Endangered Glider spotted at Deongwar as calls for conservation grow
Momentum to permanently conserve Deongwar is growing after locals gathered for a weekend of citizen science, documenting unique animals like the greater glider that call the state forest home.
More than 40 people took part in the ‘Bioblitz’ survey in the forest near Esk on Saturday, using the iNaturalist phone app to record hundreds of observations.
“We found many unique plants and animals in a spotlighting walk on Saturday night, and even spotted an endangered greater glider,” Queensland Conservation Council Nature Organiser Hayley Troupe said.
“These amazing animals live solely in the trees, they are the largest gliding possum and their survival depends on protection of habitat like Deongwar.”
Deongwar State Forest, on the lands of the Dungibara People, contains 4700 hectares of intact, high conservation value, remnant native forest.
It’s home to 146 protected native animals including the long-nosed potoroo, powerful owl, black-breasted button-quail, brush-tailed rock wallaby, white-throated needletail, glossy-black cockatoo, red tailed- cockatoo, koala and greater glider.
Logging officially stopped at Deongwar at the end of March 2024 and now attention is focused on officially converting the land to conservation.
The Queensland Government must publicly confirm the end-date of native forest logging on public land in the South East Queensland planning region and seek community input on determining future land use.
Dungibara Traditional Owner Peta May said she was happy the permanent protection of Deongwar could be achieved “in my lifetime”.
“The logging of State Forests such as Deongwar for the last 100 years will leave a scar on the landscape forever. However, we now have the chance to move forward and begin the healing process in these protected areas,”she said.
“Consultation and facilitation by Traditional Owners will be a crucial aspect of this healing.”
Save Deongwar State Forest coordinator Max Fulham said “after a long history of commercial exploitation Deongwar is now poised to be permanently protected”.
“Growing this forest back to maturity will enable it to achieve its full potential to provide the ecological resources necessary to secure a future for our large parrots, owls, gliders and koalas.”
Darling Downs Environmental Council coordinator Ahri Tallon said many of the group’s members took part in Saturday’s BioBlitz.
”There is a lot of support from our supporters and member groups to see Deongwar transition into a protected area to support endangered species such as the Greater Glider and provide a cooler temperature habitat to animals in the region”.
Protect Beautiful Queensland’s goal is to double the state’s protected area estate in well managed parks that will give more people access to the nature they love.
Quote attributable to Protect Beautiful Queensland Alliance member, Outdoors Queensland Executive Officer Dom Courtney
Queenslanders love our great outdoors. We go outside to play, learn, heal and live. We are privileged to live in this wonderful part of the world, and it is our duty to look after it.”
Quote attributable to Protect Beautiful Queensland Alliance member, National Park Association of Queensland Chief Executive Officer Chris Thomas
“Protecting Queensland’s natural areas in well managed parks is the best gift we can give to future generations. Deongwar is much loved and used by the local community, and conserving it will give even more people the opportunity to spend time here.”
