Autumn 2025 – National Parks Association of NSW

Gliders change their behaviour when their forests are burnt or disturbed

Posted by NPA NSWon February 27, 2025February 25, 2025in Autumn 2025Leave a comment

Dr Jonathon Howard, NPA Executive

Arboreal mammals are important components of healthy ecosystems. The Southern Greater Glider (Petauroides volans), is a species of large gliding marsupial native to the forests of southeastern Australia. It is listed as endangered under the EPBC Act in Australia. Greater Gliders are the largest gliding mammal in the world. They are nocturnal and are solitary, feeding almost exclusively on eucalypt leaves and buds.

Great Koala National Park update

Posted by NPA NSWon February 27, 2025February 25, 2025in Autumn 2025Leave a comment

Gary Dunnett, Chief Executive Officer, NPA NSW

The practicalities of publishing Nature NSW generates a gap of about 2 weeks between final edit and the magazine appearing in inboxes and post boxes. For this edition that gap neatly covers the period over which we expect the NSW Government to announce the final boundaries of the Great Koala National Park (GKNP). This means that you, dear reader, should already know whether our aspirations for the new National Park have been met.

Southern Forests Project – fieldwork update

Posted by NPA NSWon February 27, 2025February 25, 2025in Autumn 2025Leave a comment

Kate Carroll, Conservation Projects Officer, NPA NSW

The Southern Forests National Park is one of NPA’s most ambitious proposals, aiming to secure permanent protection for over 350,000 hectares of public native forests in southeastern NSW. Stretching from Jervis Bay to the Victorian border, this proposal would significantly expand the NPWS estate in the region to approximately 930,000 hectares. These forests, home to gliders, owls, potoroos, and other threatened species, have long been impacted by unsustainable logging and now face ecological collapse. Conserving them within the protected area network is critical for species longevity and survival.

Field trip to Cromer

Posted by NPA NSWon February 26, 2025February 25, 2025in Autumn 2025Leave a comment

Tom Fink, Conny Harris, Grahame Douglas and Helen Wilson

Some of us enjoyed an interesting field trip after the last State Council in Sydney in November. The Sydney Branch organised a visit to some land in Cromer on the Northern Beaches with a mysterious connection to NPA. We met at Little Willandra Rd.

The land isn’t obvious or well signposted and is behind a residential area. A fire had been through recently so it wasn’t at its best. There wasn’t a clear track. Nevertheless, walking through was a journey of discovery about the ecology of a secluded gully. It is mostly Sydney Coastal Sandstone Gully Forest with a small pocket of Illawarra Warm Temperate Forest. We were surprised to find Coachwoods here. Even more interesting was the story of its ownership and role in NPA.

NPA Extreme Heat Policy for Outdoor Activities

Posted by NPA NSWon February 26, 2025February 25, 2025in Autumn 2025Leave a comment

Gary Dunnett, CEO, NPA NSW

Don’t walk in extreme heat and be prepared to change plans if conditions change.

NPA activities generally take place in outdoor settings that are exposed to the weather.

Werrikimbe celebrates 50 Years

Posted by NPA NSWon February 26, 2025February 25, 2025in Autumn 2025Leave a comment

Samantha Newton, Roger Lembit and Kate Boyd

Werrikimbe National Park, located in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, is known for its rich biodiversity and significance in preserving a variety of ecosystems. Its history is intertwined with both the natural environment and its cultural importance to Indigenous peoples, particularly the Gumbaynggirr and Biripi peoples.