WIRES concerned for threatened species on mid-south coast of New South Wales

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

In recent weeks, WIRES has received calls from concerned members and the general public, regarding logging in Mogo State Forest.

There are concerns for a number of threatened species living in compartments 147 and 148 near the Dunns Creek area.

Earlier this month, WIRES members and the National Parks Association sighted two Greater gliders in the area. They also saw markings and heard calls of Yellow-bellied gliders, which are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the NSW Government.

The discoveries, made by volunteer members of WIRES, Coastwatchers, and The Dunns Creek Resident Action Group, have caused them to call into serious question the adequacy of the Forestry Corporation of NSW’s pre-logging assessments.

“The Regional Forest Agreements that govern Forestry Corporation of NSW logging procedures are meant to provide protection for Threatened Species and their habitat but have not been updated since 1998 and are grossly inadequate”, said Lisa Pfitzner of the resident’s action group.

“It is absolutely ridiculous that, unlike the community, the Forestry Corporation of NSW does not have to do a species impact statement,” she said.

Clearing native vegetation is listed in the Biodiversity Conservation Act as a key threatening process.

WIRES CEO Leanne Taylor, said, “Research shows that glider species are especially sensitive to fragmentation, as they rarely cross open ground and may be constrained in gliding by the maximum distance between successive trees”.

The Greater glider is a large gliding marsupial (900-1700g) that feeds exclusively on eucalypt leaves and buds. Adult Greater gliders occupy a relatively small home range with an average size of 1 to 3 hectares (Kavanagh and Wheeler 2004) from which they rarely disperse. (1)

Another population of Greater gliders, in the same Local Government Area of Eurobodalla, is already listed as an ‘Endangered’ population.

“We are also concerned for other species due to the impact of logging such as the collapse of burrows which can crush animals inside such as wombats and reptiles,” said Ms Taylor.

Media Contact: Paula Wallace, 0404 088 501, [email protected]

WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc.) is Australia's largest wildlife rescue organization. WIRES’ mission is to actively rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife and inspire others to do the same. For more information visit: www.wires.org.au

1. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/GreaterGliderEndPop.htm

ABOUT WIRES

WIRES is Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organisation. WIRES has been rescuing and caring for sick, injured and orphaned native animals for over 35 years with a mission to actively rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife and inspire others to do the same. WIRES’ Wildlife Rescue Office answers calls from the community 24/7, 365 days a year, providing rescue advice and assistance for over 130,000 animals annually. Connecting wildlife to real-time assistance, WIRES full-time mobile Wildlife Ambulances operate across New South Wales, South-East Queensland and Tasmania, and WIRES had over 3,500 volunteers assisting with wildlife rescue and care in NSW. WIRES is supporting thousands of wildlife carers across Australia through a diverse range of national programs. WIRES also collaborates nationally with strategic partners to support the long-term recovery of wildlife habitat and the long-term preservation of native species in the wild.

For more information on WIRES wildlife programs visit www.wires.org.au.

MEDIA CONTACTS

WIRES Media Officer: John Grant | 0416 272 153 | [email protected]

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