Richmond River Koala Parks

This population of Koalas was devastated by the 2019/20 wildfires, likely over half the population died, and many Koala feed trees were killed. Across the Richmond River Koala Parks 86% burnt, 18% intensively.  Koalas are slowly recovering and again utilising most suitable habitat, though still in low numbers.

Map showing 2019/20 wildfire intensity. 

Now that the Great Koala National Park is off-limits, the Forestry Corporation is resuming logging of Koala feed trees in Braemar and Myrtle State Forests, in their operations removing over 75% of the mature feed trees Koalas need to rebuild their population.

In these forests Koalas prefer trees over 30 cm diameter (over 90 years old) of Small-fruited Grey Gum, Forest Red Gum, Slaty Red Gum and Grey Box - their abundance determines how many Koalas an area can support. 

In 2019 NEFA found an exceptional density of Koalas in part of Braemar State Forest and has since been trying to protect them. The 2019 wildfire and continued drought likely killed over 80% of the Koalas, and they are only slowly recovering. After the fires we found a remnant Koala population in Myrtle State Forest. Our numerous appeals to Environment Minister Penny Sharpe to stop logging in areas actively used by Koalas were rebuffed. NEFA took the Forestry Corporation to court in September 2023 in an attempt to prevent them logging Koala habitat in Braemar and Myrtle State Forests, on the basis that the forester preparing the harvesting plans had failed to take into account the principles of ecologically sustainable forest management when preparing the plan, particularly having regard to the impacts of the 2019/20 wildfires. NEFA engaged Dr. Steve Philips to prepare expert evidence. He found active habitat utilisation by koalas at 4 of 5 field sites in Myrtle SF and 4 of 6 sites in Braemar SF, stating:  

In my opinion, the logging of koala browse trees from within areas severely impacted by the 2019-20 bushfire events, such as Myrtle and Braemar State Forests, will exacerbate koala population decline in these areas and, in the worst case scenario, could potentially lead to the extinction of local koala populations in these areas.

The judge found that the forester only needs to apply the CIFOA logging rules when preparing harvesting plans, and dismissed our case.

The Forestry Corporation then started logging both forests. Over a year ago they stopped logging while they focused on the Great Koala National Park, and now they are back.

Extract from Forestry Corporation's plan portal, September 2025.

Under the CIFOA logging rules the Forestry Corporation only need to retain 5 small trees (>20 cm diameter) per hectare of a number of species (some of which Koalas don't even eat), with their favourite Grey Gums only listed of secondary importance. If a Koala is seen, they just have to wait for the Koala to leave its tree before they can cut it down.  

These are extinction operations.

Forestry Corporation must be made to stop cutting down Koala's feed trees until the Richmond River Koala Parks are created.

The Richmond River Koala Parks Campaign Team acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within the proposed Richmond River Koala Parks . We pay our respect to the past, present and emerging Elders of the Bandjalang and West Bundjalung Nations.

We will continue to work closely with Aboriginal communities, groups and knowledge holders during our campaign to see the Richmond River Koala Parks  become a reality.