Saving our Species sets out the state government’s threatened species management plan and what needs to be done to secure NSW’s threatened species in the wild for the next 100 years.

The koala forms part of that.

The Saving our Species Iconic Koala Project builds on the contributions made by individuals and groups across the state to reduce critical threats to koalas and ensure adequate protection, management and restoration of koala habitat.

Mike Roache from the Office of Environment and Heritage spoke on World Environment Day on June 5 about the Saving our Species Iconic Koala Project.

A performance from Tacking Point Public School’s Bel Canto Choir preceded the talk at Sea Acres Rainforest Centre.

The public event was a feature of the Hello Koalas Festival.

Threats to koalas include habitat loss, dog attack, car strike and the impact of heat stress and drought.

About $1 million was invested in the last financial year in projects across the state in a bid to secure koala populations in the wild.

Mr Roache highlighted some case studies.

He said they were starting the ball rolling to get a sense of how to be more supportive of the koala care sector across the state.

“Koala carers often give up their time and their houses and their lives to care for wild animals,” he said.

“It is an amazing service that we need to be better at supporting.”

He said the koala carers’ role was recognised in taking injured koalas, bringing them back to health and releasing them back into the wild.

The supported projects also include an audit of spatial information relating to koalas, koala tracking in the Southern Highlands and koala habitat preferences in the Blue Mountains.

The spatial analysis will help to develop the project over the coming four years.

An expert panel provides guidance on the shape of the project.

At the same time, a whole-of-government koala strategy is under development.

The NSW Koala Strategy aims to stabilise and begin to increase koala numbers in the state.