Restore & Reconnect is bridging the gap for koala habitat in SEQ
Did you know that one of the biggest threats to koalas' survival is habitat loss and fragmentation? Our iconic koalas are facing a modern crisis as their habitat becomes increasingly fragmented due to development. While these resilient marsupials have survived for millennia, they're now struggling to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape.
With koalas officially listed as Endangered in Queensland, a SEQ-wide habitat restoration project is helping their preservation and long-term survival. Healthy Land & Water is delivering the Queensland Government-funded Restore & Reconnect: SEQ Koala Habitat initiative, a $3.5 million investment in the future of one of Australia's most iconic species over 3 years.
Across South East Queensland's fragmented landscape, koalas face a daily challenge: navigating between isolated patches of eucalyptus forest that once formed a continuous canopy. As they move between remnant habitats, they come across roads, developments, and open spaces that pose significant risks to their survival.
Increasing habitat fragmentation is one of the elements that contributed to their endangered status, creating an urgent need for strategic conservation action.
As South East Queensland continues to grow and develop, these collaborative efforts provide hope that koalas will find their place in the changing landscape — moving between trees that once again connect across the region.
The path forward
The Queensland Government responded to this crisis with the South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2020-2025 detailing the commitment to reversing the decline in koala populations across SEQ and safeguarding the future of this iconic species.
Contribute to the commencement of rehabilitation to restore 10,000 hectares of koala habitat across South East Queensland.
Healthy Land & Water is delivering two complementary initiatives stemming from this strategy and funded by the Queensland Government. The SEQ Koala Threat Management Initiatives ($4.2 million, 2023-2026) focuses on identifying 10 priority threat areas and implementing targeted programs to reduce disease, injury, and mortality rates.
Working in parallel, the newly launched SEQ Restore & Reconnect: Koala Habitat program ($3.5 million, 2024-2027) addresses the greatest koala threat, the critical issues of habitat loss and fragmentation.
"These projects represent two sides of the same conservation coin," explains Natalie Hillcoat, who leads both Healthy Land & Water initiatives. "While threat management addresses immediate risks to koala populations, habitat restoration creates the foundation for their long-term recovery."
Reconnecting a fragmented landscape
The Restore & Reconnect program is one of the programs under the SEQ Koala Conservation Strategy that aims to contribute to the commencement of rehabilitation to restore 10,000 hectares of koala habitat across South East Queensland. This ambitious undertaking involves strategic restoration and revegetation of corridors between existing habitats, allowing koalas to move safely through the landscape.
The project creates pathways where gaps in the canopy have emerged. By identifying and restoring habitat connections, the program helps koalas access more resources and maintain genetic diversity within their populations.
Mapping the future
 |
Guiding this restoration effort is the development of the 2025 SEQ Areas of Regional Koala Significance (ARKS) map. This decision-support tool combines Queensland Government koala mapping, existing ARKS data, and local government datasets to identify priority sites for restoration. |
The ARKS mapping allows us to see the landscape through a koala's perspective and helps us identify not just where koalas are today, but where they need to be tomorrow.
Boots on the ground
On the ground, the Restore & Reconnect project is set to transform the landscape through targeted interventions:
- Strategic revegetation connecting vital wildlife corridors.
- Restoration of degraded habitats to improve their quality.
- Implementation of fire management practices to enhance and protect sources.
- Intensive weed control to assist movement through the landscape and reduce fire loads.
- Installation of cattle exclusion fencing to protect riparian vegetation and corridors.
Each of these actions is monitored to measure ecological improvements and koala population responses, building knowledge that will inform future conservation efforts and investment.
Community collaboration
The success of both koala conservation initiatives depends on collaboration across government, local councils, non-government organisations, First Nations groups, and local communities. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, Healthy Land & Water is fostering a coordinated approach to addressing the complex challenges facing koala populations.
Acknowledgements
This program is funded by the Queensland Government and runs in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Local Government Authorities, the Australian Government, Queensland Trust for Nature, Griffith University Social Marketing, SEQ Wildlife Hospital Network, Traditional Owners, and Landcare and community groups.
