Victoria's faunal emblem, the Leadbeater's possum, will keep its critically endangered listing in a move federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley has described as "the only appropriate decision".



Key points: The possum was declared a critically endangered species in 2015

The possum was declared a critically endangered species in 2015 The native timber industry says special buffer zones for the possums are costing it millions of dollars

The native timber industry says special buffer zones for the possums are costing it millions of dollars A review prompted by industry concerns has confirmed the possum's status

The decision will come as a blow to Victoria's native timber industry, which has been under significant environmental and political pressure since the possum was declared critically endangered in 2015, prompting the creation of special logging exclusion zones whenever a possum is detected.

An industry campaign, supported by then-deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, was pushing to reduce the 200-metre buffer zones, but the decision from Ms Ley has thwarted that.

The Environment Department has kept the status quo after a nearly two-year review on the possums' critically endangered status.

"Appropriately, the listing of endangered species is taken on the recommendation of a scientific committee," Ms Ley told AM.

"I have read all of the recommendations that the committee has put towards me, for me, and they've come up with I believe the only appropriate decision."

A 2017 report by the state Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) found the zones were reducing the risk of the possum's extinction — but would cost the timber industry $14.77 million by 2030.

The debate over the possum's impact led to rival counts in Victoria's Central Highlands, where the remaining possums are found, with loggers and environmentalists disputing the abundance of the animals.

The Australian Forest Products Association's (AFPA) CEO, Ross Hampton, said the review which led to the continuation of the possum's critically endangered status had produced "encouraging new evidence" that the possum population was greater than it was understood to be in 2015.

The peak timber body said the review showed "just how little we know about the possum's actual population and range" and called for a "comprehensive population study".

Minister promises to work with timber industry

The fate of the local industry has been up in the air for some time.

Under Premier Daniel Andrews's Government, the amount of harvestable native timber has declined due to sustainability concerns.

There is a push among senior people in the Government to phase out all native timber logging, particularly in the sensitive Central Highlands.

The Government has begun allocating money for major plantations to reduce the long-term need for native logging.

In 2017, the Government took the extraordinary step of buying a timber mill in Heyfield which was threatening to close because of reduced timber supply from the state-run VicForests.

Scientists have also warned that logging in water catchments is damaging Melbourne's long-term water supply.

Strong forests help run-off into major dams but by comparison, areas regrowing after logging suck up much more water.

Ms Ley said the Morrison Government would work with the state Government to implement the Regional Forest Agreement for the Central Highlands.

"We've got a very proud record in securing and protecting our native forests but we do need to make sure that that balance between the timber industry and conservation is a good one and I believe that this listing will contribute to that," Ms Ley said.

"And I look forward to a recovery plan that takes into account the needs of that timber industry."

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) said it was concerned the recovery plans being developed for the marsupial would give too much weight to the needs of the logging industry.

"Recovery plans do not require a balance to be struck between the needs of the endangered species and those of a commercial industry," ACF nature campaigner Jess Abrahams said.

"As the name suggests, recovery plans are about recovering a threatened species from the brink of extinction."