SYDNEY - Nestled in old eucalyptus forests in Australia's New South Wales region, an estimated 15 per cent of the state’s dwindling koala population is set to win some protection from as early as 2025, but environmentalists say that might be too late.

To shore up the habitat of these iconic Australian animals, the state government plans to merge 315,000ha of national park and public forest land into the Great Koala National Park (GKNP), covering an area twice the size of London.