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Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland January 2011

A submission to the Australian Senate Inquiry into the status, health and sustainability of Australia's koala population.

Dr Alistair Melzer, Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland, Centre of Environmental Management, CQUniversity, Rockhampton, Qld 4702.

Dr Alistair Melzer has been researching and providing expert advice on koalas since he commenced research as a mature age student in 1988. The majority of his research is located in central and north western Queensland. With the support of CQUniveristy, community support (Central Queensland Koala Volunteers, Earthwatch, Xstrata Coal) and in collaboration with the Koala Ecology Group, University of Queensland and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, he maintains sites in the Hughenden, Tambo, Springsure and central Queensland coastal islands. Dr Melzer is currently an Adjunct Research Fellow at CQUniversity where he leads the Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland. He is the immediate former director of the Centre for Environmental Management. Dr Melzer is an executive member of the national Koala Research Network.

Summary

The status of the koala is uncertain, nationally. Local and regional populations are declining. There is not adequate data to address the IUCN criteria in any consideration of the formal status of the koala. Delaying any reclassification until data meets IUCN criteria produces a crisis driven response with limited capacity to recover the species. A proactive approach from the Commonwealth is recommended including: a move away from the IUCN criterion based assessment of the koala's status, proactive implementation of the actions of the national koala strategy within the Commonwealth's sphere of influence, Commonwealth resourcing of research and community organizations pursuing the objectives of the national koala strategy, support for the establishment of a network of koala sentinel sites monitoring trends in population and habitat status. A strategic review of the approach to managing the koala and its habitat is required taking account of the distinctly different needs in (a) the over abundant, genetically depauperate race of the koala in South Australia and Victoria, (b) the expanding urban and industrial footprint in predominantly coastal eastern Australia, and (c) the rural and regional western and northern habitats affected by climate extremes, fire and drought.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the HTML files on this page. It should be noted however that errors may have inadvertently occurred during the conversion process. The Senate Environment and Communications Committee and the Department of the Senate accept no responsibility for any errors introduced during the conversion process.