Focus on 17% protected areas target at Budget Estimates welcomed

The Queensland Conservation Council welcomes the significant discussion during Budget Estimates last night on the timeline to reach 17% protected area, as outlined in the Queensland Government’s Protected Areas Strategy.

Queenslanders love nature and polling shows that 77% of Queenslanders want more national parks, and 71% support a doubling of parks by 2030. These figures are supported by enthusiastic public use of national parks, with almost two thirds of Queenslanders having visited a national park in the last 12 months and over 90% saying national parks are important for our lifestyle. The expansion of protected areas is central to the outdoor recreation sector, which in turn delivers significant health and economic benefits for Queenslanders, and to Queensland’s tourism industry, a major pillar of our economy.

Queensland is home to a remarkable 85% of Australia’s native mammals, 72% of its native birds, and slightly over 50% of its native reptiles and frogs. Within Queensland, 1,049 species of plants and animals are classified as threatened under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, with 713 species found only in Queensland.

By better protecting and managing Queensland’s natural landscapes we can play a critical role in protecting Australia’s unique natural and cultural heritage.

Dave Copeman, QCC Director, said:

We welcome the bipartisan commitment to the 17% protected areas target under Queensland’s Protected Areas Strategy. We call on all parties to outline their timeline to reach 17% protected areas before the election.

This week, we have written to the Premier, Opposition Leader, and the representatives of the Greens party and Katter’s Australian Party asking them to answer whether they support Protect Beautiful Queensland’s goal of 17% by 2030.

We have also asked if they don’t support this goal, what date will they commit to achieving this target? We will publish their responses as part of a pre-election climate and environment scorecard.

We particularly look forward to the LNP, before the election, outlining their timetable to reach 17% of Queensland’s lands as protected areas.

Given the significant focus by Opposition Environment Sam O’Connor MP on the need for such a timetable in Estimates, we look forward to such a timetable in the Opposition’s election policy.

We are happy to work with all parties to develop the policies, and welcome the focus on the need to extend protected areas to protect the beautiful and precious environment that we have and love in Queensland.

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