) Approved Recovery Plan Approved Phascolarctos cinereus November 2008 November Recovery plan for the koala Recovery plan for ( Recovery plan for the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW Approved Recovery Plan Recovery plan for the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Cover photo: John Lemon (DECC) © Copyright State of NSW and the Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW The State of NSW and the Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW are pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or in part, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged. Published by: Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW 59 Goulburn Street, Sydney PO Box A290, Sydney South 1232 Phone: (02) 9995 5000 (switchboard) Phone: 131 555 (environment information and publications requests) Phone: 1300 361 967 (national parks information and publications requests) Fax: (02) 9995 5999 TTY: (02) 9211 4723 Email: [email protected] Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au ISBN 978 1 74122 939 4 DECC 2008/450 November 2008 ii Contents Executive summary................................................................................................................vii 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 2 Relevant legislation and policies ..................................................................................... 2 2.1 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 .............................................................. 2 2.1.1 Recovery plans............................................................................................... 2 2.1.2 Critical habitat................................................................................................ 2 2.1.3 Key threatening processes.............................................................................. 2 2.1.4 Recovery actions............................................................................................ 3 2.1.5 Licensing ........................................................................................................ 3 2.2 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ................................................. 3 2.2.1 Environmental planning instruments ............................................................. 3 2.2.2 Assessment of significance ............................................................................ 4 2.2.3 State Environmental Planning Policy 44 – Koala habitat protection............. 4 2.3 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 ...................................................................... 6 2.4 Native vegetation legislation...................................................................................... 6 2.5 Rural Fires Act 1997 .................................................................................................. 7 2.6 Companion Animals Act 1998................................................................................... 8 2.7 Forestry and National Park Estate Act 1998 ............................................................. 8 2.8 Other Acts..................................................................................................................8 3 Current conservation status............................................................................................ 9 3.1 Status in Australia ...................................................................................................... 9 3.2 International ............................................................................................................. 10 3.3 Status in New South Wales ...................................................................................... 10 3.3.1 NSW North Coast......................................................................................... 12 3.3.2 Central Coast/Sydney Basin......................................................................... 12 3.3.3 South Coast.................................................................................................. 13 3.3.4 Northern Tablelands..................................................................................... 13 3.3.5 Central and Southern Tablelands ................................................................. 13 3.3.6 Western Slopes and Plains ........................................................................... 13 3.3.7 Far West and South West............................................................................. 13 4 Distribution..................................................................................................................... 14 4.1 Distribution in Australia........................................................................................... 14 iii 4.2 Distribution in New South Wales............................................................................. 14 4.2.1 NSW North Coast......................................................................................... 16 4.2.2 Central Coast/Sydney Basin......................................................................... 16 4.2.3 South Coast.................................................................................................. 17 4.2.4 Northern Tablelands..................................................................................... 17 4.2.5 Central and Southern Tablelands ................................................................. 17 4.2.6 Western Slopes and Plains ........................................................................... 17 4.2.7 Far West and South West............................................................................. 17 5 Description ...................................................................................................................... 18 5.1 Taxonomy and identification ................................................................................... 18 5.2 Genetics.................................................................................................................... 18 6 Biology and ecology........................................................................................................ 20 6.1 Social organisation................................................................................................... 20 6.2 Feeding requirements ............................................................................................... 20 7 Habitat .......................................................................................................................... 23 7.1 Species and size of trees present .............................................................................. 23 7.2 Structural diversity of the vegetation ....................................................................... 23 7.3 Soil nutrients............................................................................................................ 23 7.4 Climate and rainfall.................................................................................................. 24 7.5 Size and disturbance history of the habitat patch..................................................... 24 8 Previous research, conservation and management initiatives ................................... 25 8.1 National Koala Conservation Strategy..................................................................... 25 8.2 NSW Koala Recovery Team.................................................................................... 25 8.3 Koala Management Areas ........................................................................................ 26 8.4 Koala Plans of Management – SEPP 44 .................................................................. 27 8.5 Population viability analysis.................................................................................... 28 8.6 Habitat mapping and modelling ............................................................................... 28 8.7 Recovery and threat abatement planning ................................................................. 29 8.8 Forests NSW ............................................................................................................ 30 8.8.1 Licensing ...................................................................................................... 30 8.8.2 Planning and research................................................................................... 30 8.9 National parks plans of management ....................................................................... 30 8.10 Surveys and research................................................................................................ 31 iv 8.11 Mitigation of impacts of roads ................................................................................. 31 8.11.1 Underpassess and overpasses....................................................................... 30 8.11.2 Koala exclusion fencing............................................................................... 30 8.11.3 Signposting................................................................................................... 30 8.11.4 Speed limits.................................................................................................. 30 8.11.5 Management of roadsides............................................................................. 30 8.11.6 Road design.................................................................................................