THE calls for dedicated legislation, a National Koala Protection Act, are growing louder – with local wildlife science expert Meg Edwards saying habitat loss remains the greatest threat to the long-term survival of Australia’s koalas.
The Australian Koala Foundation has campaigned for nearly four decades for stronger legal protections for koalas and their forests.
AKF chair Deborah Tabart said the call for a specific Koala Protection Act was first examined more than 20 years ago, when a national legal summit convened experts to assess 22 state-based environmental laws.
The AKF argues that under the current system, projects are often granted “controlled action” status, meaning significant koala habitat can be cleared before the full environmental impacts are understood.
Dr Edwards said the future of the koala – already listed as endangered – will depend on how effectively governments protect and restore native habitat.
“Habitat protection is really, really important for koalas’ survival throughout the country,” Dr Edwards said.
Koalas rely on specific eucalyptus species for both food and shelter, and their dietary needs vary significantly between regions, making relocation difficult.
“It’s not as simple as saying, ‘why can’t you move them somewhere else’, because they may not have the correct tree composition there for their diet,” Dr Edwards said.
While wildlife corridors are often highlighted as a key conservation tool, she said they must connect to viable habitat to be effective.
“Habitat corridors are great to allow movement between populations, but we can’t just rely on those alone,” she said. “We also need them to be connecting actual patches of habitat with the animals.”
Dr Edwards also highlighted the importance of improved communication between scientists and policymakers to ensure decisions are informed by the latest research, warning that population declines may be happening faster than recorded.
“It’s a little bit of a scary moment,” she said. “I’m hoping that in the next 10 to 20 years, if we have the right protections in place, we’ll see them bounce back.”
