Gliders

Glider conservation

The greater glider (southern and central) was reclassified from vulnerable to endangered, and the yellow-bellied glider (south-eastern subspecies) was listed as vulnerable under both:

• Nature Conservation Act 1992 in 2021
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) in 2022.

Key threats to greater gliders and yellow-bellied gliders, under the EPBC Act conservation advice, include:

• inappropriate fire regimes
• climate change
• land clearing
• fragmentation
• timber harvesting.

The advice considers the more intensive clear-felling practices used in southern states, which are not used in Queensland.

The Code of Practice for Native Forest Timber Production on Queensland's State Forest Estate 2020 (PDF, 4.33MB) (the Code) outlines specific measures to protect gliders and preserve their habitats. These include robust safeguards for trees with hollows, which are a crucial habitat requirement for greater gliders.

Glider risk assessment

The Greater Glider and Yellow-bellied Glider Risk Assessment, prepared by Eco Logical Australia, was developed to:

• provide an understanding of potential risks from the interaction between gliders, their habitat and harvesting
• identify possible ways to reduce those risks.

Key findings

The risk assessment confirmed:

• state forests, managed for selective timber harvesting, crucially conserve gliders by preserving extensive habitat, ensuring the ongoing survival and protection of both glider species
• requirements under the Code are likely to protect foraging and nesting trees
• areas affected by multiple fires or historical timber harvests may lack sufficient nesting resources
• forage trees (used for sap, blossom or foliage) are critical for gliders
• timber harvesting identified as a potential risk to gliders may overlap with glider habitat, but increased protection of larger trees is likely to benefit both species.

Options to reduce glider risk

The risk assessment identified 5 key options to help reduce potential impacts:

• improve protection of habitat at a landscape scale
• enhance nesting and foraging resources
• assess harvest data to support improved management
• share knowledge with others
• acquire further knowledge on glider habitat needs.

Glider protection measures

We proactively commissioned the Glider Risk Assessment to better understand and address glider habitat risks.

We are implementing priority actions to address key findings, whilst also working on long-term options to further enhance conservation and glider recovery. These options require more detailed development before implementation. These will add to the protections already in place under the Code.

To support gliders, we commit to:

• retain all live habitat trees and more recruitment habitat trees
• increase the number of large trees retained
• improve how we select trees for habitat
• retain all sap feed trees
• continue and expand staff training and awareness
• share findings with the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI).

Visit the Glider Protection Measures Engagement Hub to watch a recorded presentation on the Glider Protection Measures.

Contact us

Email ForestryEngagement@dpi.qld.gov.au