Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00270:body:0:p67
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00270
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 185237–188408

overall long-term population viability (Action 3.3).
                         * The number of lowland breeding pairs (territories) is increased, in part with support from captivity, such that the lowland subpopulation is sustainable (Action 3.4).

Objective 4
Additional populations outside the core range of the Central Highlands are located, established, and protected.

Rationale
Although earlier (Lindenmayer et al. 1991d) and more recent surveys (Eyre et al. 2022) have not located Leadbeater's possum in montane ash forests and sub-alpine woodlands outside the Central Highlands, except for the recent 15 km extensions to the east (McBride et al. 2019; ARI unpublished data), additional searches are warranted using the current broad-scale survey techniques and predictive models to ensure any existing populations outside the known range are located and protected. This should include further surveys in suitable habitat within the vicinity of records a century ago at Mt Wills and Mitchell River in eastern Victoria (see Figure 2) and forested areas with potential habitat between these locations and the Central Highlands population. While some areas have been surveyed, other areas are yet to be surveyed (for example, the vicinity of Dartmouth Dam). The species' overall conservation outlook is likely to be improved by seeking to spread extinction risks by establishing additional populations outside this known range (as long as there is reasonable likelihood of success), while the current population size may still allow for such translocation. Over recent decades, translocations have provided very significant conservation gains for many highly threatened Australian mammal species, and robust translocation protocols are well established (Armstrong et al. 2015). Translocation success is maximised if planned for and undertaken early, in anticipation of greater need in the future.

Action 4.1 – Priority: Essential
Use the outcomes of dynamic modelling in Action 2.1 and continue to use recently developed survey approaches and expansion of recent surveys of potentially suitable areas outside the currently known range, including in areas predicted by habitat modelling to provide suitable habitat or where there are previous verified and plausible unverified records.

Action 4.2 – Priority: Essential
If such surveys locate 'new' existing populations (beyond the Central Highlands), assess their status, population size, genetic affinities, habitat relationships, extent of suitable and future habitat and management requirements; and implement appropriate management actions and prescriptions.

Action 4.3 – Priority: Highly beneficial
If such surveys fail to locate existing populations, identify the most suitable candidate areas for potential translocation (considering that climate change and fire risk will cause future shifts in suitable habitat).

Action 4.4 – Priority: Highly beneficial
Assess the welfare risks, likelihood of success, cost-effectiveness, and potential impacts upon existing populations of translocations to those areas outside the current range considered most practical and likely to result in the establishment of new