Queensland's Protected Area Strategy 2022 Report Card
The Queensland Government is reporting annually on our progress in implementing Queensland’s Protected Area Strategy 2020–2030.
The second report, Queensland’s Protected Area Strategy 2022 Report Card , outlines what has been achieved during the 12-month period 1 October 2021–30 September 2022, and measures progress being made against the strategic priorities.
Key achievements for 2021–22 include:
- Utilising strategic partnerships to leverage public and private funding to maximise outcomes for growing the protected area estate. Properties acquired include The Lakes, a 35,300-hectare grazing property north of Hughenden; and Bramwell and Richardson Stations, two former cattle properties in north Queensland comprising over 131,900 hectares of land.
- Declaring 12 new nature refuges, which will protect habitat for threatened species such as the southern cassowary, glossy black-cockatoo and koala; and supporting nature refuge landholders through the provision of programs and grants for conservation activities on their nature refuge.
- Continuing to enable First Nations peoples’ co-stewardship, including returning land to Traditional Owners on Cape York Peninsula with joint management arrangements agreed over two national parks (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal land); and supporting 14 First Nations communities in Queensland to deliver outcomes for Country under the Looking after Country grant program, with funding going directly to First Nations-led projects.
- Continuing to support the protection and recovery of threatened species, with outcomes to date including developing a Threatened Species Prioritisation Framework with CSIRO, improved threatened species monitoring and conservation planning, and working with partners to deliver key on-ground recovery actions for key species.
- On-park management that delivered enhanced visitor experiences and improved visitor safety, including upgrades and repairs to visitor facilities and restoration of flood-affected national parks; creation of two new camping areas in Girraween National Park; improved fire management capabilities; and ongoing implementation of adaptive park management to drive continuous improvement in the way our parks are managed.
- Developing and delivering world-class visitor experiences to build the community’s engagement and connection with nature and protected areas, including the opening of a new immersive education room at Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre and upgrades to the wildlife and visitor centre; and continuing work to develop a new ecotourism plan for Queensland’s protected areas and to deliver the Queensland Ecotourism Trails program.