400,000 to $500,000	$400,000 to $500,000	$400,000 to $500,000	$400,000 to $500,000	$400,000 to $500,000	$400,000 to $500,000	$400,000 to $500,000	$400,000 to $500,000	$400,000 to $500,000	$4–5m	Plus absorbed by normal government business and sponsorship
2a & 2b & 2d in part	$1–2m	$1–2m	$1–2m	$1–2m	$1–2m	$1–2m	$1–2m	$1–2m	$1–2m	$1–2m	$10–$20m	Plus in-kind contributions through existing and new projects
2d	$470,000 to $770,000	$470,000 to $770,000	$470,000 to $770,000	$470,000 to $770,000	$470,000 to $770,000	$470,000 to $770,000	$470,000 to $770,000	$470,000 to $770,000	$470,000 to $770,000	$470,000 to $770,000	$4.7–$7.7m	Plus sponsorship and in‑kind contributions through normal business for a national conference
2e	$60,000 to $100,000	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$60,000 to $100,000	NA
2f	NA	$80,000	$80,000	$80,000	$80,000	$80,000	NA	NA	NA	NA	$400,000	Plus in-kind contributions through existing infrastructure
2h	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$2,000 to $5,000 per engagement or education event	NA
3b	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	Highly variable, depending on existing and future government initiatives and scope	Absorbed by normal government business
4a	$80,000 to $150,000	NA	NA	$80,000 to $150,000	NA	NA	NA	$80,000 to $150,000	NA	NA	$240,000 to $450,000	Plus absorbed by normal government business
4b	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	Absorbed by normal government business as new instruments and policies are reviewed, and compliance practices are applied.
4c	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	Absorbed by normal government business
4e	NA	NA	$80,000 to $200,000	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$80,000 to $200,000	Plus normal government business
5a	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	Highly variable depending on size and location of area: $5,000 to $50,000 per document	Plus in-kind contribution through normal government business
6a	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	Absorbed by normal government business
6c	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	Absorbed by normal landholder and government business as plans are reviewed
6d	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	Absorbed by normal landholder and government business as plans are reviewed
6e	NA	NA	NA	NA	$400,000 to $1m	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$400,000 to $1m	Absorbed by normal government business, plus in-kind contributions by organisations
TOTAL	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$39.7m to $64.3m Excluding government incentives; engagement events	NA
*Costs do not take into account inflation. NA = not applicable

Table 2. Summary of the indicative costs for priority 2 recovery actions for the first five years.*

Action No.	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Total	In-kind and government contribution
1g	$30,000 to $100,000	$30,000 to $100,000	$30,000 to $100,000	$30,000 to $100,000	$30,000 to $100,000	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$150,000 to $500,000	NA
1i	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$60,000 to $80,000	$600,000 to $800,000	NA
2c	$400,000 to $600,000	$400,000 to $600,000	$400,000 to $600,000	$400,000 to $600,000	$400,000 to $600,000	$400,000 to $600,000	$400,000 to $600,000	$400,000 to $600,000	$400,000 to $600,000	$400,000 to $600,000	$4–6m	NA
2g	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	Absorbed by normal government business as new instruments and policies are reviewed, and compliance practices are applied.
3a	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	Purchases: going land value rate per ha	Change of land-tenure: absorbed by normal state government business
3c	NA	$120,000 to $200,000	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$120,000 to $200,000	Plus absorbed by normal government business
4d	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	Plus normal government business
5b	NA	NA	NA	$80,000 to $120,000	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$80,000 to $120,000	Plus absorbed by normal government business
5c	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$500 to $5,000 per ha (revegetation) $2,500 to $5,000 per ha (weed management)	NA
5d	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	Highly variable depending on location and risk: $50 to $1,000 per ha (fire management)	Absorbed by land management business under normal review practices
6b	NA	NA	NA	$80,000 to $120,000	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$80,000 to $120,000	Plus absorbed by normal government business
TOTAL	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	$5.03m– $7.74m Excluding land purchases and land management	NA
*Costs do not take into account inflation. NA = not applicable

Table 3. Summary of the indicative costs for priority 3 recovery actions for ten years.*

Action No.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Total

In-kind and government contribution

$300,000 to $550,000

Plus sponsorship

TOTAL

$300,000 to $550,000

Plus sponsorship

*Costs do not take into account inflation. NA = not applicable

Table 4. Summary of the indicative costs ($million) for ten years.*

Total	In-kind and government contributions
$44.5m–$72.4m Plus government incentives; land management costs and land purchases; engagement events	Plus sponsorship; plus absorbed by normal government business; Absorbed by land management business under normal review practices
*Costs do not take into account inflation. NA = not applicable

Appendix 2 EPBC Act-listed fauna

Table 1. The EPBC Act-listed threatened fauna that would potentially benefit from fire management directed towards the listed Koala

Included here are only those species that are Matters of National Environmental Significance and that have >25% overlap with listed Koala distribution.

