Help us turn Mullungdung State Forest into a conservation reserve.
Between June 2020 and September 2023, Friends of the Earth conducted 413 koala surveys and some random scat searches totalling over 2900 trees at Mullungdung State Forest. A total of 44 survey days were involved in the project. 344 scats were found. Mullungdung State Forest is located in the south east of Gippsland between the towns of Yarram and Sale.
The surveys reveal a possible koala population of perhaps 600 animals in Mullungdung, potentially 24% of the entire Strzelecki koala population, the most genetically diverse koala population in Victoria and South Australia. The key to the koala population are stands of Mountain Grey Gum.
It is crucial that the State Government acknowledge the significance of Mullungdung and act accordingly to reserve at least 18,000ha of koala habitat.
Mullungdung and adjoining forests represent the largest area of contiguous native forest remaining in the South Gippsland Region (excluding Wilsons Promontory) and cover approximately 25,000ha. The planned reserve recommends an additional 18,000ha of land to Victoria’s Reserve System.
The decision to reserve large sections of Mullungdung, would show foresight by the State Government. Strzelecki koalas in the nearby Strzelecki Ranges are facing a myriad of issues, including ongoing fragmentation of habitat and the devastating consequences of fire, storms, plantation logging and the privatisation of most of their habitat in the 1990's.
Recent estimates in Strzelecki Wet Forest in 2023 by Biolink revealed an estimated population 4 times less than actual numbers estimated by the State Government. The situation in the Strzelecki's is dire for koalas.
Contact Steve Dimopoulos and let him know that Mullungdung needs to be reserved and that the plight of the Strzelecki koala can no longer be ignored.
Download a copy of our one page, two sided, pre-written letter here and post it to the Minister using the details shown on the back of the letter.
Alternatively email the Minister at [email protected]
Photo: Mullungdung Koala by Alison Livermore
To read about the surveys and find out more about Mullungdung Click here
Our Mullungdung campaign relies on donations, please support our work by donating here to the Lachlan Abbott Legacy Fund