Value of reserved habitat for mammal conservation in plantations

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Abstract
Results are presented from a three year study of the principles governing persistence of native and introduced mammals in isolated forest areas within pine plantations and cleared farmland in an 82 000 ha region of Gippsland, Victoria. This research demonstrated that systems of retained natural forest within cleared land and plantations have a vital role to play in the conservation of mammal species, particularly those which are sensitive to habitat alteration. The value of isolated areas of native vegetation varied according to their size; most species were present in a 1771 ha isolate while isolates of 50 to 100 ha contained approximately 50 per cent of the extant mammal species in the region. Disturbance, particularly grazing by introduced herbivores, appeared to reduce the conservation value of small areas for many mammal species. The study indicated that short-term conservation of the mammal species in the study region could be achieved by retaining a system of 20 000 ha reserves representing all habitat types in the region; the linking of these with corridors of habitat would increase their long-term value for some species such as the sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps. Corridors are most likely to be important for the most sensitive species, such as the greater glider, Petauroides volans.