Koala Emergency: IFAW Calls For Emergency Protections For NSW Koalas After Report Reveals True Impact Of Bushfires

SYDNEY, March 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A new scientific study released today reveals the true impact of climate change and the recent bushfires on koalas across New South Wales (NSW). The report, commissioned by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and prepared by the Biolink research group, is the first comprehensive assessment of changes to the distribution and abundance of koalas as measured across three generations of koalas and culminating in the 2019/20 fire season.ⁱ

Key takeaways of the report include:

• A minimum of 5,000 koalas are estimated to have perished, representing 12% of the NSW population
• Up to two-thirds of the population lost due to drought, bushfires and man-made causes over the last three generations
• 5.1 million hectares has been burned in NSW, over 18 million hectares across Australia
• One-third of the combined NSW North Coast & South East Queensland bioregions have burned.
• Period of analysis: 15 weeks, 1 October 2019 to 10 January 2020, with a further addendum soon to follow through 10 February
• Climate change and resulting bushfires pose an immediate, ongoing and significant threat of extinction to the NSW koala population
• A global call for action: Seeking emergency uplisting from Vulnerable to Endangered classification of NSW koalas

The report quantifies the impacts of recent fire events on koalas in the context of broader population trends across NSW over the past three generations of koalas.ⁱⁱ Nearly 5,000 koalas are estimated to have perished in this time, nearly 12% of the population.ⁱⁱⁱ This estimate is deliberately conservative and real losses are likely to be higher.^iv Up to 66% of the population has been lost over the past three generations.^v A further Addendum to be submitted with the report will cover the time period 10 January to 10 February and final numbers are expected to be even more dire.  

The report concludes that there is an immediate, ongoing and significant threat of extinction to the NSW koala population, making it eligible for a provisional listing as Endangered on an emergency basis under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.^vi

5.1 million hectares (12.6 million acres) have burned across NSW; over 18 million hectares (44.5 acres) across the country. This is equivalent to the size of England and Wales. Not yet taken into account in are the many hundreds of thousands of hectares of otherwise unburnt koala habitat that has previously been rendered unsuitable through water stress and loss of food sources associated with the drought. With climate change and high frequency fire only likely to increase, there are significant challenges for the longer-term survival, and for many populations the chances of recovery are unlikely.  

Seven of Australia's combined bioregions were impacted by the fires, with the combined 'NSW North Coast & South East Queensland' bioregions collectively having 29% of their entire land surface burned. The fires have severely impacted many Areas of Regional Koala Significance (ARKS).^vii

Alongside legal consultation from the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) on the tools available to increase protection for koalas in NSW, IFAW has submitted a nomination to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee, co-signed by Friends of the Koala, Humane Society International (HSI) and Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.  

"Koalas were already living on the brink before these fires, with populations declining in many areas due to excessive land clearing, disease and roadkill and local extinctions already known to have occurred. This disaster and the ongoing nature of the threats could push koalas over the edge," says Josey Sharrad, IFAW Wildlife Campaigner.

"This is a koala emergency. Koalas must be immediately up listed to Endangered on an emergency basis and a moratorium on all harmful activities impacting koalas enforced to allow surviving populations some breathing space while their capacity to recover is further assessed."

Citizens around the world can make a difference today by heading to ifaw.org and asking the New South Wales Environment Minister, Matt Kean, to up-list NSW's koalas from Vulnerable to Endangered on an emergency basis.

About The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) ifaw.org
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is a global non-profit helping animals and people thrive together. We are experts and everyday people, working across seas, oceans, and in more than 40 countries around the world. We rescue, rehabilitate, and release animals, and we restore and protect their natural habitats. The problems we're up against are urgent and complicated. To solve them, we match fresh thinking with bold action. We partner with local communities, governments, non-governmental organisations, and businesses. Together, we pioneer new and innovative ways to help all species flourish.

ⁱ A Review of the Conservation Status of NSW Populations of the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) leading up to an including part of the 2019/20 Fire Event.
ⁱⁱ Conducted by examining historical koala records and then through explicit data overlays of the fire-grounds as burned over a 15-week period from 1 October 2019 to 10 January 2020.
ⁱⁱⁱ Baseline estimate of NSW population is based on recently published studies using a process of expert elicitation  to derive population estimates for relevant Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA) areas within NSW (Adam Hosking et al 2016 updated by Rennison & Fisher in 2019). Total population size was calculated as 54,284. The greater proportion (approx. 65%) of the estimated NSW koala population collectively occurred within the NSW North Coast, South Brigalow & Nandewar bioregions, with the South East Queensland bioregion not specifically accounted for. Instead of a focus on numbers per se the review focuses on estimated proportional changes brought about by recent fire events whilst also giving consideration to changes over preceding generations, in order to place the results in the appropriate International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) legislative context.
^iv A conservative mortality estimate of 70% was used.
^v Several ARKS were data deficient meaning it was not possible to make reliable estimates of population trends in these areas. If as a worst case scenario, these ARKS are no longer functional in terms of supporting resident koala populations, this has the potential to increase overall population decline that has taken place by an additional 37.43%. Based on this consideration, the report concludes that the NSW koala population has declined by at least 31.45% (lower bound) to as high as 65.95% (upper bound) over the three most recent koala generations, inclusive of the fire events up until 10 January 2020.
^vi In NSW the koala is currently listed as a Vulnerable species in Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Koalas are not currently listed as an Endangered species in Part 2 of Schedule 1, nor are they a Critically Endangered species in Part 1 of Schedule 1. Therefore this species is eligible for provisional listing as Endangered on an emergency basis, conditional to satisfying the requirements of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017 as being subject to an immediate, ongoing and significant threat of extinction in the foreseeable future. The emergency listing would last for two years while the species is assessed under the usual listing process in Part 4 Division 3, to determine whether it ought to be listed as endangered or critically endangered.
^vii A total of 48 ARKS were identified across NSW as part of the NSW Government's Saving Our Species (SoS) Iconic Koala Initiative. Approximately 5% of NSW is within an ARKS and these areas are consequently considered to be the current best estimate for the location of the majority of koala source populations. This initial process identified what appears to be the functional extinction of koalas from within the 'Murray-Darling Depression' and 'Mulga Lands' bioregions, as well as substantive declines from the 'South East Corner', 'Brigalow Belt South & Nandewar' and 'Cobar Peneplain & Riverina' bioregions.

SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare

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