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We provide a comparative analysis of two koala management plans for populations in two Australian municipalities, based on principles of landscape management: Ballarat (Victoria) and Bellingen (New South Wales). A landscape-based approach is required to protect the species, but evaluation of landscape management is limited. We present an assessment framework for evaluating local koala management plans. The plans are evaluated against a common set of principles and criteria, despite very different approaches stemming from context-specific factors. Interestingly, despite a variation in the number of indicators in the plans, the overall results of the evaluation demonstrate a similar level of performance against the criteria, and common strengths and weaknesses. In the absence of consistent standards for the protection of the koala across Australia, the species will continue to decline, and management practices will fail to protect the koala from extinction, as is currently predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the success of the Koala Conservation and Education Program, conducted in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia from 2000-2009 by interviewing 28 individuals, from various stakeholder groups involved in the project. Transcripts were analysed using grounded theory to identify common themes, keywords and phrases. We conclude that the chosen 'flagship' species, the koala, was crucial for the success of the project which culminated in the adoption of the Koala Plan of Management and habitat overlays into the City of Ballarat's planning scheme. Local people were concerned about the koala based on its conservation status nationally and globally rather than because of its local or Victorian status. We conclude that the concept of 'flagship' species in the case of the koala, is more a global than a local construct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]