Protected areas in North Queensland’s wet topics have been expanded by 6000 hectares.
Premier David Crisafulli said the additional protection was part of an almost 9000ha expansion across the state.
Premier Crisafulli said the move included adding 5954.6 hectares to Malbon Thompson Range National Park, southeast of Cairns, in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
He said, in total, more than 8700ha would be added to Queensland’s national parks and nature refuges to secure more protected areas for the State’s endangered species, the Wet Tropics ecosystems, biodiversity and threatened flora.
“(We) have expanded the State’s national park conservation area more than 6550ha (and) another 2150ha are being added to nature refuges across the State, which are areas of private land that are subject to agreements that protect significant conservation values in perpetuity.”
Premier Crisafulli said to improve the management of protected areas, an additional 150 Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers would be employed and $118 million spent on supporting habitat restoration and conservation projects.
“Growing the area of protected ecosystems also paves the way for new ecotourism opportunities, while supporting local economies through responsible nature-based experiences.”
He said more protected areas would be announced in the future.
“We are protecting more of the environments that make our State unique, from the Gold Coast to the Cape and the Outback, not just for visitors now, but also for future generations of Queenslanders.
“We’ll work with private landowners to preserve some of Queensland’s most critical ecosystems so together we can enhance our State’s incredible natural resources.”
