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54,000 hectares of greater glider habitat in South East Queensland state forest will be transitioned to a new natural capital tenure.
The greater glider (Petauroides volans) is an iconic marsupial, listed as endangered under both Queensland and national environmental laws. A dedicated park is a strategic step towards protecting this species.
The Greater Glider Forest Park areas will expand and link existing but fragmented protected areas, ranging from near Conondale National Park in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland northward through to Cordalba National Park (near Childers) to conserve core greater glider habitat.
Dugong population thriving in far north Queensland
Issued:
28 August 2024
The dugong population is thriving in Far North Queensland based on a report from JCU: James Cook University, Australia tropWATER, showing its home to around 7,000 dugongs (almost double the number reported in central and southern Queensland).
JCU Lead researcher Chris Cleguer said healthy seagrass meadows are essential for dugong survival, with the hungry creatures eating around 40kg daily. "We need to know more about seagrass health across Queensland and how this affects dugongs … this includes offshore seagrass, which we know so little about," he said.
Seagrass is like the backbone of the ocean's food chain. Only a handful of animals can eat its leaves since they're full of cellulose. The lucky few are dugongs, green turtles, sea urchins, and some fish. They're home to loads of tiny seaweed and filter-feeding creatures that provide food for smaller fish. Those little fish then become dinner for the bigger fish too.
Quoll returned to habitat after Brisbane discovery
Issued:
26 July 2024
A spotted-tailed quoll has been released back into habitat after being discovered by a member of the public in mangroves overhanging the Brisbane River.
Build-a-burrow – how the Powrunna translocation project is saving the northern hairy-nosed wombat
Issued:
9 July 2024
The northern hairy-nosed wombat was once on the brink of extinction – here’s your behind-the-scenes look at the exciting project helping to recover the species.
Raine Island Recovery Project features in Planet Earth III
Issued:
28 June 2024
The Raine Island Recovery Project was recently featured in an episode of Sir David Attenborough’s Planet Earth III.
Raine Island supports the world’s largest remaining green turtle nesting population.
Sir David first visited the island in 1957 and saw a green turtle for the first time.
“Little did I know then what hazards that little turtle would have to face, or the extraordinary lengths to which people would go to protect it and its island,” he said.
“In the 66 years since my visit, Raine Island has remained the most important green turtle nesting site on the planet.”
The BBC documentary showcases the important work being undertaken by the Queensland Government and partners to protect and restore the island’s critical habitat and ensure the future of key marine species like green turtles and seabirds.
Northern hairy-nosed wombats relocated to Powrunna
Issued:
6 June 2024
Powrunna State Forest will become Queensland’s third northern hairy-nosed wombat colony as part of a long-term recovery project to increase numbers and reduce the risk of extinction for this critically endangered animal.
Groups to share in more than $625,000 in funding for threatened species action
Issued:
5 June 2024
Seven projects that will contribute to the recovery of threatened species in Queensland will share in more than $625,000 in funding from the Queensland Government.
Some of the species to benefit from the funding include the critically endangered white-throated snapping turtle and the vulnerable long-nosed potoroo.
There's great things happening in Queensland to help protect the endangered Carpentarian grasswren.
These little birds are found in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria region, and depend on a special kind of grassland called spinifex. Sadly, extensive bushfires have caused their populations to decline and become fragmented.
That's where planned burning comes in. By using active fire management techniques, we can make a difference in the conservation of this bird and other wildlife. Prescribed burns are carefully planned and work to control fires in specific areas and prevent their spread. This creates safe havens, known as fire refugia, where animals can find shelter and new homes.
In Queensland, Boodjamulla National Park is the only protected area where Carpentarian grasswren occur. Since 2012, we have been carrying out a proactive burn program to protect biodiversity in the area. The program helps to prevent broadscale bushfires and ensure viable habitat for wildlife.
Ongoing monitoring shows that the Carpentarian grasswren population at Boodjamulla is doing well. By carefully managing fires and creating a variety of fire situations, we're helping these birds survive and keeping the grasslands healthy.
Great Sandy Marine Park zoning plan update
Issued:
21 May 2024
A new zoning plan has commenced for the Great Sandy Marine Park, crafted with extensive input from our community, First Nations peoples, local councils, scientists, and key stakeholders.
These changes are designed to increase protection for threatened species like shorebirds, turtles, dugongs, and grey nurse sharks, as well as to safeguard the marine park’s cultural and amenity values.
