Win for nature in Queensland Budget as $300m committed to national park growth & management
The Queensland Conservation Council and the Pew Charitable Trusts today welcomed the Palaszczuk Government’s $300 million investment in strengthening Queensland’s national parks.
The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Queensland Manager Andrew Picone said investments of this scale have the potential for massive outcomes for nature conservation in Queensland.
“Today's announcement includes $200 million to buy more land for national parks.
"This means at least one million hectares of new protected areas thanks to today’s funding commitment.
“With an annual investment of $50 million over four years, we can expect to see some of Queensland’s most significant, threatened and underprotected landscapes added to our national park estate.
“Well-managed protected areas are the most effective way to safeguard biodiversity and bring threatened species back from the brink of extinction.”
Nature Campaigner for the Queensland Conservation Council, Jon Ferguson said more national parks across Queensland protect vital habitat for threatened species and bring jobs in the tourism and land management sectors in regional Queensland.
“Queensland is the most biodiverse state in Australia, so investing in new national parks means investing in making sure our native plants and animals are protected.
“Our state’s national parks support highly valued nature-based tourism while protecting exceptional wildlife and natural places.
“National parks contribute $2.7 billion to Queensland’s economy and support over 24,000 jobs, mostly in regional areas.
“As we rebuild Queensland’s economy, national parks have a critical role to play in delivering much needed employment, economic, health and environmental co-benefits.”
Today's commitment is in addition to the $40 million announced earlier this month for threatened species and includes the $38.5 million announced in March this year for the management and return of land of cultural and natural significance on Cape York to First Nations people.
QCC and the Pew Charitable Trusts encourage the Queensland Government to negotiate new national parks with First Nations Peoples under the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent and to focus on the delivery of equitable joint management arrangements.
Contact:
Hannah Schuch, 0434 796 566
Andrew Picone, 0457 798 359
Jon Ferguson, 07 3846 7833