iNaturalist Australia
Overview
The NSW Government asked the Natural Resources Commission to deliver independent research on how koalas respond to selective timber harvesting in state forests.
The work supports the NSW Koala Strategy 2021–26 and is funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
During 2019-2022, the research program assessed koala and habitat response to selective harvesting, and the 2019-2020 wildfires. The new work on koala research builds on the 2019-2022 work.
New work on koala research 2023-2027
New work under the NSW Koala Strategy continues to assess koala and habitat response to selective harvesting at research sites surveyed for the previous Koala Research Program in 2019-2022 and additional new sites in different forest types within the North Coast region.
The Research Program Plan (2023-27) (PDF 211.37KB) provides information about the projects and program.
Research program areas
The research program areas include:
- habitat studies
- population studies
- drone-based work.
iNaturalist Australia
Western Sydney University, the University of Melbourne and NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) – Forest Science Unit are assessing how harvesting affects leaf nutrition, canopy biomass, and overall habitat condition. The research quantifies changes that influence koala foraging and occupancy.
In 2023, researchers from DPIRD re-surveyed sites first assessed under the koala research program (2019–2022). These surveys provide new insights into how koala density changes over time following selective harvesting and under broader environmental pressures. See the link below for key findings and implications.
Researchers from the Forest Science Unit at the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the University of the Sunshine Coast are assessing koala density and sex ratios at new paired study sites. See the link below for preliminary findings.
Drone‑based thermal surveys were originally considered for detecting koalas at the research sites. Dr Ryan Witt (University of Newcastle) prepared an options paper evaluating drone monitoring survey designs. See the link below for options paper.
Koala research 2019-2022
During 2019-2022, the research program assessed the koala and habitat response to selective harvesting and the 2019-2020 wildfires.
We engaged independent researchers to assess koala and habitat responses to selective harvesting. See the link below for research plan, findings and outcomes.
The 2019-2020 wildfires presented a unique opportunity to use existing pre-fire data and analysis, combined with targeted sampling after the fires, to assess koala and habitat response to fire. See the link below for findings and reports.
Governance
We ensure transparency and independence, by overseeing:
- program design and coordination
- commissioning and assessment of research
- implementation and reporting
- scientific independence and quality assurance
- sharing results with government, industry and the community.
The program partners include:
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)
- Forestry Corporation of NSW
- NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- CSIRO
- independent researchers and universities.
Findings will be shared with the community as they become available, and new knowledge will inform forest management.
An expert panel, comprising koala and forestry experts, supports the program to deliver robust and scientifically credible research. The members include:
- Mr Peter Cochrane Chair (Assistant Commissioner, Natural Resources Commission)
- Dr Desley Whisson (Senior Lecturer in Wildlife and Conservation, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University)
- Dr Alistair Melzer (former Research Fellow, Koala Research, Central Queensland University)
- Prof Patrick Baker (Professor of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne)
- Dr Louise Pastro (Manager, Threatened Species and Ecosystems Policy, Strategic Policy, Science and Engagement Group, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW))
- Dr Tim Jessop (Team Leader – Koala Monitoring and Research, Conservation and Restoration Science, DCCEEW).