Survey/Project Number: |
793
Total No. of Sites:
12728
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Survey/Project Name: |
Kangaroo Island Koala Management Program - DENR Sustainable Landscapes |
Abstract: |
The aim of the KI Koala Management Program is to conserve riparian ecosystems through reducing koala densities to
sustainable levels.In 1997, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) began a program to reduce the
population of koalas on Kangaroo Island to sustainable levels. The Program is based on the surgical sterilisation of koalas to
reduce population growth, relocation of koalas from critically damaged areas to the mainland, and habitat restoration.
Monitoring of tree condition is a key objective of the Program so as to evaluate the effectiveness of the Koala management.Eucalyptus paludicola is rare and a favoured food species for Koalas.
The koala monitoring component of the Kangaroo Island Koala Management Program provides information on trends in koala density, distribution and impacts on food trees. It helps to prioritise areas for management and assists in determining the effectiveness of the sterilisation program. An island wide census has been conducted every five years: in 2000, 2006 and 2010 and now 2015. Tree condition has been assess since 1996. The long term objective of the Kangaroo Island Koala Management Program is: To conserve riparian ecosystems by reducing koala densities to sustainable levels. To achieve this objective, annual targets are set for the program. A number of sites are assessed for koala density and tree condition each year. To find out how many sites have been done each year refer to individual yearly annual reports. |
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Start Date: |
01/01/1997
End Date: 31/12/2016
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Survey Type: |
Vegetation and Fauna |
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Study Area Description: |
Koala habitat quality was mapped within each catchment (Masters et al. 2004) and seven management units (MU) identified (Whisson 2007). Monitoring sites (n = 135) of approximately 5 ha were stratified across habitat type and MU (Masters et al. 2004, Whisson 2007). Since 1996, koala density and tree condition have been assessed annually at some of the established sites in six MUs across Kangaroo Island. No koala habitat, monitoring sites or koala management occurs in the Gantheaume Management Unit. There are 120 koala and 50 tree condition sites across the island. Updated 16/6/2016 EK - also capture and release data from EP, SE regions. |