One-third of the Earth's landmass is covered in luscious, green forests and are home to two-thirds of living organisms yet human activity continues to diminish and threaten such areas, especially in Australia. A WWF analysis concluded that more than 80% of deforestation between now and 2030 - up to 170 million hectares - is expected to take place in 11 deforestation "fronts" with one of them being in Australia. This has a dangerous effect on those organisms that rely on these forests as their home. In 2012, koalas were listed as "vulnerable to extinction" under the EPBC Act due to the large-scale destruction of their habitat. This was the result of abysmal protection of koala habitats when there should have been an increase in protection. The koala continues to face substantial threat from the effects of tree-clearing and urbanization, resulting in a fragmented environment that koalas are extremely sensitive to. Koalas are mainly sighted across the City of Logan where there are vast areas of koala habitat, especially towards the eastern suburbs of the city including Carbook, Daisy Hill, Shailer Park, Priestdale and Cornubia. Logan is one of Queensland's fastest growing cities and is expected to grow by more than 200,000 residents over the next 20 years. Shailer Park, in particular, is known as a major centre accommodating high urbanized forms and amenities. Since the Logan Hyperdome development, many other developments have taken place and it can be assumed that based on this, Shailer Park will continue to expand and urbanization will put immense pressure on the natural environment.

Strategic Plan - Phase 1

Phase 1 of The Koala Project Strategic Plan involves preparation of the landscape and planning for any future phasing. Tactics will include preparing the landscape by weeding and replacing soil where necessary to accommodate for new vegetation to be planted. This will take place within the vicinity of residential patches to further promote the mutualism concept as well as patches of fragmented habitat.

Strategic Plan - Phase 2

The second phase includes engagement strategies to get the community's attention and gain awareness for the issues at hand. This phase will see the beginning of community planting days. Occurring within fragmented residential and vegetation patches, these planting days will, in the long run, bring koalas closer to humans while increasing koala habitat. In conjunction with these factors, community planting days will promote community engagement and offer awareness to the local community and beyond where they are actively involved in making a difference.

Strategic Plan - Phase 3

Phase 3, and the final stage in this strategic plan focuses on koala protection techniques to maintain and protect koala habitat. These will include physical protection barriers around the trees to prevent clearing as well as barriers along major roads and highways to prevent koalas from crossing busy roads. Thick vegetation buffers will also achieve this. A major tactic includes liaising with the state government to tighten their clearing laws. A major factor into the extensive destruction of koala habitats are the weak clearing laws that have been implemented by the government. This can be achieved by encouraging the community to write letters to council as they would have a new-found appreciation and awareness by this phase.

Shailer Park Vision

The vision for Shailer Park is to create an inclusive environment where koalas and humans can coexist in a protected sanctuary with little to no disturbance from each other. Humans will have a new-found appreciation for the city's most cherished species and koalas are able to thrive with protection from clearing and urbanization