DEAR News Of The Area,

EVERYONE knows and loves the koala but here in our Mid North Coast forests we have an animal that rivals even the koala for cuteness.

The greater glider is about the size of a cat with round fluffy ears and an incredibly long tail.

They are mostly invisible due to spending the day in “dens” within hollows of trees and coming out at night to feed on eucalyptus leaves.

Their fur colour ranges from white through to dark brown, almost black.

The ability to glide through the air for 100 metres using their tail as a rudder, makes them the world champion of gliding possums.

Greater gliders live in forests along the whole of eastern Australia and were once common here on the Mid North Coast.

Sadly, in 2022 they were listed as endangered.

Over just the last 20 years their population has declined by 80 percent.

Logging and bushfires have destroyed many of the hollow bearing trees they need to survive.

WWF ecologist Dr Kita Ashman said “Youre looking at well over 100 years for a lot of trees to form those big, deep cavities that gliders need.”

Despite their endangered status, and being an important part of our ecology, very little is being done to stop the extinction of the greater glider.

The Forestry Corporation (FC) of NSW, which manages state forests is meant to protect greater glider habitat by marking their den trees and not logging in a 50 metre zone around them.

Yet FC, which has been fined more than $1.1 million for unlawful activity in fewer than five years, performs minimal surveying for their presence.

Sightings that they make of greater gliders or den trees are far fewer than those performed by unpaid citizen scientists.

South East Forest Rescue documented eleven den trees in the Styx River State Forest in Northern NSW and reported them to the EPA.

Yet despite being told by the EPA of the location of these trees and exclusion zones, nine of the eleven zones were later logged.

Residents in the vicinity of the Clouds Creek State forest near Dorrigo fought the fires of 2019/20 and feel so strongly about protecting Greater glider habitat that together with the community group the Blicks River Guardians, they started the “Glider Reviver”: a roadside stall where people can stop for a free cuppa, some homemade treats and information about the plight of the Greater glider.

For 166 days (as of 26/08) they have prevented logging with a dawn blockade at the entrance to the forest.

Their wish is to set aside Clouds Creek State Forest as a greater glider sanctuary.

If you would like to help with protection of the Greater glider, contact your local environment group and/or write to your local member of parliament.

Regards,
Judith KIRKWOOD.