Ensuring thriving Koala populations in Southern Queensland
Regional NRM organisation: Southern Queensland Landscapes
Location: Koala populations on extensive commercial grazing enterprises in Southern Inland Queensland.
Primary themes
Biodiversity
Key partners
- Agribusiness managers and graziersconducting extensive commercial grazing enterprises
- Local government and communities
- First Nations in inland southern Queensland.
Overview
Koala populations across inland southern Queensland are in decline and increasingly isolated, with habitat fragmentation, invasive species, predation and climate pressures reducing their long-term viability. These landscapes support some of the state’s least-studied koala populations, making it difficult to understand how genetically connected and resilient they are.
This project targets known koala hotspot locations across southern Queensland, working with commercial grazing enterprises who will be supported to implement practical, on-ground actions including pest animal control targeting feral dogs and pigs, management of invasive cactus species, ecological burning to maintain healthy habitat, and installation of koala bridges over exclusion fencing to support safe movement through the landscape.
The project is underpinned by science and monitoring, using genetic analysis and eDNA sampling to better understand population structure and connectivity across the region. By combining practical land management with targeted research, the project will improve habitat quality, reconnect fragmented populations and build the knowledge needed to support long-term koala recovery across inland southern Queensland.
Secondary themes
Biosecurity
Controlling wild dogs and invasive cactus species including Hudson Pear, Tiger Pear, Coral Cactus and Harrisia Cactus to reduce pressure on koala habitat.
Biodiversity conservation
Improving habitat condition and ecological function across priority koala landscapes in southern Queensland.
Climate resilience and adaptation
Strengthening the resilience of koala habitat and populations in inland landscapes facing increasing climate pressure and fragmentation.
Sustainable agriculture
Working with agribusiness managers to implement practical land management actions that support both productive landscapes and koala conservation.
Threatened species
Targeted conservation action to support koala populations across southern inland Queensland, focusing on habitat improvement, connectivity and long-term recovery.
Technology and innovation
Use of genetic analysis and environmental DNA to understand koala population structure, distribution and connectivity across the region.
Landholder engagement
Working directly with agribusiness managers and graziers across priority areas to deliver on-ground habitat and threat management actions.
Capacity building and skills development
Supporting landholders to adopt improved habitat management, monitoring and threat reduction practices.
By the numbers
5000ha
koala threat reduction (predation by wild dogs)
12000ha
koala threat reducation (injury by cactus)
300 hectares
of koala habitat improvement (improved fire management)
72 eDNA samples
to measure genetic viability of koalas
12 koala bridges installed
over wild dog fences to reduce the threat of restricted koala movement for foraging and breeding
This project is funded by the Queensland Government’s Natural Resource Management Expansion Program
