This review argues that Bodalla State Forest, where a sighting was reported in October 2021, must be a priority focus for any Eurobodalla-wide koala population revival.
Coastwatchers volunteer group Eurobodalla Koalas reviewed the koala habitat significance of Bodalla State Forest, supported through a partnership between the Great Eastern Ranges (GER) Initiative and WWF-Australia as part of a broader bushfire recovery effort. Coastwatchers is delivering the GER south coast component.
With its remnant habitat and history of koala presence, the forest is a viable location for home ranges of about 350 hectares each. Bodalla State Forest is also needed as a breeding connector for a sustaining regional koala metapopulation.
The review lists challenges for land managers in and near Bodalla State Forest if local koalas are to revive. Threats to address are landscape drying, further severe wildfire impacts, atmospheric carbon dioxide affecting leaf nutrients, degraded soils, dieback, historical clearing of the Tuross River lowlands, over-intensive logging and new clearing for urban development.
The Coastwatchers Great Eastern Ranges Project helps adjacent private property owners survey and rehabilitate their spaces.