EPBC Act species name	EPBC Act common name	Taxonomic group	EPBC Act status	Distribution (%) overlap with the listed Koala
Argynnis hyperbius inconstans	Australian Fritillary	Invertebrate	Critically Endangered	100.0
Atrichornis rufescens	Rufous Scrub-bird	Bird	Endangered	100.0
Litoria kroombitensis	Kroombit Tree Frog	Frog	Critically Endangered	100.0
Litoria littlejohni	Littlejohn’s Tree Frog, Heath Frog	Frog	Vulnerable	100.0
Pommerhelix duralensis	Dural Land Snail	Invertebrate	Endangered	100.0
Taudactylus pleione	Kroombit Tinker Frog, Pleione’s Torrent Frog	Frog	Critically Endangered	100.0
Mixophyes fleayi	Fleay’s Frog	Frog	Endangered	100.0
Mixophyes balbus	Stuttering Frog, Southern Barred Frog (in Victoria)	Frog	Vulnerable	100.0
Mixophyes iteratus	Giant Barred Frog, Southern Barred Frog	Frog	Endangered	100.0
Turnix melanogaster	Black-breasted Button-quail	Bird	Vulnerable	100.0
Petaurus australis Wet Tropics subspecies	Yellow-bellied Glider (Wet Tropics)	Mammal	Endangered	99.9
Litoria olongburensis	Wallum Sedge Frog	Frog	Vulnerable	99.2
Bettongia tropica	Northern Bettong	Mammal	Endangered	99.0
Thersites mitchellae	Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail	Invertebrate	Critically Endangered	98.6
Pseudomys novaehollandiae	New Holland Mouse, Pookila	Mammal	Vulnerable	97.8
Lerista allanae	Allan’s Lerista, Retro Slider	Reptile	Endangered	94.6
Heleioporus australiacus	Giant Burrowing Frog	Frog	Vulnerable	93.3
Dasyornis brachypterus	Eastern Bristlebird	Bird	Endangered	89.2
Pseudophryne pengilleyi	Northern Corroboree Frog	Frog	Critically Endangered	86.2
Petauroides volans	Greater Glider	Mammal	Vulnerable	81.3
Potorous tridactylus tridactylus	Long-nosed Potoroo (SE mainland)	Mammal	Vulnerable	69.8
Geophaps scripta scripta	Squatter Pigeon (southern)	Bird	Vulnerable	69.7
Nyctophilus corbeni	Corben’s Long-eared Bat, South-eastern Long-eared Bat	Mammal	Vulnerable	50.4
Petaurus gracilis	Mahogany Glider	Mammal	Endangered	42.5
Turnix olivii	Buff-breasted Button-quail	Bird	Endangered	36.4

Note: There are many threatened plant species also overlapping the listed Koala in distribution, but they have not been included here because the potential variation in appropriate fire regimes requires a more complex analysis that has not yet been undertaken.

Table 2: The EPBC Act-listed threatened fauna that would potentially benefit from habitat retention and restoration directed towards the listed Koala

Included here are only those species that are Matters of National Environmental Significance and that have >25% overlap with listed Koala distribution.

