Published Thursday, 06 September, 2007 at 10:28 AM
Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
EPA STEPS UP WAR AGAINST FERAL PIGS
The war against feral pigs area will be stepped up with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contributing an additional $150,000 over the next two years to support feral pig management on private properties adjacent to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the funding - $75,000 for each of the next two years - would go to Terrain Natural Resource Management to support their feral pig trapping activities.
“Terrain Natural Resource Management has elected to use the money in the Herbert River Catchment area which will complement the EPA’s program on protected estate in the Wet Tropics,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“It is clear proof of the EPA’s strong commitment to neighbouring landowners to manage the feral pig problem.
“This funding to Terrain Natural Resource Management will provide a broad approach to feral pig management on and off protected estates.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said in addition to the day to day feral pig management by park rangers, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) were also carrying out a three-month trial feral pig management program in the Wet Tropics area using experienced external contractors.
“This is designed to complement the efforts of Terrain Natural Resource Management and QPWS rangers to capture, humanely destroy and remove pigs from protected area estate, and to provide further data about feral pig numbers.
“The dedicated funding will enable Terrain National Resource Management to not only identify any ‘hot spots’ of activity, but also augment existing feral pig management efforts.
“In line with its strong support for feral pig management outside the protected estate QPWS recently more than doubled to 37 the number of traps it makes available free of charge to neighbouring landowners.
“The Environmental Protection Agency takes feral pig control very seriously and remains committed to working in partnership with the community,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
Media contact: 3336 8002
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the funding - $75,000 for each of the next two years - would go to Terrain Natural Resource Management to support their feral pig trapping activities.
“Terrain Natural Resource Management has elected to use the money in the Herbert River Catchment area which will complement the EPA’s program on protected estate in the Wet Tropics,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“It is clear proof of the EPA’s strong commitment to neighbouring landowners to manage the feral pig problem.
“This funding to Terrain Natural Resource Management will provide a broad approach to feral pig management on and off protected estates.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said in addition to the day to day feral pig management by park rangers, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) were also carrying out a three-month trial feral pig management program in the Wet Tropics area using experienced external contractors.
“This is designed to complement the efforts of Terrain Natural Resource Management and QPWS rangers to capture, humanely destroy and remove pigs from protected area estate, and to provide further data about feral pig numbers.
“The dedicated funding will enable Terrain National Resource Management to not only identify any ‘hot spots’ of activity, but also augment existing feral pig management efforts.
“In line with its strong support for feral pig management outside the protected estate QPWS recently more than doubled to 37 the number of traps it makes available free of charge to neighbouring landowners.
“The Environmental Protection Agency takes feral pig control very seriously and remains committed to working in partnership with the community,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
Media contact: 3336 8002