A new drone study of Logan’s koala population is set to boost local efforts to preserve the endangered species.
Over four nights in May, thermal drones surveyed more than 212 hectares in Greenbank to determine the location and density of koala and greater glider, a species of gliding marsupials, populations.
CEO of Ripper Corporation, which supplied and operated the drones used in the surveys, Jason Young said the technology was a valuable tool in advancing conservation efforts, particularly in gathering information about species and their habitats.
“By using this technology and our specialised detection methodology, we can supplement information gathered on the ground by ecologists and provide a more detailed picture of the wildlife that call the Greenbank area home,” Mr Young said.
“Our drones are equipped with thermal sensors which allow them to penetrate the tree canopy and pick up images of the koalas, gliders, and other wildlife via their body heat.
“They cover large areas quickly, are great in rough terrain, and provide a more comprehensive view of koala populations than traditional methods.”
Ripper Corporation conducted the survey on behalf of Logan City Council, which partners with organisations like Healthy Land and Water, the Queensland Government, and the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation to address the threats koala populations face.
“In the 2023 to 2024 financial year, we invested more than $3.7 million to improve both waterways and koala habitat, which are often connected,” Cr Raven said.
“That [sum] also implements priority species management actions and delivers carbon energy management actions, but it’s mainly focused on wildlife.”
Along with tree planting, the mayor said acquiring land was an important part of the council’s internal strategy to protect and conserve wildlife habitat.
“We’ve bought more than 280 hectares of land in the last five years to protect those key koala corridors so they don’t just have habitat, but their habitat is connected.”
Data collected in 2023 revealed that at least half of the properties in Logan were located within one kilometre of a koala sighting, according to Cr Raven.
“That doesn’t tell us how many there are, but that tells us they’re spread all over the city.”
The council hopes the latest drone survey will provide clear up to date data about koala populations and their habitat locations in Logan.
In 2022, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, koalas were listed as an endangered species in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory.
Representatives from Healthy Land and Water (HLW) said habitat decline is the biggest factor in declining koala population numbers.
“Their habitat has been impacted across the country due to urbanisation, landscape change, and climate change,” the spokesperson said.
“Habitat has been lost completely in some areas, degraded by weeds in others, and impacted by bushfire.
“These changes can cause additional stress to koalas, making them more susceptible to other threats like disease.”
The spokesperson said it was unclear how many koalas the collective habitat restoration projects would save.
One roadblock in protecting koalas and their habitat is knowing where they are. Developing mapping models and collecting data about koala populations is crucial to the conservation work Healthy Land and Water conducts.
“Based on lots of data, it tells us where the best habitat is, where the most significant threats are, and where the greatest opportunities are to have a positive impact,” the HWL spokesperson said.
“We work with landholders, governments of all levels, and community groups to plant trees, remove exotic weeds, manage bushfire, disease, vehicle strike, and other threats, and assist the community to learn more about protecting koalas and their habitat.”
With 70% of Logan green or open space, Cr Raven said he wanted to see the city stay that way as it navigates a period of high growth.
“That means that we have to keep acquiring degraded properties to revegetate them and enhance them, and we have this really strategic network of environmental land and wildlife corridors across the city that’s protected.”
The acquisition of either pristine or degraded land in strategic areas of the city is a big part of the council’s environmental conservation strategy, Cr Raven said.
In the wrong hands, the environmental value of properties can decrease significantly.
In 2021, the council bought a property from owners who had leased part of the land out, which was used to run cattle. The environmental value of the property decreased by 50 percent.
Illegal dumping, four-wheel driving, or other forms of property neglect also contribute to a property’s low environmental value.
“It’s important that the Council acquires properties so that we can protect them, because we’re not going to do any of those things,” Cr Raven said.
“We’re going to look after them and maintain them properly.”
But there is a balance to be found between facilitating a growing population and keeping up with housing demand whilst protecting the city’s environmental values.
“A lot of people get very angry when they find out their property is in a wildlife corridor because they just can’t develop it,” Cr Raven said.
“We’re really strong on that, we say no, even though there’s a house there now, long term, we want to see a return to wilderness so that the wildlife can move safely through the city.
“While it does impact individuals, it’s so much better for the community and the environment long term, because it improves quality of life if you’ve got great wildlife corridors, green spaces, and natural spaces for our furry friends to enjoy.”
Cr Raven insists that the state and local levels of government have strict regulations that determine the sections of land that can be cleared.
“There’s literally dozens of projects held up at the moment across the city for environmental protection, Biodiversity Conservation Act checks, which are the federal government’s protection layers,” he said.
“The second road out of Flagstone, for instance, is being held up exclusively by where koala trees are, how they need to be protected, whether or not they can be offset into different parts of the city, and what the cost is for that.
“The most important work we do is around our planning, that’s how you protect the environment from being degraded over time.”
