Port Stephens Council has released a free Koala Tree Guide, giving locals a useful tool to easily spot and protect vital koala habitats.
Delivered in partnership with the NSW Government, the resource simplifies the hard task of identifying eucalyptus trees. By using photos and easy to read diagrams of tree features, the book helps beginners easily recognise the exact trees koalas are likely to use for food and shelter.
The guide was a collaborative project between neighbouring Councils, covering five regional areas including: Port Stephens, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie, Mid-Coast and Port Macquarie-Hastings. Beyond identifying trees, it also offers simple advice for planting new trees and planning local conservation projects.
Mayor Leah Anderson said the Guide will help locals protect and nurture our natural environment for local koalas.
"True wildlife conservation starts in our own backyards, so we're empowering residents to build on their knowledge of our natural environment with the use of the Koala Tree Guide," Mayor Anderson said.
"Our local koala population is really important to Council and our community - with every little bit of awareness and action helping locals to support koalas to flourish in Port Stephens," Mayor Anderson added.
Reegan Walker, Senior Project Officer of Koala Strategy at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water, said the Koala Tree Guide is a handy tool to encourage grassroots action by turning technical mapping science into everyday community action.
"Getting everyday people, volunteers, environmental groups and Council staff using the guide will help protect our wildlife corridors and support local koala populations and their habitat,' Mr Walker said.
"Koalas don't recognise Council boundaries, so our shared approach between the Mid-Coast and Hunter Region Councils is a unified regional effort to protect koala habitats across borders," Mr Walker added.
The Koala Tree Guide is available as a free digital download at pscouncil.info/koala-tree-guide. Printed copies are available for pickup from the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary and Council's Admin Building during September.
The project received funding from the NSW Government's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and the NSW Environmental Trust.
