- Eighty nature refuges across Queensland will receive grants up to $25,000 to protect native species and habitats
- The projects include weed and pest management, habitat restoration, erosion control, and the protection of important cultural sites
- It adds to a record spend to expand and create new protected areas across the state by the Palaszczuk Government
The owners of 80 nature refuges across Queensland will share in almost $1.1 million in the latest round of the Palaszczuk Government’s Nature Refuge Landholder Grants Program.
Queensland is home to the largest network of nature refuges – privately-owned protected areas – in Australia, covering some 4.6 million hectares
These properties protect a diversity of ecosystems and threatened species, complementing Queensland’s existing national park system.
The Nature Refuge Landholder Grants Program supports landholders who are actively working to conserve and manage their properties.
Funding will this year help owners in the fight against weeds and pests, as well as restore habitats and protect important cultural and environmental sites.
Quotes attributable to Environment Minister Leanne Linard:
“Our national parks, nature refuges, and other protected areas combined cover 14.5 million hectares – that’s an area double the size of Tasmania.
“A big part of that is thanks to the generosity of land owners who have nominated parts of their land with high conservation value as nature refuges.
“Nature refuge owners deserve every bit of praise for their love for the environment, and this funding is critical to helping them look after the local ecosystems and animals they’ve chosen to protect.
“From fire management to weed eradication, wildlife fencing and tree hollow habitats, this funding will have a huge impact on natures refuges stretching from Cape York to the border.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to expanding Queensland’s protected area estate and is investing a record $262.5 million to make that happen.”
