Significant funding is on the way to Sunshine Coast landowners with nature refuges, to help them protect native species and habitats.
Almost $1.1 million has been dedicated to 80 nature refuges in Queensland, via the latest round of the State 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 the state’s existing national park system.
The grants program supports landholders who are actively working to conserve and manage their properties.
Among the funds dedicated to nature refuges on the Sunshine Coast is a boost of almost $14,000 to the Manduka Nature Refuge at North Maleny, to fund bush regeneration works, native regeneration encouragement and weed control.
Environment Minister Leanne Linard said funding would help owners in the fight against weeds and pests, as well as restore habitats and protect important cultural and environmental sites.
“Our national parks, nature refuges and other protected areas combined cover 14.5 million hectares – that’s an area double the size of Tasmania,” she said.
“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.”
Boost to nature refuges on Sunshine Coast
- More than $4000 has been allocated to the Cootharaba Nature Refuge at Cootharaba, to fund weed control activities on singapore daisy, ochna and lantana.
- About $5000 will go to the Cycadelic Nature Reserve at Kidaman Creek, to will employ a contractor to undertake bush regeneration field works including weed control activities and revegetation plantings.
- Almost $5000 will be used for the Dungi Yandi Nature Reserve at Conondale, to build capacity to monitor and record fauna through the purchase of monitoring cameras. The data collected will inform better management strategies into the future.
- Almost $14,000 will go to the Manduka Nature Refuge at North Maleny, to fund the ongoing implementation of the conservation management plan including bush regeneration works, native regeneration encouragement and weed control.
- More than $9000 is set for the Mount Mellum West Nature Refuge at Mount Mellum, to remove weedy vegetation from the riparian zone of Little London Creek, followed by selective planting and/or natural regeneration as applicable.
- Almost $7000 is on the way to The Pinch Nature Refuge at Mooloolah Valley, to fund a contractor and the purchase of fire management and erosion control equipment and materials to continue fire management in three established areas, as well as establishing new burn areas.
- Almost $9000 is set for the Weyba Nature Refuge at Doonan to target, through weed control activities, a large infestation of invasive weeds such as singapore daisy, ardisia and amphor laurel, which are spreading and threatening the ecological integrity of the bushland.
More information about the program is available at Nature Refuge Landholder Grants.
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