Pressure mounting on federal government to review leadbeater’s possum protection

PRESSURE is mounting on the federal government to review the protection of Victoria’s leadbeater’s possum amid a campaign to save thousands of jobs in the timber industry.

Pressure is mounting on the federal government to the review protection of Victoria’s leadbeater’s possum. Picture: Hamish Blair

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PRESSURE is mounting on the federal government to review the protection of Victoria’s leadbeater’s possum amid a campaign to save thousands of jobs in the timber industry.

The Herald Sun can reveal a fresh independent study is likely to be commissioned into the possum’s population numbers and habitat, which could force the Department of Environment to revisit the status of the state’s fauna emblem.

The Australian Forest Products Association has also formally nominated the creature’s listing to be reviewed, amid its claims the possum is more numerous and occupies a wider habitat range than previously understood.

But new studies — from both volunteers and forestry sponsored groups — are claiming the possum is more resilient, adaptable and populous than previously thought.

Around 600 colonies have been identified as of March — with more than 400 of them in the past three years. It is estimated each colony contains, on average, three possums.

A leadbeater's possum at Healesville Sanctuary. Picture: Jay Town

AFPA chief executive Ross Hampton said possum colonies had been found in habitat they were thought not to inhabit — including regrowth in areas burnt in the 2009 fire — and the trial of nest boxes and artificial hollows has also proven successful.

“While we strongly support the ongoing actions seeking to secure the long-term survival of the leadbeater’s possum — and that every attempt is made to ensure the ongoing viability of our sustainable forestry practices — it is important that all decisions are informed by the best available conservation advice,” Mr Hampton said.

Protections surrounding the possum remain politically charged, with both Labor and Coalition at state and federal levels divided over how far they can go to support the timber industry.

The Federal Government listed it as “critically endangered” in 2015 after there was officially thought to be only 2500 left after the around one third of the possum’s suitable habitat was destroyed in the Black Saturday bushfires.

The Turnbull government’s draft recovery plan for the possum last year recommended further investigations to be undertaken to provide “a robust and reliable” estimate of current total population size.”

Mr Hampton said new evidence should also force as review on restrictions imposed on the forestry industry by the former Victorian Liberal Government, particularly the 12.5 hectare exclusion zone being enforced around every new colony sighting.

“It also underscores the need for a comprehensive population study that examines all potential habitat, which is why we have also asked the Federal Government work with the Victorian Government to ensure the scientific work is done to produce an accurate picture of the possum’s population and range.”

Last week green group Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum called on the Victorian Government to end all logging in the area to protect the possum’s habitat in the state’s central highlands. .

Group president Steve Meacher called on Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio to declare an Interim Conservation Order across more than 170,000 hectares of ash forest.

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