Filling in the knowledge gaps about koala populations in inland regions: A partnership with Queensland Murray Darling Catchments Limited (QMDCL) Aboriginal Rangers and Millmerran Landcare Group
The National Koala Monitoring Program (NKMP) supports a partnership between the CSIRO, QMDCL Aboriginal rangers and the Millmerran Landcare group to monitor koalas in this inland region of Queensland. Sightings of koalas have dwindled in their area over the past few decades and the local community is keen to learn more about remaining koala populations in this region.
QMDCL Aboriginal rangers have talked to Elders about where koalas have been seen in the past to guide monitoring efforts. QMDCL Aboriginal rangers have also worked with the CSIRO team to learn how to do transect surveys and find signs of koalas including scat and scratching marks on trees. Our partnership with Millmerran Landcare group encourages local landholder participation and the local community support the CSIRO team to monitor accessible survey points that are important to monitor local and national population of koalas.
Most co-partnering sessions include exchanging knowledge about where koalas might be found. Maps created by the CSIRO team combined with knowledge shared by local landholders and QMDCL rangers has identified potential koala habitats in the region. Potential koala habitat areas that are feasible and safe have been surveyed as part of QMDCL ranger’s everyday work activities.
As part of this partnership CSIRO has trained QMDCL Aboriginal rangers to conduct scientific transect surveys, to use the Koala spotter NKMP app to collect data, and to help create digital maps showing results of koala surveys. Future co-partnership sessions will further advance technical skills desired by the QMDCL rangers.