Abstract
At Eden eucalypt forests are managed for the integrated production of pulpwood and sawlogs. During the 1st rotation alternate coupes are being logged on 40-50 yr cutting cycle with corridors and patches of mature forest retained along creeks, in gullies and on steep or rocky slopes. Although these remnants of mature forest benefit wildlife, their shape and size limits their use in sustaining viable populations of some species dependent upon mature forest. The species most affected are those which the theory of central place foraging predicts would be affected by small patch size and linear environments. These include large animals, carnivores, animals which require multiple, non-interchangeable resources and social animals. Ways in which remnants can be improved for the conservation of such fauna are to buffer core areas by maximizing their size or width, by locating the boundaries of corridors along ecological boundaries, by linking remnants within a network of reserves and corridors, and to enhance the size of remnants by logging selected areas on a longer cutting cycle than the rest of the forest. The areas to be managed on a long rotation should be selected for their biological importance (eg high diversity of wildlife, presence of endangered species) and for their role as 'stepping-stones' along corridors between permanent reserves.
