More than a million hectares of land has been added to Queensland’s protected area estate for conservation since 2015.
This significant achievement is being celebrated as part of ‘Biodiversity Month’ (September) and Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch says it is an important milestone.
"Queensland has a lot to celebrate when it comes to conservation, with the state’s protected area estate increasing by more than one million hectares under this government to 8.2% of the entire state," Ms Enoch said.
"Queensland’s protected area estate is now more than 14 million hectares. To put that into context it is more than twice the size of Tasmania.
"Over the last four months, 17 new nature refuges have been declared across the state, protecting a total of 47,000 hectares.
"A further 319 hectares of land has been added to Magnetic Island National Park in northern Queensland and Great Sandy National Park in southeast Queensland.
"The state also received a generous gift of three parcels of land totalling 390 hectares from a Darling Downs family, which has been added to Mount Dumaresq Conservation Park.
"By growing our protected area estate in Queensland, we are delivering maximum environmental gain.
"It is a practical approach to protecting the state’s native biodiversity including migratory birds, frogs, fish, turtles and other threatened species."
Ms Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government was addressing key challenges and pressures affecting biodiversity and climate, giving nature and wildlife a helping hand.
"Queensland is widely considered a biodiversity ‘hotspot’, and protected areas like national parks and nature refuges provide a safe-haven for a range of native species.
"Our state’s vast landscapecontains a huge number of plant and animal species as well as different ecosystems such as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs," she said.
