While not doubting the conviction behind the views expressed in the article "Coastal koalas at risk" ( Merimbula News Weekly, June 10), they are both inaccurate. The threats to the last koala population on the far south coast were acknowledged by the NSW Scientific Committee in 2007. These are development, logging and extensive canopy die-back. Since that time those responsible for the management of National Parks and State forests have totally ignored the threat of die-back, both to koalas and people. If the El Nino results in low rainfall there is no doubt the chances of wildfire are greatly increased. However, the bit both the NPA and FCNSW tend to ignore is the certainty that forests will turn brown if rainfall is too low. This will greatly increase fire intensity. 

Consequently, efforts to connect the remnant population, by protecting areas away from koalas, or 'off-forest' proposals, won't do much to help them.

Although it isn't surprising that FCNSW should hold  unique views on why koalas have declined, it did have a representative on the NSW Scientific committee when it rejected a nomination to list the last koalas an endangered population.

FNSW's 'Koala Code of Practice' has no relevance to the last koala population, however it does suggest community consultation will be undertaken. Despite this claim, FCNSW have recently scheduled for logging several compartments containing critical koala habitat in Murrah State Forest. The last time FCNSW tried this on, back in 2005,  the operations were abandoned due to community protests. At the time FCNSW said it would begin community consultation, but this never occurred. Seems history repeats itself when continuous improvement is not a priority.

Robert Bertram

Bermagui