From 22 August to 9 October, independent experts conducted a survey on local flying fox knowledge.

Project overview

This survey is being done as part of a 10-year review of Sunshine Coast Council's Regional Flying Fox Management Plan (RFFMP) and the broader flying-fox program.

To inform the 10-year review, we have engaged UniSC researchers to evaluate our conservation management communication and awareness campaigns.

The review seeks to examine if our existing communication activities have achieved program aims in our RFFMP.

The online survey seeks our community's view on human-wildlife (flying foxes) interactions, awareness of council's flying-fox campaigns, and their understanding and opinions on flying foxes.

This project is funded by the Sunshine Coast Environment Levy and the Queensland State Government Department of Environment and Science Flying Fox Roost Management – Local Government Grants Program (Round 1).

Next steps

The results will now be evaluated. Recommendations will be made to council on how to improve future flying fox communication to our Sunshine Coast community.

Background

The public are a vital component of any natural resource management program.

Diverse, responsive, purposeful, and well-planned strategies can stimulate environmentally aware public and meet specific management-related aims.

An essential element for successful conservation initiatives, policy and practice is gaining an understanding of human attitudes towards wildlife.

In addition, awareness programs that evaluate and incorporate social perception are crucial.

As resources are finite, effective management and monitoring towards achieving program aims is vital.

This research aims to increase understanding of local resident awareness and opinions of Sunshine Coast flying-fox communication and program management.

Find out more about council's flying fox program at https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Environment/N...