Destruction of habitat sped up after koalas were listed as vulnerable

Koala habitats in NSW and Queensland has been destroyed at a faster rate since the animal was declared vulnerable in 2012 than before, a new survey shows.

In NSW, koala habitat destruction increased from an average annual loss of 11,153 hectares in the period from 2004 to 2012, to 14,695ha between 2012 and 2017, or around 32 per cent.

In Queensland, the destruction increased by about 7 per cent, from an average annual loss of 16,199ha over the period 2004-12, rising to 17,323ha for 2012 to 2018, the survey found.

Since 2001, Queensland’s koala population has crashed by at least 50 per cent and the NSW population has declined by between 33 per cent and 61 per cent, according to two new reports by science consultants Biolink.

Biolink estimates the 2019-20 bushfires in NSW killed 6382 koalas up to mid-February.

These population declines have prompted the World Wide Fund for Nature, which conducted the habitat loss report, to lobby for the koala to be listed as endangered rather than vulnerable.

Koala habitat was mostly lost to clearing for livestock pasture; while the main cause in NSW was forestry operations, the report said.

The koala was listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in 2012. Under the act anyone seeking to develop or destroy koala habitat must refer their plans to the federal government for assessment.

If the proposed actions cause the destruction of habitat that cannot be mitigated, the proponent must fund projects offsetting the damage.

But according to WWF Australia conservation scientist Dr Martin Taylor, the environment department has failed to investigate or prosecute those responsible for habitat destruction.

He says many of those who cause habitat destruction appear to be aware they will face no consequences, which is why the rate of destruction is increasing.

“This is not happening by accident. It is commonplace for destruction of koala habitat to take place without anyone taking any action. We are talking about illegal destruction, thousands of hectares on thousands of properties,” he said.

The federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley said that in the wake of the fires she had asked the Threatened Species Scientific Committee to consider whether koala populations in NSW, Queensland and the ACT should have their status reassessed.

“That process is underway and the Department and the Committee will welcome, and consider, this latest research in the light of the extensive work already taking place,” she said.

She said land clearing was controlled by state governments, and that the act required offset areas to be set aside for koalas should their habitats be damaged.

The EPBC Act is under review, with submissions open until Friday, April 17.