NSW Government adopts Greater Koala Park
World Heritage boundaries – minus the plantations

The Greater Koala Park welcomes the NSW Government decision to adopt the GKP World Heritage Proposal boundaries.

NSW Government Great Koala National Park

This is a recognition of the research put in by the Koala History and Sustainability Research Cluster and the many Friends Groups within the Proposal area.

Greater Koala Park boundaries (red) over NSW Government park

The size of the Government park, at approximately 475,000 ha is considerably larger than the 316,000 ha national park first proposed in 2013. This is much closer to the 493,000 ha KHSRC and the Friends recommended in their proposal, and in their submission to the koala park process.

Greater Koala Park Proposal Area. See Legend for details

But the exclusion of the high conservation value coastal plantations – the crucible of the entire region’s koala meta-population is also noted.

Research has shown there are more significant populations of koala, and more significant koala trees than the areas of native forest now under logging moratorium. This is particularly the case for the plantation habitat in Newry, Wild Cattle Creek, Pine Creek and Tuckers Nob State Forests.

Closeup of koala habitat in the coastal plantations (brown)

Tragically, this koala habitat will continue to be subjected to ongoing forestry operations – which threatens the viability of the population as a whole. With one-tenth of the population located in these forests, ongoing operations will result in a permanent cull.

No population can withstand this level of impact, an impact known historically as decimation. Any future World Heritage assessment will inevitably investigate and incorporate the habitat and forest values in these areas. Suspending all operations in these areas pending a full review is essential to protect the integrity of the park’s natural values as a whole.

A copy of the Proposal may be purchased here.