EPBC Act species name	EPBC Act common name	Taxonomic group	EPBC Act status	Distribution (%) overlap with the listed Koala
Euastacus bindal	freshwater crayfish, spiny crayfish	Invertebrate	Critically Endangered	100.0
Antechinus arktos	Black-tailed Antechinus	Mammal	Endangered	100.0
Litoria kroombitensis	Kroombit Tree Frog	Frog	Critically Endangered	100.0
Litoria littlejohni	Littlejohn’s Tree Frog, Heath Frog	Frog	Vulnerable	100.0
Maccullochella ikei	Clarence River Cod	Fish	Endangered	100.0
Pseudomys oralis	Hastings River Mouse, Koontoo	Mammal	Endangered	100.0
Pseudophryne covacevichae	Magnificent Brood Frog	Frog	Vulnerable	100.0
Taudactylus pleione	Kroombit Tinker Frog, Pleione’s Torrent Frog	Frog	Critically Endangered	100.0
Mixophyes balbus	Stuttering Frog, Southern Barred Frog (in Victoria)	Frog	Vulnerable	100.0
Mixophyes iteratus	Giant Barred Frog	Frog	Endangered	100.0
Petaurus australis Wet Tropics subspecies	Yellow-bellied Glider (Wet Tropics)	Mammal	Endangered	99.9
Litoria olongburensis	Wallum Sedge Frog	Frog	Vulnerable	99.2
Litoria booroolongensis	Booroolong Frog	Frog	Endangered	98.9
Thersites mitchellae	Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail	Invertebrate	Critically Endangered	98.6
Litoria castanea	Yellow-spotted Tree Frog	Frog	Critically Endangered	95.1
Lerista allanae	Allan’s Lerista, Retro Slider	Reptile	Endangered	94.6
Petrogale persephone	Proserpine Rock-wallaby	Mammal	Endangered	90.0
Pseudophryne pengilleyi	Northern Corroboree Frog	Frog	Critically Endangered	86.2
Dasyurus maculatus maculatus (SE mainland population)	Spot-tailed Quoll	Mammal	Endangered	85.1
Petauroides volans	Greater Glider	Mammal	Vulnerable	81.3
Anthochaera phrygia	Regent Honeyeater	Bird	Critically Endangered	79.5
Pteropus poliocephalus	Grey-headed Flying-fox	Mammal	Vulnerable	79.2
Dasyurus maculatus gracilis	Spotted-tailed Quoll (North Queensland), Yarri	Mammal	Endangered	72.7
Potorous tridactylus tridactylus	Long-nosed Potoroo (SE mainland)	Mammal	Vulnerable	69.8
Geophaps scripta scripta	Squatter Pigeon (southern)	Bird	Vulnerable	69.7
Lathamus discolor	Swift Parrot	Bird	Critically Endangered	57.7
Maccullochella macquariensis	Trout Cod	Fish	Endangered	54.8
Nyctophilus corbeni	Corben’s Long-eared Bat	Mammal	Vulnerable	50.4
Pteropus conspicillatus	Spectacled Flying-fox	Mammal	Endangered	49.0
Crinia sloanei	Sloane’s Froglet	Frog	Endangered	48.3
Petaurus gracilis	Mahogany Glider	Mammal	Endangered	42.5
Grantiella picta	Painted Honeyeater	Bird	Vulnerable	42.0
Erythrotriorchis radiatus	Red Goshawk	Bird	Vulnerable	30.8

Appendix 3 Predicted habitat loss under climate change

Estimated changes to Koala distribution due to climate change under high global-emissions scenarios (A1FI or RCP8.5) were made for the years 2030, 2050 and 2070 (Table 1). Estimates are summarised across 13 projections of future Koala habitat (Adams-Hosking et al. 2011a, Briscoe et al. 2016). Note that climate change in 2030 is relatively insensitive to future emissions. These estimates can be interpreted as representing areas that fall within the physiological tolerance of Koalas, accounting for weather conditions including drought and heatwave but not fire. These estimates were calculated from 13 projections of future Koala distribution, chosen to represent variation in future climate and emissions scenarios and in variables chosen to represent Koala physiological tolerance. All projections predict range contraction of the Koala, though there is uncertainty around where the western and northern edges of Koala distribution will fall at a given time. Several models predict that bioregions known to contain Koala populations, including Mulga Lands, Darling Riverine Plains, and Mitchell Grass Downs, are currently unsuitable for Koalas, based on 1961–1990 or 1990–2009 climate conditions (Table 1).

Estimates represent the change in area that was climatically suitable for Koala based on conditions for the period 1961–1990 (Hoskings) 1991–2009 (Briscoe), and compared to the area that is expected to be climatically suitable for Koala in 2030, 2050 and 2070, within areas where Koalas or their habitat are ‘known’ or ‘likely’ to occur (DAWE 2021a). Estimates are summarised for IBRA7 bioregions (DoTE 2012). Negative values indicate a gain in climatically suitable area. The variables used to construct each model are summarised in Table 2.

Table 1. Estimated changes to Koala distribution due to climate change under a high global-emissions scenario (A1FI or RCP8.5), summarised across 13 models of Koala distribution for the years 2030, 2050 and 2070.

