1. Manage invasive weeds Weeds can reduce the health of koala habitat, retard natural eucalypt recruitment and restrict koala movement through bushland. Common weeds in the Noosa Region that cause significant impact to Koala habitat include but are not limited to: Cat's claw creeper vine (Dolichandra unguis-cati) & Madeira vine (Anredera cordifolia) – are serious transformer vine weeds that have a habit of smothering even mature Eucalypt trees if left unchecked. Noosa Landcare’s Cats Claw Creeper Crusade Program can provide assistance - https://noosalandcare.org/ programs/cats-claw-creeper-crusade/ Lantana (Lantana camara) – is an understory shrub that grows in thickets and can restrict movement for koalas and increase fire intensity in bushland. Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus var. maximus) – a tall and thick grass that provides an impenetrable wall for movement in large infestations and can increase fire intensity in bushland. South African pigeon grass (Setaria sphacelata) – a common exotic pasture grass with a thick and tall growth habit that can restrict koala movement across landscapes and retard eucalypt recruitment. A useful resource to learn more about weeds can be found at the following web tool - Weed Identification – Brisbane City Council. Alternately, get in contact with Noosa Landcare for further assistance. 2. Manage fire risk While koalas have survived living in fire-adapted eucalypt habitats for many thousands of years, new fire practices and changing climate over the last century has changed fire intensity and bushland structure, making it more difficult for the species to survive these intense fires. For further information and useful resources, visit the South East Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium https:// www.fireandbiodiversity.org.au/ 3. Revegetation Revegetation to create corridors and habitat stepping-stones. Undertaking restoration works to improve the structure and diversity of plant species in an area can greatly improve the attractiveness of a site as habitat and also the ability of a site to be a corridor for many species, not just koalas. How to manage koala habitat on your property 32
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