Glider Protection Measures

Greater and yellow-bellied gliders conservation overview 

Mainland Queensland is home to two species of glider which are facing significant conservation challenges. These are the greater glider (southern and central), which has been classified as endangered and the yellow-bellied glider (south-eastern subspecies), which has been classified as vulnerable.  

Following the extensive wildfires in 2019-20, these species were uplisted in both the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act). The conservation advice identified threats such as inappropriate fire regimes, climate change, land clearing, fragmentation, and timber harvesting. Notably, the threat from timber harvesting included consideration of the clear-felling practices in southern states that is significantly more intensive than the selective timber harvesting that is practiced in Queensland. 

Glider Risk Assessment 

In response to this advice, DPI commissioned Eco Logical Australia to assess risks associated with gliders and harvesting activities, specifically in Queensland's State-owned forests. The key findings and recommendations can be found in the Greater Glider and Yellow-bellied Glider Risk Assessment. 

About the Glider Protection Measures 

Having considered the findings and recommendations, DPI has developed a comprehensive work program, the Greater Glider and Yellow-bellied Glider Protection Measures for application in State-owned forests.  

This program prioritises short-term Phase 1 actions, including enhanced protections for habitat trees, safeguarding large trees, greater protection of sap feed trees, and providing training. Phase 2 will address longer-term actions, such as key research and monitoring that will further inform decisions around selective harvesting practices.  

All proposed actions enhance existing measures applied in State-owned forests and detailed in the Code of practice for native forest timber production on Queensland’s State Forest Estate 2020.