MEDIA RELEASE 9 June 2026

NEFA has found the nationally Endangered Kate’s Leaf-tailed Gecko within a logging area in Mount Belmore State Forest (on the Richmond Range south west of Casino). This discovery legally requires that the Forestry Corporation must immediately stop forestry operations until the EPA identify how it is to be protected.

Kate’s Leaf-tailed Gecko is restricted to the southern Richmond Range, one of the variety of endemic species found in the proposed Richmond River Koala Parks. Its entire extent was burnt in the 2019/20 wildfires, with over half the population estimated to have been killed, resulting in its being listed as Endangered under national legislation in September 2023 and under State legislation in August 2024.

Despite the listing of Kate’s Leaf-tailed Gecko as Endangered the Forestry Corporation have ignored its existence and continued to road and log its habitat because legally they are not required to do anything until it is found within 100 metres of their forestry operation, NEFA spokesperson Dailan Pugh said.

“If you don’t look you don’t find, if you don’t find you don’t protect.

“The EPA is meant to be the overseer, though have turned a blind eye.

“Given the abundant evidence that Kate’s Leaf-tailed Gecko was likely to be within the Mount Belmore area where the Forestry Corporation have been roading preparatory to logging, NEFA undertook a brief visit on 3 June 2026, and within an hour after dark identified 3 adults and 2 juveniles on a rock outcrop within the logging area.

“Once again citizen science surveys have had to identify the presence of an Endangered species because the government agencies entrusted with their protection failed their responsibilities.

“We have now asked the EPA to ensure that all forestry operations immediately stop until the EPA has met its legal obligation to provide Forestry Corporation with a site-specific biodiversity condition for Kate’s Leaf-tailed Gecko.

“We have also asked the EPA to request that logging is stopped in potential habitat in the nearby Cherry Tree State Forest until surveys have been undertaken to see whether Kate’s Leaf-tailed Gecko is present.

“The Forestry Corporation have locked the public out of Cherry Tree State Forest for years, so its up to the EPA to do their job” Mr. Pugh said

For further information see: ‘The Fate of Kate’s Leaf-tailed Gecko’