Koala Inquiry to Hear Evidence That More Than 30% of North Coast Koala habitat Destroyed by Fires

2019-12-09

Ecologist Dailan Pugh will present evidence to a NSW Upper House Inquiry into Koala Populations that up to one third of koala habitat on the North Coast may have been lost in the recent fires. 

Mr Pugh, who has mapped the area extensively, will give evidence that more than 2,000 koalas may have been lost. It is unclear how many koalas may have escaped to other areas with limited viable koala habitat remaining due to logging. 

Dailan Pugh will be available for telephone interview tomorrow morning on 02 6680 7063 . 

“Today’s hearing is timely and necessary. We will be hearing from some of Australia's leading experts on koalas, bushfire and climate change. We will also hear recommendations that must be urgently taken to ensure these fires don’t lead to the irreversible decline of koalas in NSW.” Said Cate Faehrmann Chair of the Inquiry into Koala Populations and Greens Spokesperson on the Environment. 

“Hearing that we have lost up to a third of koala habitat and more than 2,000 koalas on the North Coast is utterly devastating and should be a wakeup call for this government that they must take action to protect koala habitat.

“As a result of this new evidence, there must be a moratorium on public native forest in Northern NSW.” said Ms Faehrmann. 

Where: Macquarie Room, Parliament of NSW, 

When: 9:30 am to 3.45pm (Dailan will present at 2.45pm) 

Contact: Jacob Miller 0428 837 292