The largest stronghold of koalas in the Richmond catchment is a genetically different population from that found in the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) and North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) is calling for the establishment of Richmond River koala parks (RRKPs).
Conservation groups and local communities are calling on the NSW government to permanently protect 56,200 hectares of State Forests in the Richmond River valley and along the southern Richmond Range (south of the Bruxner Highway).
‘The area forms part of the Banyabba Area of Regional Koala Significance (ARKS), which represents the largest area of high-quality koala habitat in the Richmond catchment,’ said Dailan Pugh spokesperson for the North East Forest Alliance.
‘The proposed reserves encompass 28,000 hectares of Nationally Important Koala Areas, designated by the Commonwealth government as a priority for protection.
‘These forests are also home to over 130 species threatened with extinction due to habitat loss and climate change.
‘Protecting these forests from logging is not just about providing a lifeline for koalas and a plethora of other struggling wildlife, it’s about restoring ecosystems and the health of the Richmond River.’
The establishment of the RRKPs would link existing national parks and fragmented animal populations into one continuous protected sanctuary, protect 35,000ha of forest ecosystems and help satisfy Australia’s international commitments to protect 30 per cent of this bioregion by 2030.
It would also assist in restoring the health of the Richmond River by improving the quantity and quality of water inflows.
‘We urgently need to stop releasing the carbon stored in forests by logging, and instead enable them to draw down and store the millions of tonnes of CO₂ released into the atmosphere by past logging if we want to address climate change,’ Dailan Pugh emphasised.
‘Our forests need time to heal – not further destruction. We are calling on the NSW government to take decisive action and establish the RRKPs to honour their promises to protect koalas.’
The campaign is urging the community to support the push for the RRKPs by signing the paper petition, contacting local MPs, and spreading awareness. For more information go to https://www.nefa.org.au.
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