Determining the distribution of Koala habitat across a shire as a basis for conservation: a case study from Port Stephens, New South Wales

• DOI: 10.1071/pc980186
• Publication Date: 2016-05-25T20:22:41Z
• Authors: Daniel Lunney; Stephen Phillips; John Callaghan; Dionne Coburn
• Keywords: Shire; Phascolarctos cinereus; Field survey

The Australian National Koala Conservation Strategy recognizes the importance of conserving Koalas in their existing habitat, particularly through integration conservation into local government planning (ANZECC 1998). aim this study was to define, rank and map distribution habitat Port Stephens Shire, New South Wales. procedure merge results two independent survey techniques, each which interpreted using a vegetation specifically prepared for study. A field used plot-based sampling protocol determine tree species preferences based on presence/absence faecal pellets. Data were obtained 8 764 trees comprising 19 eucalypt 12 non-eucalypt species. high-profile community 2 756 records. maps from both methods examined as overlapping GIS layers. Combined categories then devised, ranked mapped across Shire. This provides practical repeatable means identifying remnant over has jurisdiction.