VicForests response to Greater Glider conservation advice
VicForests acknowledges the latest conservation advice for the Southern and Central Greater Glider issued by the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Our activities are informed by the latest scientific research and guided by best practice. As such, we will continue to adapt our management in response to new information and will consider the updated Greater Glider conservation advice, and any future National Recovery Plan, in determining changes to protections, priority management actions and changes to our management systems.
In 2019, VicForests implemented harvesting and regeneration reforms with a focus on biodiversity and high conservation values. We have an increased focus on adaptive approaches to selecting and applying harvesting and regeneration systems that retain and protect a broad range of forest values including the Greater Glider.
Our current approach is informed by the Greater Glider Action Statement – developed by Government on the basis of expert scientific advice. In accordance with this Action Statement, we retain at least 40% of the basal area of trees across each timber harvesting coupe, prioritising live, hollow bearing trees, wherever a density of Greater Gliders equal to or greater than five individuals per spotlight kilometre is found. VicForests also complies with relevant Greater Glider protection requirements detailed in the Code of Practice for Timber Production (as amended 2022).
Additionally, as a recognised High Conservation Value, VicForests has had a dedicated Greater Glider Conservation Strategy in place since 2019 and had additional protections in place since the 2019/20 bushfires.