Saving the endangered Koala & Greater Glider: Citizen Scientists Take Action in Bulga State Forest
In the heart of New South Wales’ Bulga State Forest, the latest battle in the forest wars is beginning between conservationists and the Forestry Corporation of NSW. At stake is the future of the native timber forest and the endangered Greater Glider and Koala, both symbols of Australia’s unique biodiversity.
Forestry Corp have postponed the date to commence logging a few times after protests stopped their operation in recent years. The government stepped in and tightened the rules regarding surveys and numbers of habitat den trees per hectare to be marked and saved.
For years, the heavily unionised, government-owned, loss making Forestry Corporation of NSW has been counting the nocturnal Greater Glider during office hours. As the latest commence date of June 2024 looms closer, so does the threat of logging, but the local community is not backing down.
For more information on the Fight to Save Bulga Forest, visit their webpage Save Bulga Forest or Facebook group
The Forestry Corporation’s plans have been marred by delays, primarily due to inadequate wildlife surveys. Despite repeated attempts, their efforts to locate nocturnal animals like the Greater Glider have fallen short.
This failure isn’t without consequence – the Corporation has faced hefty fines for multiple breaches of environmental laws in recent years, casting doubt on their commitment to conservation.
Faced with this negligence, local conservationists have taken matters into their own hands. Organizing Citizen Science Nights, they’ve rallied volunteers to conduct spotlighting expeditions in search of the elusive gliders.
Under the guidance of qualified ecologists, these citizen scientists have ventured into the forest, armed with determination and torches. Every den tree and glider they see and record should mean another den tree saved, if Forestry workers bother.
On 26 April during a Citizen Science camp, the results spoke volumes. More than twenty individuals joined the effort, scouring the forest for signs of the endangered species.
What they found exceeded expectations – fourteen Greater Gliders spotted, with likely more evading their counts. We passed known glider den trees marked in previous expeditions, so the total count could have been much higher. Additional sightings hinted at a thriving population in the area.
The contrast between these grassroots efforts and the Forestry Corporation’s shortcomings is stark. While citizen scientists devote their time and expertise to safeguarding the forest’s inhabitants, the Corporation’s actions threaten their very existence.
The local community’s faith in the Corporation’s wildlife survey is waning, replaced by a conviction that their own counts hold greater accuracy and significance.
Now, the fate of Bulga State Forest hangs in the balance, awaiting the decisions of Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty. Their choices will determine whether the Greater Glider continues to roam the forest’s canopy or fades into memory as another casualty of shortsighted development.
Greater Glider mating season is February to June with births between April & June, with only 1 young per litter. It is incomprehensible that Ministers Moriarty and Sharpe are allowing logging in critical habitat at this time and just four years after the devastating Black Summer bush fires razed Bulga and neighbouring forests. Logging of an endangered species habitat seems to be against Forestry Corporation’s stated conservation role.
For the citizens of Taree and the Mid-North Coast of NSW, this is more than just a battle over land use – it’s a fight for the soul of their community and the preservation of their natural heritage.
As the logging date approaches, the call for action grows louder, echoing through the trees and resonating with the spirit of conservation that defines Australia’s identity.
In the end, it’s not just about saving a species or protecting a forest – it’s about honoring our responsibility as stewards of the land and ensuring a future where both humans and wildlife can thrive together. The Greater Glider may be small in size, but its significance looms large, reminding us that the choices we make today will shape the world we leave for generations to come.
And of course, the endangered Koala was also out and about, at least two were spotted by our party.
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