Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00270:body:0:p53
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00270
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 145585–148685

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 conservation management actions for this species in this region is most critical to the species' likelihood of recovery;
5)        but that, on current trends, there is a high risk of extinction for the species in this region, especially through extensive and severe bushfire, and hence there is value in considering options to try to spread this risk through attempts to secure or establish subpopulations of the species in the most suitable habitat outside this region;
6)        that conservation effort also needs to attempt to retain and recover the lowland swamp forest subpopulation (an ESU), with this subpopulation particularly at risk of imminent extinction;
7)        that conservation success will not be achieved by management actions alone, but will depend also upon enhancing existing and future planning and policy settings, such that these contribute appropriately to the long-term survival of Leadbeater's possum in nature;
8)        that there remain important uncertainties about some conservation management actions (such as translocation, effective fire mitigation options, accelerated hollow development, climate change responses), so this Recovery Plan should address these knowledge gaps and be flexible, responsive to new information, and capable of adaptive management; and
9)        that as the Victorian government transitions out of native forest harvesting, the Recovery Plan, while forward looking in identifying objectives to support Leadbeater's possum recovery beyond native forest harvesting, recognises the legacy of timber harvesting with respect to the ongoing decline of large hollow-bearing trees and other residual effects, and responds accordingly.

7.2                 Recovery objectives, actions and performance measures

7.2.1             Long-term recovery objective
The extent, quality and connectivity of current and future suitable habitat, and its occupancy by Leadbeater's possum is increased, such that its probability of extinction over a 100-year period is less than 1%.

Rationale
Conservation planning for Leadbeater's possum is a long-term proposition and commitment. Actions taken now to enhance its conservation status are unlikely to reverse the current decline in the extent of its suitable habitat or of its population over the 10-year period of this plan, but they will help to slow this rate of decline. These actions will provide a basis for promoting recovery and managing the species over the medium to long term, and importantly, actions taken or not taken now will affect its likelihood of extinction over a 50–100-year timeframe. Furthermore, the extent and location of suitable habitat for Leadbeater's possum will vary substantially over time, depending upon the type and extent of disturbance and successional processes in its habitat.
Given some still