The Queensland Government is investing in six research projects focusing on koala protection, habitat conservation, threat mitigation and community partnerships in South East Queensland. These projects led by the The University of Queensland, University of the Sunshine Coast and Watergum Community Inc. aim to support long-term koala conservation.
A recent review of koala habitat protection regulations found them effective but some have not worked as intended. These include a lack of habitat clearing data and misinterpretation of some of the regulations, leading to unintended clearing of koala habitat and unnecessary delays and costs in preparing development applications. In response, the Queensland Government will make improvements to the koala habitat regulations. These changes will be supported by guidance material and the development of a new web-based notification system for interfering with koala habitat which will allow the collection of more accurate habitat clearing data. The changes will also help reduce wait times for landholders requiring development approval and provide greater certainty to developers and property owners.
The population of the critically endangered species at Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) has reached an estimated 400!
Back in 1971, the Queensland Government purchased several properties in the Epping Forest area, near Clermont in Central West Queensland, and turned them into Epping Forest National Park to protect the wombats.
In the early 1980s, the wombats at Epping were the last remaining in the world and numbers dropped to a staggering 35. That prompted the department to begin an intensive research and recovery effort that spanned 40 years!
Fast forward to early 2024, and the population of Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombats at Epping has reached an estimated 400!
The critically endangered species have been brought back from the brink of extinction, and it is a magnificent milestone for ongoing conservation efforts.
Endangered Australian Turtles become the focus of Queensland first survey in Tiaro
Issued:
24 April 2024
Tiaro and District Landcare Group has begun tracking the movements of one of the world’s most vulnerable reptiles, the Mary River turtle, in a project jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
We've secured one of the largest and most environmentally significant land acquisitions in recent history!
In a significant move for conservation, a partnership between the Queensland Government and The Nature Conservancy has led to the purchase of Vergemont Station, a 352,589-hectare cattle grazing property in western Queensland, with plans to transform it into a national park.
The station boasts unique wildlife, including threatened species like the night parrot and the Opalton grasswren. This step is one of the biggest for safeguarding Australian land.
Located at the Lake Eyre Basin's source, the property helps protect a vast tract of land nearly 1.5 million hectares in size. Lake Eyre Basin is one of Queensland’s most important inland river catchments and one of the last remaining free-flowing arid river systems in the world.
This move is part of a larger commitment to grow and care for the region's protected natural areas. While some areas will become a park, small-scale opal mining will still go on to support local industries.
Queensland’s Protected Areas expanded
Issued:
5 April 2024
140 Islands have been added to Queensland's protected areas in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
These islands have a combined size of 1,390 hectares, host ecologically valuable landscapes and are home to endangered animals like flatback turtles and seabirds.
This move further protects these ecosystems and habitats and complements the purchase of a 1,600-hectare property on Curtis Island. The Great Barrier Reef Island Arks project will also fund their rehabilitation such as removing old, dilapidated structures on St Bee Island.
In total, Queensland protects over 14.5 million hectares of land, which is a win for our environment and biodiversity. This work is just another way we are protecting the Reef now and for future generations.
I am the armoured mistfrog
Issued:
2 April 2024
Australia boasts 247 frog species, but over half reside in Queensland! Therefore the Queensland Government is committed to protecting the survival of these amphibians. One in particular, the Armoured mistfrog, faces significant threats and is a conservation concern. The Queensland Government has collaborated with James Cook University and the Western Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation to successfully relocate 50 frogs to a new site in 2023 with another 50 to be translocated this year to ensure the survival of the species.
This project is partly funded by the Foundation for Australia's Most Endangered Species Ltd (FAME) The Department is also investigating approaches to minimise human impacts on the main subpopulation and developing a Recovery Action Plan that identifies the management actions to help the species recover.
In good news, preliminary findings suggest the bilby population at Currawinya National Park is strong and healthy!
A new research project supported by the Queensland Government is tracking the state’s endangered bilby population in a bid to help the species bounce back. The Save the Bilby Fund will collect data on the density of wild bilbies and key threats to their population in several locations with the help of 105 field cameras set up across Queensland. An artificial intelligence program called ‘eVorta’ is assisting the project by automatically identifying images that have bilbies, and those of the introduced predators, feral cats, red foxes and wild dogs, which are the main threats to these adorable creatures. The project is partially funded through a Threatened Species Research Grant from the department which has a longstanding partnership with Save the Bilby Fund.
Recovery plan for critically-endangered Capricorn yellow chat
Issued:
19 March 2024
The Queensland Government is implementing a recovery action plan for the critically-endangered Capricorn yellow chat.
The Capricorn yellow chat is one of Queensland’s rarest birds. It was once thought to be extinct and is now found only in three locations in the Capricorn region.
