Protecting Greater Gliders in State forests

Forestry Corporation is committed to protecting the habitat of Greater Gliders and other threatened species using NSW State forests.

Regulatory protections

Native forestry operations are regulated by the Coastal Integrated Forestry Operations Approval (CIFOA). The CIFOA conditions were designed by the EPA and groups of independent experts that recognised that the most important features to protect in areas with Greater Glider populations are hollow bearing trees.

Under the CIFOA the number of hollow-bearing trees to be retained was increased from five under the former IFOA to eight hollow trees per hectare for greater gliders and other species as a precautionary measure. In line with this precautionary approach, a minimum number of trees with hollows are identified and marked for protection in every hectare where operaitons take place, whether or not Greater Gliders or other hollow using species are seen in the forest.

Searches and monitoring

Ecology reports are completed before a harvest plan is prepared and include desktop searches as well as field surveys.Broad area habitat searches are carried out immediately prior to harvesting by qualified and trained staff who search throughout the harvesting area to identify and protect environmental features such as drainage lines, threatened plants, trees to be retained, steep slopes, habitat features such as threatened ecological communities, raptor nests, bat roosts or caves, and evidence or records of threatened species. Dens used by Greater Gliders are in older age class trees with large obvious hollows that have an entrance larger than 20 centimetres in diameter and a large cavity in which to shelter. Trees with these features are identified and marked for protection even if a Greater Glider or other hollow using species is not detected.

Ongoing research

In addition to pre-harvest surveys, Forestry Corporation has been monitoring and researching glider populations for many years. Currently, a broad cross-State Forest monitoring program is underway, detailed Greater Glider post 2019-20 fire monitoring surveys have being completed, and Forestry Corporation collaborating with the Department of the Environment and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to undertake koala, Spotted-tailed Quoll and large forest owl monitoring programs in the Tallaganda area in southern NSW. A  long-term monitoring program has been established to monitor plants and animals in eastern NSW, in partnership with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Natural Resources Commission. Find out more.

Thermal drone trials to help identify Greater Glider dens

Our staff are trialing new ways of searching for Greater Glider dens in the wake of proposed introduction of survey requirements for this species tabled by the Environment Protection Authority. Read more about the trials.