Submission regarding the guideline for the new Koala SEPP 2019
A SEPP which aims to protect a species, an ecological community or the natural environment is useless unless it:
- prohibits activities known to have negative consequence for the protection of the target
- makes mandatory, rather than desirable, actions or practices which could assist protection of the target
- is relevant to the current conditions of existence
With regard to 3) the NSW government should immediately acknowledge that the status of koalas is now so radically altered by the fires that the SEPP cannot continue in its current form. It needs amendment to take into account that this species is now effectively critically endangered based upon the following scientific estimates:
In 2019 NSW fires destroyed at least 24% of all koala habitats in eastern NSW. Initial expert estimates were that 10,000 individual koalas perished[1] out of a previous population of 36,000. That would leave, at the most 26,000 alive.
However, ground truthing of modelling of damaged koala habitat in some places is proving that well in excess of the assumed 70% koala mortality rate is the reality. Mortality in some parts of NSW is well beyond 70%.[2] This will bring the state-wide loss to much more than 10,000, leaving far fewer than 26,000 remaining.
This evidence alone calls for a completer reframing of the Koala SEPP, one that takes into consideration that the species is now no longer in danger of medium term extinction but is likely to be extinct within two to three decades, if aggressive intervention does not occur. That would look like: complete protection of all koala habitat, including modelled habitat and restoration of potential degraded habitat along with veterinary attention to health issues of individuals and populations as they arise.
[1] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-18/ten-thousand-koalas-could-have-died-nsw-bushfires/1197537
[2] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-07/koalas-losses-post-bushfires-bigger-than-modelled/12033834