The Palaszczuk Government has just announced the release of the Queensland’s Protected Area Strategy 2020-2030.
This exciting strategy will see our national parks grow in size, and will support Queensland’s economic recovery by supporting the beautiful protected areas that are such a drawcard for tourism.
Unlike the LNP, the Palaszczuk Government is committed to sustainably and effectively managing Queensland’s pristine environment.
The Queensland’s Protected Area Strategy 2020-2030 includes actions for sustainably expanding and effectively managing Queensland’s protected areas, both public and private.
With $60 million in funding, the Palaszczuk Government is investing in Queensland’s most valuable asset, it’s environment.
Queensland’s Protected Area Strategy 2020-2030
More National Parks
More support for nature refuges
Doubling number of Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers
The Strategy delivers on the Queensland Government’s 2017 State election commitment to release and implement a Queensland Protected Area Strategy, including a continued Nature Refuge Program and expanded NatureAssist toolkit to support landowners.
The Strategy includes high level actions for sustainably expanding and effectively managing Queensland’s protected areas, both public and private, with areas of specific focus including:
driving economic stimulus in regional Queensland through capital investment in public protected areas to improve visitor experiences and support regional tourism, and partnerships to improve the management of private protected areas
effective management of public protected areas (like national parks)
initiatives complementary to the Government’s broader biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation agenda
a support and monitoring program for private protected areas (nature refuges and special wildlife reserves) as part of an expanded NatureAssist toolkit
investment pathways and partnerships to achieve sustainable growth in protected areas over time – recognising the importance of both quantity and quality in any approach to protected area expansion
participation of First Nations peoples, through genuine partnerships in protected area management, with a focus on connection to Country and co-stewardship
improving the quality of the visitor experience
ensuring that the significant social and economic benefits of a diverse, well-managed and ecologically resilient protected area system are grown and realised
ensuring that ecotourism ventures on protected areas represent international best practice.
The Government has allocated $60 million over four years as a down payment to support early implementation of the Strategy.
This is comprised of:
$28 million for expanding the public protected area estate
$8 million to continue the Nature Refuge Program and deliver an expanded NatureAssist toolkit to support landowners
$24 million to doubling the number of Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers who do important work looking after Country.
Delivering a world-class protected area system for Queensland will ensure the full suite of environmental, economic, social and health values provided by protected areas are recognised and maintained.
Queensland’s protected areas form the foundation of the State’s ecotourism industry. In addition to tourism, protected areas also support and generate jobs across multiple other sectors, including outdoor recreation, research, education and conservation.