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Historic win for koalas as Great Koala National Park legislation passes

WWF-Australia

WWF-Australia has hailed the passing of legislation to create the Great Koala National Park as a historic win for koalas, forests and the communities that fought to protect them.

 

NSW Parliament today passed legislation to add more than 178,000 hectares of state forest and other Crown land to existing national parks, establishing a more than 475,000-hectare safe haven for koalas on the Mid North Coast. 

 

The moment comes after more than a decade of championing from koala ecologists and conservation groups alongside First Nations and local communities, politicians and businesses. 

 

“This is a historic win for koalas, forests and the communities who have been fighting for their protection,” said Dermot O’Gorman, WWF-Australia’s CEO.

 

“The Great Koala National Park will protect an estimated 12,000 koalas, 36,000 greater gliders and countless other native animals that call these forests home.

 

“This is conservation at the scale nature needs. Protecting hundreds of thousands of hectares of connected habitat will give koalas and other endangered species room to recover and adapt as the climate changes.

 

“We thank Premier Minns, Minister Sharpe and the NSW Government for delivering on their promise to create the park and working to ensure it benefits local communities as well as wildlife.

 

“It’s great to see support for new Aboriginal ranger positions to help manage the park and care for Country. We encourage the government to engage with the Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti communities about progressing the handback of public native forests.  

 

“We’re also pleased to see sections of the park will be open for recreational activities like bushwalking, camping, kayaking and mountain-bike riding.

 

“Our hope is that everyone who visits the Great Koala National Park deepens their connection to Country, and leaves inspired to contribute to the care of koalas and the forests they depend on.”

 

Mr O’Gorman said the park can be a game-changer in the fight to save koalas from extinction.

 

“More than 60 years ago, China began establishing nature reserves to protect giant pandas. Those efforts helped panda populations recover and ultimately move off the endangered species list.

 

“We hope the Great Koala National Park can help put koalas on a similar path to recovery.”

 

WWF-Australia has been advocating for the Great Koala National Park as part of its work to protect and regenerate the forests of eastern Australia and end native forest logging.

 

“The government has provided a welcome support package for timber workers affected by the creation of the park,” said Mr O'Gorman.

 

“This will allow businesses and local communities to focus on forest restoration and building the sustainable jobs and industries of the future.”

 

Contact details:

Paul Fahy, 0455 528 161, [email protected]