Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00270:body:0:p49
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00270
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 134285–137479

which outlined the conservation measures in place for Leadbeater's possum (Department of Environment and Primary Industries 2014a). Further measures were introduced in 2015, including: (1) accelerating the LPAG targeted survey program to more quickly locate and protect Leadbeater's possum colonies, (2) applying remote sensing techniques to map key habitat features, and (3) introducing a risk-based pre-timber harvesting survey program deploying new survey methodologies.
Approximately two thirds of the potential habitat within the distribution of Leadbeater's possum is now in the comprehensive, adequate, and representative (CAR) reserve system The largest area of reserved ash forest is in the Yarra Ranges National Park, which includes three extensive water catchments. The major sub-alpine (snow gum) woodland sites inhabited by Leadbeater's possum are protected within the Yarra Ranges National Park (Lake Mountain), Mount Bullfight Nature Conservation Reserve and Baw Baw National Park. The lowland swamp forest occupied by Leadbeater's possum is fully protected within the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area (Department of Environment and Primary Industries 2014a).
A significant measure that added habitat to the reserve system was to establish a 200 m radius exclusion zone around all Leadbeater's possum records within State forests. This included all records since 1998, except those burnt in 2009, as well as around all new records. Given that DEECA, community members and other organisations have conducted extensive targeted surveys since 2014, using effective new methods, several hundred such zones were established prior to the announcement that timber harvesting would cease in 2024.
Intensive, widespread bushfires are a significant threat to the ongoing persistence of Leadbeater's possum. LPAG recommended actions aimed at increasing the protection of Leadbeater's possum colonies and habitat through intensified fire planning and management. Where possible and appropriate, active fire management activities are to be used to protect identified colonies and high-quality habitat from bushfire, taking into consideration the requirements of other threatened species (LPAG 2014a). This includes suppression activities and fuel management in adjacent drier forest types. Strategic fuel breaks have been constructed with the aim of protecting Melbourne's water supply from fire. To reduce the risk of these breaks fragmenting Leadbeater's possum habitat, bands of wattle and ash forest are retained at 100 m intervals in some areas, and removal of hollow-bearing trees is restricted (Department of Sustainability and Environment 2008b).
Fire recovery protocols have been developed to assist in decision making and timely emergency management responses following bushfires. These protocols provide guidance on when intervention – such as providing additional nesting resources, supplementary food, artificial connectivity or translocation – is warranted. Following the severe impacts of the 2009 bushfires at Lake Mountain, additional den sites (nesting boxes) were provided and a supplementary feeding program was undertaken over winter for three years following the fire.