Clarke-Connors Range koala protection project: Koala survey for landholders 2021: Final project report February 2022

A community-based postal koala survey of landholders in the Clarke-Connors Range was undertaken by Koala Research – CQ, CQUniversity. This survey was to assist the Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA) with an Australian Government funded program under the Environmental Restoration Fund which aims at engaging the community in the conservation of koalas and their habitat in the region. The survey received a ~13% response rate (considered a representative sample size), highlighting the importance that the broader Clarke-Connors Range community place on koala conservation. In fact, there was a general indication that landholders are aware of koalas living in their properties and surrounding areas. Most perceived that today koala numbers are higher, or at least stable, than they had been in the past, which is an aspect that warrants further investigation as this appears to be contrary to most other areas across the koala range. According to the respondents, the main concern for koala survival was, the threat posed by cars, trucks and trains. Roaming dogs, pest animals and loss of habitat through land clearing and fire, were also reported as impacting on koalas. The survey responses indicated support for habitat protection and restoration measures such as fencing-off and replanting as well as a willingness to engage in specific weed management. In particular, respondents were strongly in favour of fire management and weed control projects to help conserve their local koalas with many expressing their interest in attending fire management and koala conservation workshops and information sessions. Koala surveys to establish the distribution of koalas and improved road designs to minimize negative impacts on the species were also considered to be of importance in maintaining a healthy population. Many respondents offered to assist in recording and reporting koala sightings and engaging in various wildlife friendly activities on their properties, including allowing access to researchers and sharing their local history and personal anecdotes of encounters with koalas. Some landholders were willing to explore the potential for their property to become an offset, Nature Refuge or conservation covenant to protect koala habitat. Lists of property owners willing to engage in the various koala conservation and land-management activities as well as a priority list of where such activities may be most effective, were generated and supplied to FBA for further engagement work with the Clarke-Connors Range community.