Eastern Pygmy Possum monitoring program

Project Description

Innovation in Conservation Symposium – May 10, 2024 – Ryde TAFE

Eastern Pygmy Possum monitoring program- Chelsea Costello

Ecologist Chelsea Castello from Ku-ring-gai Council shares insights from a long-term monitoring project for the eastern pygmy possum, a vulnerable pollinator species living in Sydney’s bushland corridors.

Using nest boxes, cameras, and community partnerships, the program has revealed where pygmy possums are persisting, how they use supplementary habitat, and the importance of key food plants like Banksia ericifolia.

This case study reflects SERA National Standards principles—combining monitoring, supplementary habitat, and adaptive management to support species persistence in fragmented landscapes. It also shows the value of community engagement in resilience-based restoration.