Cape Otway Koala Woodland Restoration

Koala over-browsing, and changes to fire management, have caused drastic decline of woodland health and extent on Cape Otway. 

More than 70% of the Manna Gum community has been lost over the past 20 years, and the Conservation Ecology Centre has been integral in delivering a range of programs to bring this once vibrant ecosystem, and the koalas it supports, back to health. 

In some areas the Manna Gum dieback is so severe that it has caused entire canopy death and koalas were suffering. The ecosystem is further threatened by the absence of low intensity fires, which is a vital component of many Australian woodlands.

The decline of the Manna Gums has been accelerating and without intervention we were at risk of losing this unique and rare habitat type, along with the koalas and the many other plants and animals that rely on it.

The CEC has been working to restore this habitat by planting over 100,000 tree seedlings across 100Ha of affected woodland areas at Cape Otway.

We are trialling large-scale methods to minimise koala browsing on selected trees, protect young or ailing trees from over-browsing and to shield mature seed trees for future revegetation efforts.

Through the Cape Otway Ecological Burns Program, we have been working with the Country Fire Authority undertaking mosaic burning to re-establish an appropriate fire regime on the Cape Otway.

Changes to land management and interruption to the area’s fire regime broke the cycle of seedling recruitment and led to an intensification of the shrubby mid-storey. The program has now treated a large swathe of woodland, and we are seeing improvements to both species diversity and beneficial changes to habitat structure.

We have measured the diversity of herbs and native grasses and noted natural germination of Manna Gums. This is a positive start for an ambitious research program which will be critical for managing our remnant vegetation and the newly planted woodland to achieve a critical mass of protected habitat.

Continued careful research of this woodland ecosystem will be vital as low intensity prescribed burns are reintroduced into the landscape, allowing the CEC to identify an optimal fire regime. Critical canopy species, fire dependant germinators and floral and faunal diversity will be enhanced, while invasive species will be reduced. 

How you can get involved

You can assist our Conservation & Research Team in annual surveys to monitor the koala population and the habitat condition, join in with habitat restoration efforts like the Big Otway Tree Plant and Learn more about volunteering.