WWF-Australia’s Koalas Forever goal is to reverse the decline of koalas and double koala numbers in the wild on Australia’s east coast by 2050. Listed as Endangered in Qld, NSW and the ACT, koalas face numerous threats, such as human-induced habitat loss and disease.

In 2024, the support of the James Fairfax Foundation has helped to:

• Scale the Koala Friendly Carbon Initiative (KFCI) which will restore 10,000 hectares of vital koala habitat over the next decade. By combining carbon farming with koala conservation, this program offers a win-win solution for landholders, the environment and Australia’s iconic koala population.
  Grow the Koala Corridor in the Northern Rivers region, where wildlife corridors are created through community partnerships, including Traditional Owner groups and Indigenous rangers, rehabilitating degraded landscapes and employing innovative methods like cultural fire practices and planting initiatives to reconnect fragmented habitats. Over 478 hectares of koala habitat have been regenerated with the planting of 91,901 koala food and habitat trees, revegetating 104 hectares. We’ve established 20 new Land for Wildlife Agreements, securing conservation for 1,565 hectares of critical habitat. Community involvement has been a cornerstone of our work, with 14 planting events engaging 295 volunteers and workshops educating 136 landholders on koala health and habitat management.
• Advocate for stronger protections for koalas and their habitats at all levels of government, including the planning for the Great Koala National Park expected to be announced in 2025.

With the help of the James Fairfax Foundation, WWF-Australia is leading efforts to secure the future of koalas. Koalas are culturally significant to Aboriginal Australians and play an ambassadorial role for many species within Australia’s bushland. Protecting koalas also means preserving vital ecosystems and forests that house other vulnerable species.