Published Thursday, 12 June, 2025 at 02:47 PM

Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew Powell

Land Restoration Fund commits $18 million to new environmental projects

More than $18 million committed for eight new projects through the Land Restoration Fund.
Projects delivered over 315,400 hectares of land throughout Queensland.
The projects expected to capture or abate over 180,000 tonnes of carbon in their lifetime.

The Crisafulli Government is empowering farmers and landholders to be environmental stewards of their land with a new round of grants through the Land Restoration Fund.

More than $18 million will fund eight new projects that will generate Australian Carbon Credit Units in addition to delivering important environmental outcomes, including improved water quality for the Great Barrier Reef and the protection of threatened species and ecosystems.

These projects will collectively span over 315,400 hectares of Queensland’s diverse landscapes – from Cape York to the Wet Tropics and beyond to the North Burnett and Southwest Queensland.

They are set to prevent more than 180,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere and will enhance our natural environment, create job opportunities, support environmental stewardship, and provide economic benefits for the regions.

Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said the newly contracted projects will provide a range of environmental and economic benefits.

“The Land Restoration Fund is one of a suite of government programs providing financial rewards to farmers and landholders who sustainably manage their natural assets,” Minister Powell said.

“Land Restoration Fund projects also support training opportunities and jobs for local communities, such as plant operators, project managers, scientists and ecologists, and roles on Country for Indigenous Rangers.

“With the projects running over many years – ranging from five to 16 years – they are set to have a long-term positive impact on communities.

“Not only will these projects create carbon credits, support landholders to be environmental stewards, but they will also benefit threatened species and ecosystems and improve habitat connectivity.”

To learn more about the Land Restoration Fund: The Land Restoration Fund | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Fiona Crawford – 0417700363

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Project title	Funding	Description
The Babinda Swamp Forest Restoration Project	$1.5 million	This project is a 10-year, $1.5 million collaboration between the Queensland Government and Landscape Ecological Services Pty Ltd. The project aims to restore 35 hectares of endangered ecosystems, wetland vegetation and threatened species habitat, while delivering socio-economic co-benefits by upskilling and employing regional workers, bringing new income streams to the community, and building local expertise in delivering environmental projects.
The Rainforest Restoration to Join World Heritage Listed Maalan and Wooroonooran National Parks Project	$1.905 million	The Rainforest Restoration to Join World Heritage Listed Maalan and Wooroonooran National Parks Project is a 16-year, $1.905 million collaboration between the Queensland Government and South Endeavour Trust. The project will replant 35 hectares of endangered high-altitude rainforest on the Atherton Tablelands to create a wildlife corridor between the Maalan and Wooroonooran National Parks, benefiting threatened and near threatened species, restoring riparian vegetation within the Great Barrier Reef catchment, and providing jobs for First Nations people.
Drysdale Family Nature Legacy	$1.54 million	The Drysdale Family Nature Legacy Project is a 5-year, $1.54 million collaboration between the Queensland Government, GreenCollar, and the Drysdale family. The project aims to regenerate and retain native vegetation including threatened ecosystems where Gidgee and Brigalow Regional Ecosystems meet. The project aims to restore native vegetation through improved grazing management practices, to restore and enhance suitable koala habitat and habitat next to the Parrattamow Creek Nature Refuge, and to strengthen on-farm financial resilience for future generations.
The Restoration of High-altitude Cloud Forest for Threatened Species and Connectivity - Atherton Tablelands Project	$1.224 million	This project is a 16-year, $1.224 million collaboration between the Queensland Government and the Wintergreen Capital Trust. It aims to restore full rainforest cover in the Upper Barron by closing two gaps in a large contiguous area of high-altitude rainforest. The project will benefit threatened and near-threatened species, restore riparian vegetation within the Great Barrier Reef catchment, and provide jobs for First Nations people.
The Rainforest Restoration to part complete a corridor between Tumoulin and Maalan National Parks Project	$1.41 million	The Rainforest Restoration to part complete a corridor between Tumoulin and Maalan National Parks Project is a 16-year, $1.41 million collaboration between the Queensland Government and Emerald Forest Land Pty Limited as trustee for the Emerald Forest Land Trust. The project aims to contribute to the restoration of a priority wildlife corridor between Tumoulin and Maalan National Parks on the Southern Atherton Tablelands. This will involve the planting of 75,000 trees over 22 hectares of historically cleared rainforest. The project will benefit a range of threatened species including Cassowary, Spotted-tail Quoll, Lemuroid Ringtail Possum, and a number of threatened rainforest frog species.
The Tranquillity Upper Daintree Restoration Project	$1.38 million	The Tranquillity Upper Daintree Restoration Project is a 15-year, $1.38 million collaboration between the Queensland Government and Rainforest Rescue. The project aims to restore approximately 30 hectares of historically cleared land in the World Heritage Upper Daintree. The rainforest species planted for the project will be collected from the Rainforest Rescue portfolio of properties in the Daintree and propagated at their Cow Bay Nursery. The plantings will restore ecosystems and create new habitat for wildlife while sequestering carbon and delivering environmental co-benefits. Rainforest Rescue will partner with Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation to deliver training and employment opportunities that will support their organisational plans and restoration goals.
The Oriners - Sefton Culture Carbon & Co-Benefits Savanna Burning Project	$6.56 million	The Oriners - Sefton Culture Carbon & Co-Benefits Savanna Burning Project is a 6-year, $6.56 million collaboration between the Queensland Government and Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council. The project aims to improve the ecological condition of wetlands, threatened species habitat, threatened ecosystems and native vegetation while upskilling Indigenous employees and creating opportunities to work on Country through the delivery of fire management activities. The project will carry out baseline biodiversity inventory and feral animal management and will measure and verify its outcomes using the Accounting for Nature ‘savanna condition’ method.
The Lochern Avoided Clearing Land Restoration Fund Project	$2.8 million	The Lochern Avoided Clearing Land Restoration Fund Project is a 5-year, $2.8 million collaboration between the Queensland Government and GreenCollar. The project aims to protect 1,937 hectares of native vegetation, including state and regionally significant biodiversity corridors, that has historically been cleared. By retaining and regenerating native vegetation, the project aims to improve the condition of threatened ecosystems, and improve landscape connectivity, while strengthening financial resilience for the property’s landholders through diversification of on-farm income.