The action plan aims to protect and conserve the species’ habitat and ensure its survival into the future.
The night parrot is one of the world's rarest and most mysterious birds. It was rediscovered in the late 1990s after over eight decades of silence. There is only 40–500 individuals estimated to be in the wild. There aren't many nocturnal parrot species, make it one of only a few in the world.
In 2017, QPWS wildlife officers and Australian Wildlife Conservancy ecologists made a ground breaking discovery after they heard one in Central West Queensland. More recently, CSIRO successfully sequenced the genome of the critically endangered night parrot, shedding light on its mysterious biology and aiding conservation efforts. Through advanced DNA sequencing techniques, the first annotated night parrot genome provides insights crucial for understanding and preserving this elusive species.
Helping threatened species thrive again after extreme weather
Issued:
8 March 2024
Nine research projects will share in more than $730,000 in funding to enhance the recovery and protection of threatened species including glossy-black cockatoos, seahorses, frogs, brush-tailed rock wallabies, palm cockatoos and the endangered night parrot.
Environmental recovery grants (Biodiversity Conservation) grant recipients
Issued:
28 February 2024
Following the recent rainfall and flooding events of 2021–2022, the Australian Government and Queensland Government have allocated $1.6 million for projects supporting threatened species recovery and resilience in key waterways.
We're thrilled to introduce the Burnett Mary Regional Group for Natural Resource Management (BMRG) as one of the successful grant recipients! BMRG is dedicated to restoring, protecting and enhancing the natural environment of the Burnett Mary Region for generations to come.
BMRG will conduct post-flood baseline ecological assessments of threatened aquatic and invasive species in the Moonaboola (Mary River) catchment. They're teaming up with diverse stakeholders like the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee, Griffith University and Traditional Owners to ensure robust and collaborative science.
The data collected will guide future recovery and resilience efforts for threatened species across the catchment.
The Great Barrier Reef is a world-renowned natural wonder that houses stunning coral formations and a diverse array of marine life. Among the iconic species inhabiting this remarkable ecosystem is the dugong, a gentle giant that plays a crucial role in keeping the Reef’s balance in check.
Historically known as sea cows because of their grazing habits and large, round body shape, dugongs actually share no relation to their bovine doppelgängers. They’re more closely related to elephants than other marine mammals.
Unique as they are, dugongs unfortunately face numerous threats that threaten their survival.
We're thrilled to share that Raine Island National Park was featured in the first episode of Sir David Attenborough's epic Planet Earth III. This is a tremendous testament to the incredible work by QPWS rangers to protect and restore this important sea turtle rookery.
You can help keep koalas safe this breeding season by driving with care—particularly between dusk and dawn—slowing down in koala crossing areas and keeping your eyes on the road at all times. If you're a dog owner, keep your dog inside at night to protect koalas, and teach your dog wildlife-avoidance skills.
The South-East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2020–2025 aims to stabilise koala population numbers in SEQ and secure their long-term survival through habitat protection and restoration, threat management, improved mapping, monitoring and research, and community engagement.
To help inform conservation, the department’s extensive Koala Research and Monitoring Program is collecting koala data across Southeast Queensland. This data is being used to detect trends in koala populations.
If you see a wild koala in Queensland, report it by using the free QWildlife app.
Nangur spiny skinks are critically endangered, with fewer than 2000 individuals remaining across two small South-East Queensland populations.
To conserve both populations of this unique reptile, we've launched a captive breeding program in January 2020 as part of the species recovery action plan. Thanks to the hard work of ecologists, conservation officers, and park rangers, 30 skinks have been born in captivity since the start of the program!
Following the success of the captive breeding program, the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species (FAME) has announced its sponsorship of the program over the next 3 years. This new partnership between the Queensland Government and FAME aims to bring Nangur spiny skinks back from the brink of extinction through captive breeding and improved threat management in the wild.
The Queensland Government is committed to protecting and recovering our unique wildlife species, including the critically endangered Nangur spiny skink. They have invested close to $40 million for enhanced action on threatened species and koalas, as well as $262.5 million to expand and create new protected areas. Let's celebrate this amazing milestone in the conservation of our precious wildlife!
The largest of Australia’s owls, the powerful owl, usually inhabits the moist forests of eastern Australia, including Queensland. You can help protect this magnificent bird by reporting sightings in your area.
Get involved in the "Powerful Owl Project", a citizen science initiative that allows members of the public to conduct surveys and contribute to conservation outcomes. Head to the comments to get started!
