A recent study published by researchers at the University of Sydney used GPS to track koala movements in rehabilitated areas.
The study found that planting trees in order to restore a diminished habitat in Gunnedah, NSW has helped restore the population of koalas in the area.
Previous to this, it was feared that koalas would only inhabit ‘old growth’ eucalyptus forests, but the study shows otherwise.
"It is encouraging to see that koalas can use a variety of trees, including newly planted eucalypts, and are not restricted to old growth forests," said lead scientist, Dr Matthew Crowther from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Sydney.
"Unfortunately, this also means koalas will use trees planted next to roads, train tracks and fence lines. We saw very high rates of koala mortality in these areas. We also saw signs the small patches of trees available to koalas could not support them during tough times, such as droughts, when resources are scarce.
This means that planting trees in areas that are experiencing declines in koala populations can be a simple way to help conserve one of our nation’s national emblems.
"The fact that the koalas in Gunnedah are using trees planted in the 1990s means that simply planting the right trees could expand their habitat and mitigate some of the current problems we are seeing with koalas living in such fragmented patches of forest," Dr Crowther said.
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