Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00270:body:0:p7
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00270
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 18919–21929

of the 2009 bushfire footprint commenced within 8 years, with 25–50% of a large sample of the fire-affected sites surveyed by the Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI) in 2017 to 2019 recording Leadbeater's possums, including at some burnt sites a considerable distance from the nearest unburnt areas. There has also been a modest increase in the known range of the species, extending its confirmed distribution approximately 15 km to the east (McBride et al. 2019; Eyre et al. 2022). Additional lowland occurrences have been found in small patches of swamp forest at Murrindindi, Marysville and Buxton.
Despite these new records and insights, evidence of a more uniform distribution across a slightly increased range than was formerly known does not overcome the projected decline of the key limiting habitat element of old hollow-bearing trees. Prior management and protective mechanisms have not yet been sufficient to stop the decline and support the recovery of the species. A concerted long-term vision, commitment and management effort, with adequate resourcing and policy settings, is necessary to protect this species into the future.

2.4                 Significance of Leadbeater's possum
Leadbeater's possum is the only species in the genus Gymnobelideus, which is most closely related to the tropical striped possums Dactylopsila (Edwards and Westerman 1992; Osborne and Christidis 2001; Cardillo et al. 2004). It is one of 21 Australian threatened mammal species accorded high priority in the Australian Government's Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032, and (its lowland subpopulation) is listed as one of the 27 priority threatened species in Zoos Victoria Fighting Extinction program.
Leadbeater's possum has great cultural significance, as one of Victoria's two state terrestrial faunal emblems, and is Victoria's only endemic mammal species. The species is the focus of an active and committed conservation group (Friends of the Leadbeater's Possum) and has substantial community profile.
The Wurundjeri, Taungurung and Gunaikurnai people are the traditional custodians of most of the land on which the Leadbeater's possum is found. This land is culturally significant for all these people who place a strong emphasis on the natural value of their unique environment and protecting the future of all species including the Leadbeater's possum.
Leadbeater's possum is also a 'flagship' species for the conservation of its montane ash forest environment and biodiversity more generally (Lindenmayer and Cunningham 1997; Lindenmayer et al. 2014b), because the main threats that affect this high-profile species are likely to affect many other less iconic species in this ecosystem. Hence, any conservation responses for Leadbeater's possum are likely to provide some benefit to many other species, particularly other hollow-dwelling mammals and birds, such as the sooty owl (Tyto tenebricosa), listed as Endangered under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act), and greater glider