2016-04-19 P&E Committee - Item 4, Attachment 1 - Draft Koala Conservation Management Plan

The University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) is currently undertaking research into the
long-term sustainability of koalas through its post-graduate research program. The
research is focusing on the long-term sustainability of koala populations using non-
invasive techniques of scat analysis. USC has also applied to Noosa Biosphere®
Foundation and Commonwealth ARC funding body to progress this work.




                  Photo 1. Maya, the USC Koala ‘poo’ detection dog



1.2.4     Data collection and mapping of local koala populations

Data collection

Koala data informs koala habitat maps which are used for a number of purposes
including development assessment, infrastructure planning and identifying areas for
investment in koala habitat restoration projects. Records of koalas are collected by
incidental means (e.g. citizen science, wildlife rescue, reports to Council) or through
planned projects (e.g. koala surveys by consultants, research projects). Currently
different organisations have their own systems and processes for recording koala
sightings:

       Qld Department of Environment & Heritage Protection (EHP): The WildNet
        database informs the SPP Wildlife Habitat Map which is used for State
        Government development assessment purposes. Data must have a certain
        level of confidence attributed to the record to be accepted in the database
       Faunawatch: This association collects fauna data from volunteers and also
        data collected from Faunawatch consulting services
       Koala Tracker: A private ‘citizen science’ web-based facility
       Koala Diaries records


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