Nature refuges total 4 million hectares

Nature refuges in Queensland now total more than 4 million hectares with the declaration of 11 new nature refuges on 8 October 2015, Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles announced today.

Dr Miles said the refuges were a partnership between the State Government and landholders to protect important ecosystems and native species on private lands in Queensland.

“This is about working with landholders who want to help protect important ecosystems and native species on their own properties,’ Dr Miles said.

“Our nature refuges now cover an area the size of Switzerland or, closer to home, more than twice the size of Kakadu National Park.

“The size of our nature refuges goes some way towards helping us meet our target of having 17 percent of Queensland declared a protected area by 2035.”

Dr Miles said that since 1994, 497 nature refuge agreements had been established protecting more than 4 million hectares of high value conservation land.

“The landholders, who include private landowners, organisations and Councils, have voluntarily committed to protecting their land for conservation, while allowing compatible and sustainable land uses to continue.”

Managed by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, the Nature Refuges Program gives landholders the opportunity to partner with the Queensland Government to restore and manage the environmental and conservation values of their land.

Ownership of the land remains with the landowner, but a nature refuge agreement with the government provides for the environmental and conservation values of the land to be protected in perpetuity.

“Managing and enlarging the area of Queensland’s protected area estate will increasingly be achieved in collaboration with private organisations and stakeholders,’ Dr Miles said.

“Public and private lands will both be important elements in meeting this target.

“Currently, around 7.7 per cent of the state is protected area, including private lands protected under nature refuge agreements,” Dr Miles said.

The 11 new nature refuges are:

Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Refuge, 13,900 ha in size and located 5km north-west of Cunnamulla

• Bryn Glas Nature Refuge, 5 ha in size and located 24km north-west of Maroochydore
• Cassowary Corridor Nature Refuge, 63 ha in size and located 20km north-west of Cairns
• Fletcher’s Nature Refuge, 9 ha in size and located 53km north-west of Kingaroy
• Garanyali Nature Refuge, 38 ha in size and located 9km north-west of Maleny
• Glen Eagle Nature Refuge, 13,688 ha in size and located 50km south of Mount Garnett
• Hollow Log Nature Refuge, 63.5 ha in size and located 23km south of Kilcoy
• Messmate Nature Refuge, 565 ha in size and located 25km south-west of Ingham
• Mount Mellum Nature Refuge, 40 ha in size and located 5km south-west of Landsborough
• Tuan Environmental Reserve Nature Refuge, 27.2 ha in size and located 5km south-west of Kenilworth
• Wompoo Nature Refuge, 9 ha in size and located 9km north-east of Tully

Further information on the nature refuge program is available at www.ehp.qld.gov.au/ecosystems/nature-refuges/index.html.

ENDS

Media Contact: Neil Doorley 0412 393 909