Queensland Bioregions	Median % loss by 2030 (min, max)	Median % loss by 2050 (min, max)	Median % loss by 2070 (min, max)	Number of models predicting this bioregion to historically hold <1000ha of climatically suitable for Koalas
Brigalow Belt North	57.1 (0, 97.5)	91.1 (0, 100)	95.3 (0, 100)	0
Brigalow Belt South	36.8 (0, 85.3)	80.3 (0, 99.6)	91.3 (0, 100)	0
Central Mackay Coast	11.7 (0, 95.1)	65.9 (0, 100)	84.8 (0, 100)	1 of 13
Darling Riverine Plains	98.1 (0, 100)	100 (0, 100)	100 (0, 100)	6 of 13
Desert Uplands	100 (0, 100)	100 (0, 100)	100 (-100, 100)	0
Einasleigh Uplands	20.7 (-27.8, 0.9)	29.6 (-29.7, 100)	57.3 (-35.9, 100)	7 of 13
Mitchell Grass Downs	0 (0, 0)	0 (0, 0)	0 (0, 0)	11 of 13
Mulga Lands	0 (0, 100)	0 (0, 100)	0 (0, 100)	9 of 13
Nandewar	0 (0, 51)	8.9 (0, 94.9)	30.5 (0, 99.8)	0
New England Tablelands	0 (0, 0.1)	0 (0, 15.2)	0 (0, 75.6)	0
South Eastern Queensland	0.8 (0, 63.1)	21.4 (0, 97.4)	43.3 (0, 100)	0
Wet Tropics	9.7 (-23.2, 57.3)	22.5 (-27.4, 100)	35.9 (-29.8, 100)	0
TOTAL	29.9 (0, 78.4)	58.4 (0, 97.6)	67.8 (0, 99.5)	NA
New South Wales Bioregions	Median % loss by 2030 (min, max)	Median % loss by 2050 (min, max)	Median % loss by 2070 (min, max)	Number of models predicting this bioregion to historically hold <1000ha of climatically suitable for Koalas
Australian Alps	0 (-1.8, 66.6)	0 (-6.8, 96.3)	0 (-12.7, 98.1)	11 of 13
Brigalow Belt South	33.8 (0, 67.6)	61 (0, 97.1)	81 (0, 100)	0
Cobar Peneplain	0 (0, 100)	0 (0, 100)	0 (0, 100)	13 of 13
Darling Riverine Plains	96.4 (0, 99)	100 (0, 100)	100 (0, 100)	9 of 13
Mulga Lands	0 (0, 0)	0 (0, 0)	0 (0, 0)	0
Murray Darling Depression	0 (0, 100)	0 (0, 100)	0 (0, 100)	0
Nandewar	8.6 (0, 55.3)	20.1 (0, 89.5)	39.8 (0, 96.6)	0
New England Tablelands	0 (0, 2.2)	0.1 (0, 10.1)	0.3 (0, 47.1)	0
NSW North Coast	0 (0, 9.1)	0.1 (0, 26.3)	0.6 (0, 70.7)	0
NSW South Western Slopes	20.3 (0, 57.8)	43.6 (0, 90.7)	57.6 (0, 98.7)	0
Riverina	84.7 (0, 100)	99.3 (0, 100)	100 (0, 100)	0
South East Corner	0 (0, 0.2)	0 (0, 1.2)	0 (0, 8.7)	0
South Eastern Highlands	0 (-1.1, 18.2)	0.3 (-0.9, 48.9)	2.8 (-1.3, 60.1)	0
South Eastern Queensland	0 (0, 33.1)	0 (0, 71.4)	4.3 (0, 97.7)	0
Sydney Basin	0 (0, 2.6)	0.7 (0, 21.3)	4.8 (0, 54.6)	0
TOTAL	11 (0, 23.6)	19 (0, 45.3)	25.4 (0, 69.3)	NA
ACT Bioregions	Median % loss by 2030 (min, max)	Median % loss by 2050 (min, max)	Median % loss by 2070 (min, max)	Number of models predicting this bioregion to historically hold <1000ha of climatically suitable for Koalas
Australian Alps	0 (-26.3, 9.8)	0 (-28, 94.8)	0 (-28, 100)	0
South Eastern Highlands	0 (-5.6, 3.9)	0 (-5.7, 72.5)	0 (0, 100)	0
TOTAL	0 (-9.1, 5.1)	0 (-9.5, 77)	0 (0, 100)	NA

Methods

Thirteen projections of Koala distribution under climate change were generated from six mechanistic species distribution models and seven f correlative species distribution models. The variables used to construct each model are summarised in Table 2.

