Site visits highlight refuge rewards

On site visits were the key to the nature refuge workshop conducted in the Cooktown region in late July. 

Part of the Nature Refuge Landholder Services Delivery Project, being managed by Ecosure and supported by Cape York NRM, the workshop aimed to provide more ongoing assistance and advice on bush regeneration and weed control to landholders in the management of their refuges, as well as provide more information about the Private Protected Area Program for people wanting to establish a refuge. 

“This was a really interesting workshop, with wonderful presentations which generated great discussions,” Cape York NRM’s Fire Coordinator Andrew Drenen said.  

“We had 12 people attend, and we went out to some really interesting and beautiful sites, including one being considered for refuge status.

“I think seeing these areas really gives people the sense of what the whole nature refuge system is about, and how it benefits both the landholder and the environment, long term.”

Nature refuges are a way for private landholders to protect biodiversity and cultural values of their property, or sections of their land, in a legally binding agreement with the State Government, for future generations irrespective of who owns the property. 

These voluntary agreements currently protect over four million hectares of Queensland, which is the largest private conservation protection program by land area in Australia, according to State Government data. 

This initiative is delivered through Queensland Government’s Private Protected Area Program