Flying-fox project to improve SEQ landscape resilience to climate change

Flying-foxes are a vital component of the SEQ landscape.

During their night-time excursions in search of fruit and flowers, flying-foxes disperse seed and transfer pollen; performing a vital service for the region’s forests. Eucalypts in particular rely on flying-foxes for cross-pollination, and produce most of their nectar and pollen at night, specifically to attract flying-foxes. The larger size of flying-foxes and the greater distances they travel (up to 50km a night and up to 400km over consecutive nights) mean they can disperse larger seeds, can carry smaller seeds further and can transfer pollen across the large areas of the landscape; this is a unique and highly specialised role.

Development and changed land-use in the SEQ region and elsewhere has led to fewer available habitat areas and regular monitoring of day-time roosts or camps had shown a decline in flying-fox numbers; the grey-headed flying-fox is now listed nationally as vulnerable.

The two-year “Improving landscape resilience to climate change in SEQ: the flying-fox roost & forage conservation pilot project” aims to improve landscape-level ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change through protecting, restoring and enhancing five roost sites and surrounding habitat for flying-foxes in SEQ.

The project is supported by the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program, with substantial contributions from project partners.

Current project partners include:

It is anticipated that as the project progresses and gains momentum, it will gain additional further project partners.

The project combines substantial community engagement activities with on-ground works to restore and enhance flying-fox habitat. These activities benefit local sites and communities, and due to the role and range of flying-foxes and the project's linkages with state-wide strategies, potentially large natural areas of SEQ’s coast and catchments and also other communities outside the SEQ region.

The project will implement priority actions identified in:

  • the Queensland Department of Environment & Resource Management’s draft ‘Queensland flying-fox education strategy’;
  • Brisbane City Council’s draft Conservation Action Statement for flying-foxes; and
  • the draft South East Queensland 'Back on Track' Biodiversity Action Plan.

Target areas for project activities have been identified through a combination of GIS analysis, research information and community capacity.

The project’s community engagement and awareness activities include:

  • development of a school education kit and integration into local schools
  • revision of existing adult educational material on flying-foxes
  • community awareness events and presentations
  • planting days on public land
  • training workshops on roost site monitoring and flying-fox care
  • bush regenerator masterclass to improve restoration techniques and management near roost sites
  • public forum to establish current knowledge and identify knowledge gaps for planning and management of flying-foxes, particularly urban roosts
  • publication of all materials on the internet to encourage widespread use and implementation

On-ground works will improve habitat at five roost sites and increase the extent and condition of foraging habitat in areas surrounding these roost sites.

Project activities are guided by a steering group comprising project partners and other relevant stakeholders. Project management and coordination is being undertaken by SEQ Catchments.

For further information on the project, please contact Liz Gould, SEQ Catchments, phone 3816 9723 or 0400 748 157; email lgould@seqcatchments.com.au.

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