Table 2. Summary of 13 species distribution models used to estimate impacts of climate change on the Koala

Modelling platform (model type)	Model name (see reference for details)	Variables included in model	General circulation models (GCM), emissions scenario (RCP) used	Historical climate	Threshold	Source
NicheMapR (mechanistic)	Poor_high	Energy and water requirements of reproducing females with site-specific morphology and available microclimates – assuming high foliage water content	ACCESS 1.3; RCP8.5	1990–2009	Thresholded to include 95% of Koala records since 2000 (equivalent to test omission of 0.05), spatially thinned to 1 km	Briscoe et al. 2016
NicheMapR (mechanistic)	Poor_high	As above	HadGEM2-CC, RCP8.5	1990–2009	As above	Briscoe et al. 2016
NicheMapR (mechanistic)	Poor_med	Energy and water requirements of reproducing females with site-specific morphology and available microclimates – assuming medium foliage water content	ACCESS 1.3, RCP8.5	1990–2009	As above	Briscoe et al. 2016
NicheMapR (mechanistic)	Poor_med	As above	HadGEM2-CC, RCP8.5	1990–2009	As above	Briscoe et al. 2016
NicheMapR (mechanistic)	Poor_low	Energy and water requirements of reproducing females with site-specific morphology and available microclimates – assuming low foliage water content	ACCESS 1.3, RCP8.5	1990–2009	As above	Briscoe et al. 2016
NicheMapR (mechanistic)	Poor_low	As above	HadGEM2-CC, RCP8.5	1990–2009	As above	Briscoe et al. 2016
Maxent (correlative)	Averages	Annual rainfall, Max temp in warmest month, Eucalypt woodland cover, road density	ACCESS 1.3, RCP8.5	–	As above	Briscoe et al. 2016
Maxent (correlative)	Averages	As above	HadGEM2-CC, RCP8.5	1990–2009	As above	Briscoe et al. 2016
Maxent (correlative)	Extremes A	Max run of dry days, 95th percentile temperature, Vapour pressure during hot weather, Eucalypt woodland cover, road density	ACCESS 1.3, RCP8.5	1990–2009	As above	Briscoe et al. 2016
Maxent (correlative)	Extremes A	As above	HadGEM2-CC, RCP8.5	1990–2009	As above	Briscoe et al. 2016
Maxent (correlative)	Extremes B	Max run of dry days, max run of hot days, vapour pressure during hot weather, Eucalypt woodland cover, road density	ACCESS 1.3, RCP8.5	1990–2009	As above	Briscoe et al. 2016
Maxent (correlative)	Extremes B	As above	HadGEM2-CC, RCP8.5	1990–2009	As above	Briscoe et al. 2016
Maxent (correlative)	NA	Mean summer maximum temperature, mean annual rainfall	CSIRO MK 3.5 OzClim, SRES A1FI	1961–1990	Equal sensitivity and specificity (Test omission =0.224)	Adams-Hosking et al. 2011a

As climate projections in Briscoe are available for 2070 only, these published models were interpolated following IUCN/SSC (2019) to generate estimates of the area of land within the Koala’s physiological tolerances for 2030 and 2050, using the following formula applied to each cell in the projected Koala distribution rasters.

z = x +	((yr2 - yr1)(y - x))
	((yr3 - yr1))

Where x is the value of raster at yr1 (e.g. 2009), y is the value of raster at yr3 (e.g. 2070), and yr2 is the year for which values z are to be estimated (e.g. 2042). This formula assumes a linear interpolation between projections of koala distribution in year 1 and year 3 (Table 3). Models were resampled to 10km resolution and GDA 94 Albers projection (EPSG:3577) was used throughout.

Table 3. Years used for interpolation of climate estimates

Estimates	Yr1	Yr3
Estimate for 2030 (Briscoe)	2009	2070
Estimate for 2050 (Briscoe)	2009	2070

Each raster was thresholded (Table 4) and any cell falling within the threshold was designated as suitable for the Koala. Thresholds were chosen from the baseline projection of each model at 1) BRISCOE: the value of the ‘current’ model within which 95% of records since 2000 fall (i.e. test omission 0.05) and 2) ADAMS-HOSKING: the equal sensitivity and specificity value (test omission 0.224).

