Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00270:body:0:p52
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00270
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 142720–145857

dynamic modelling of particular critical habitat features, notably hollow-bearing trees and midstorey density, across the Central Highlands range, to allow high resolution mapping of habitat suitability and improve spatial habitat models (University of Melbourne, DEECA);
    * a radio-tracking study to quantify nest tree use, home range size, spatial habitat use and the habitat requirements of Leadbeater's possum in a regrowth dominated landscape, including how the use of regrowth habitat for foraging may depend upon the proximity of contrasting habitat that provides hollows (research by ANU);
    * ongoing genetic analyses of highland and lowland subpopulations, including work investigating future genetic management options for the lowland population (Monash University, Zoos Victoria);
    * analysis of radio-tracking data examining the spatial ecology of the lowland population at Yellingbo prior to the decline of this population (Zoos Victoria, Deakin University);
    * climate suitability modelling for Leadbeater's possum under various climate change scenarios (Deakin University, Zoos Victoria);
    * stand and landscape forest growth models are being developed to better understand the implications of management actions on spatial and temporal changes to forest structure (University of Melbourne, DEECA);
    * identifying areas of stable or transient Leadbeater's possum habitat in dynamic landscapes under a range of management and climate scenarios, using a spatially explicit landscape simulation model, plus habitat suitability and patch modelling (University of Melbourne);
    * a review and refinement of a PVA for the species was done in 2021 with further refinement due Dec 2023 (University of Melbourne, DEECA); and
    * research by ARI into persistence of colonies within 200 m buffers; findings expected late 2023.

    7               Recovery objectives and actions

7.1                 Context
The recovery objectives and actions proposed here are informed by a set of general principles and requirements. These include:
1)        that the pre-eminent purpose of this Recovery Plan is to stop the decline and support the recovery of Leadbeater's possum so that its chances of long-term survival in nature are maximised, as required under the EPBC Act;
2)        that decades of research and management activity have provided a robust evidence base for recovery, and such evidence has formed the basis of a considered assessment of the likely efficacy of possible recovery actions (LPAG 2014b). Recovery objectives and actions delineated here have been informed by this evidence base and will incorporate findings that arise from new and ongoing research;
3)        that while existing recovery actions have contributed to some conservation advances, they have been, and are likely to continue to be, insufficient to recover the species, hence a substantially new or more committed management response is required;
4)        that the overwhelming majority of the known population of Leadbeater's possum is confined to the Central Highlands montane ash forest, and that the development of effective