PORT Stephens locals are being encouraged to take a closer look at the trees growing around their homes, with a new free guide making it easier to know which ones are important to koalas.
Port Stephens Council has released a Koala Tree Guide, which uses photos and simple diagrams to help people identify the trees koalas use for food, shelter and moving through their habitat.
The guide was developed with the NSW Government and neighbouring councils, but for the Port Stephens Koala Hospital the message is very local – knowing what is growing in your own backyard can make a difference.
Port Stephens Koala Hospital Education Coordinator Sharon Egan says the right trees in the right places are incredibly important.
“Particular native trees provide the food koalas rely on, while other trees and vegetation give them somewhere to rest, shelter and move safely through the landscape,” Ms Egan said.
And just because you have never spotted a koala in a tree does not mean it isn’t important.
The hospital would like to see locals become ‘koala tree detectives’, learning to recognise the trees around their homes before deciding what to remove or plant.
Some important koala food trees found around Port Stephens include Swamp Mahogany, Forest Red Gum and Parramatta Red Gum, along with Broad-leaved Paperbark, Grey Gums, Spotted Gum and Tallowwood.
One key message to residents is “look before you remove”.
“Before removing a mature tree, find out whether it is an important koala food or habitat tree,” Ms Egan said.
Selecting the right leaves is something Port Stephens Koala Hospital volunteers do well.
Three times a week, the leafing team and volunteers head out to harvest fresh leaves for their patients.
More volunteers are needed to help with leaf collection, and people can also find out about training to become a volunteer koala carer.
Anyone interested can find out more at portstephenskoalas.com.au/volunteer.
The guide gives residents another way to help protect the area’s koala population, Port Stephens Mayor Leah Anderson said
“True wildlife conservation starts in our own backyards,” she said.
The Koala Tree Guide is available as a free digital download at pscouncil.info/koala-tree-guide, with printed copies available from the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary and Council’s Administration Building during September.
By Althea GUINSBERG
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