Table 4. Thresholds applied to climate suitability rasters

Model	Threshold value
Adams-Hosking – Maxent	0.407
Briscoe – NicheMapR – poor_low	0
Briscoe – NicheMapR – poor_med	0.454
Briscoe – NicheMapR – poor_high	0.772
Briscoe – Maxent – averages	0.373
Briscoe – Maxent – extremesA	0.387
Briscoe – Maxent – extremesB	0.364

As the models in Briscoe et al. (2016) and Adams-Hoskings et al. (2011a) predict future distributions beyond the current distribution of the Koala, each of these rasters was then intersected with areas where Koalas or their habitat are ‘known’ or ‘likely’ to occur (DAWE 2021a) to exclude areas where Koalas are unlikely to occur.

These rasters were then intersected with bioregions (DotE 2012; IBRA7) and the area and loss in area of land predicted to be within the physiological tolerance of the Koala was calculated for each of the 13 models. The minimum, maximum and median % loss was summarised across each of the 13 models.

Appendix 4 2019–2020 fire extent

Table 1. The area and proportion of land burned in the 2019–2020 bushfires within the area where the listed Koala and its habitat is known or likely to occur, by IBRA7 bioregion and by state/territory.

Numbers for likely plus known Koala distribution only are provided, excluding areas where Koalas may occur.

Queensland IBRA Regions	Extent burned within known + likely Koala distribution, ha (%)	Extent of known + likely Koala distribution in region, ha
Brigalow Belt South	66,949 (1%)	5,815,861
Brigalow Belt North	175 (<1%)	3,393,155
South Eastern Queensland	112,310 (2%)	4,513,639
Desert Uplands	(0%)	1,747,897
Einasleigh Uplands	(0%)	994,082
Mulga Lands	(0%)	775,412
Central Mackay Coast	12,244 (2%)	653,062
Mitchell Grass Downs	(0%)	496,464
Nandewar	(0%)	405,811
Wet Tropics	(0%)	278,034
Gulf Plains	(0%)	101,562
Darling Riverine Plains	(0%)	83,103
New England Tablelands	1,373 (1%)	144,020
TOTAL	193,051 (1%)	19,402,102

NSW IBRA Regions	Extent burned within known + likely Koala distribution, ha (%)	Extent of known + likely Koala distribution in region, ha
Sydney Basin	901,265 (30%)	2,963,881
NSW North Coast	1,111,476 (30%)	3,676,443
South East Corner	503,976 (52%)	969,498
South Eastern Highlands	308,784 (13%)	2,341,800
South Eastern Queensland	316,774 (19%)	1,635,043
New England Tablelands	248,737 (13%)	1,906,295
Darling Riverine Plains	4,358 (<1%)	2,594,995
Brigalow Belt South	8,463 (<1%)	3,368,917
NSW South Western Slopes	24,643 (2%)	1,024,530
Nandewar	37,371 (4%)	880,898
Cobar Peneplain	(0%)	260,148
Mulga Lands	(0%)	86,266
Murray Darling Depression	(0%)	23,388
Australian Alps	697 (4%)	19,701
Riverina	29 (<1%)	770,506
TOTAL	3,446,573 (15%)	22,522,309
Listed Koala IBRA Regions (combined)	Extent burned within known + likely Koala distribution, ha (%)	Extent of known + likely Koala distribution in region, ha
Sydney Basin	901,265 (30%)	2,963,881
NSW North Coast	1,111,476 (30%)	3,676,443
South East Corner	503,976 (52%)	969,498
South Eastern Highlands	319,676 (13%)	2,415,575
South Eastern Queensland	429,084 (7%)	6,148,681
New England Tablelands	250,110 (12%)	2,050,315
Brigalow Belt South	75,412 (1%)	9,184,778
Brigalow Belt North	175 (<1%)	3,393,155
Darling Riverine Plains	4,358 (<1%)	2,678,097
Desert Uplands	(0%)	1,747,897
Einasleigh Uplands	(0%)	994,082
Nandewar	37,371 (3%)	1,286,708
Mulga Lands	(0%)	861,679
NSW South Western Slopes	24,643 (2%)	1,024,530
Central Mackay Coast	12,244 (2%)	653,062
Mitchell Grass Downs	(0%)	496,464
Australian Alps	10,945 (29%)	37,662
Wet Tropics	(0%)	278,034
Cobar Peneplain	(0%)	260,148
Gulf Plains	(0%)	101,562
Murray Darling Depression	(0%)	23,388
Riverina	29 (<1%)	770,506
TOTAL	3,680,764 (9%)	42,016,145

Note: Modelled distribution does not equate to Koala habitat (see section 21 for further explanation). Numbers were generated using previous koala distribution mapping (2013).

Source: DAWE 2021b.