Creating Glideways for the Southern Greater Glider

in the Wombeyan Reserve, New South Wales

Once common in eucalypt forests along Australia's east coast,
the Southern Greater Glider has experienced population declines of up to 80% in some areas over the last 20 years.

To ensure the survival of these extraordinary gliders, we’re partnering with the
Great Eastern Ranges Initiative and their partners in the Kanangra-Boyd to Wyangala Link
on a project to restore habitats and enable glider movements in the Wombeyan Caves district of the Great Blue Mountains. By enhancing habitat connectivity through corridor plantings, infilling with feed species and creation of new tree hollows, we aim to help gliders adapt,
cover and survive.

EPBC:

Endangered

IUCN:

Vulnerable

Threats:

Project Location:
Wombeyan Reserve, NSW

The Project

This critical project aims to restore and reconnect habitat corridors for the endangered Southern Greater Glider in Wombeyan Reserve, New South Wales. Through ecological modelling, community and landholder engagement, and practical conservation such as nest boxes and revegetation, we aim to safeguard the species and support its long-term survival.

Why we need to act

The Southern Greater Glider (Petauroides volans) is one of Australia’s most enchanting creatures, effortlessly gliding through the treetops with its distinctive fluffy ears and graceful movements. These nocturnal marsupials are quiet guardians of the forest, their presence once a familiar sight in the night sky. As the largest gliding possum, they can cover distances of up to 100 metres in a single leap, relying on their large tail and wing-like membranes to navigate through the canopy.

This species depends on large, old-growth trees with multiple hollows for shelter, but deforestation and land clearing are rapidly reducing suitable habitats. Without immediate conservation efforts, the future of the Southern Greater Glider is at serious risk.

Threats to the species

Habitat destruction: Logging and land clearing have significantly reducedthe availability of old-growth trees essential for shelter.

Climate change: Rising temperatures and altered weather patterns affectfood availability and increase stress on glider populations.

Bushfires: More frequent and severe bushfires destroy critical habitats andfood sources.

Solution and approach

FAME's project focuses on several key actions to restore and reconnect critical

habitats for the Southern Greater Glider population:

Connectivity and Habitat Modelling: Using advanced spatial analysis and ecological modelling, we are identifying key habitat corridors essential for the movement and survival of the Southern Greater Glider. This includes mapping mature habitat trees, assessing vegetation quality, and determining
Validation and Works Co-Design: Collaborating with ecologists and landholders to validate habitat models and refine conservation strategies. This process ensures that on-ground works, such as revegetation, habitat enhancement, and connectivity improvements, are tailored to the species’ needs and grounded in both science and local knowledge.
Community Engagement: Raising awareness and fostering participation through workshops, citizen science programs, educational initiatives and engagement with Traditional Owners. By involving the broader community, we aim to build local stewardship and encourage actions that support the conservation of the Southern Greater Glider in both urban and rural landscapes.
Landholder Engagement: Working directly with private landholders to promote habitat-friendly land management practices. This includes offering guidance on retaining old-growth trees, planting native vegetation, and implementing measures that reduce threats such as barbed wire fence removal, habitat fragmentation, logging, and fire impacts.
On-Ground Conservation Activities: Implementing practical conservation actions, such as installing nest boxes to compensate for habitat loss, restoring degraded forests, and protecting key glider populations. These efforts are critical for ensuring long-term survival by enhancing available habitat and reducing environmental pressures.
Acoustic Sensor Deployment: Deploying solar-powered sensors to track Southern Greater Glider populations through calls by gliders and similar hollow dependent species. These sensors allow for non-invasive, large-scale monitoring and help guide future conservation efforts based on real-time data.