One of the recurring themes in environmental impact assessments for new and expanding coal mine proposals in Central Queensland, is that nearly all of them will significantly impact on koalas and greater gliders. In the last year, both these very iconic Aussie animals have been moved from the vulnerable to the endangered list. Our latest video clip summarises some of the impacts that coal mines are having on our iconic koala here in Central Queensland. EnvA, with the help of other amazing conservation groups and scientists, have started a research project to document the facts and figures. We strongly believe that the cumulative impacts of clearing for coal mines are not consistent with the government’s environmental targets of emission reductions and halting the extinction of our precious plants and animals. Koalas and greater gliders are now on the endangered list due mainly to habitat loss and the impacts of climate change such as increased frequency and severity of bushfires and droughts.
So what are we doing?
Lock the Gate Alliance has kindly provided support to EnvA to engage the services of a suitably qualified and experienced academic/consultant to research and deliver a project in relation to the impacts that coal mining has had, and is proposed to have, on koala habitat within the Bowen Basin, Central Queensland. This will provide us with:
– A literature review on of all relevant data relating to the regional ecosystems likely to provide koala habitat, and the know distribution of koalas in the Bowen Basin.
– An assessment of the conservation significance of the koala population in the Bowen Basin.
– Data and mapping showing the area of original koala habitat which has been cleared in the Bowen Basin separated into clearing for coal, agriculture, urban, industrial and other development.
– Mapping of proposed coal mines that will impact on koala habitat separated into the categories of ‘approved’ and ‘proposed’ with an assessment of the amount of koala habitat within these ‘new or expanding’ mines.
– An assessment of the impacts of coal mining and climate change on koalas and koala habitat generally, and the possible impacts on koala populations with the development of further coal mines in the Bowen Basin.
– Recommendations on how the findings of the research may be used in providing input into the review of the EPBC Act and the implementation of the national koala recovery plan.
This will help form the scientific basis for our submissions on new fossil fuel developments and inform our contribution to the community advisory committee of the National Koala Recovery Team. EnvA has been successful in getting a position on the community advisory committee of the National Koala Recovery Team. We will provide updates on the implementation of the recovery plan as things proceed.