Nature Conservation
The Queensland Murray-Darling Basin is home to a wide diversity of plants and animals including more than 3,300 plant species, 97 mammals, 340 birds, 156 reptiles, 50 frogs, 18 fish and 120 butterflies. The region is also made up of more than 170 identified regional ecosystems or vegetation communities.
QMDC is helping to preserve this diversity by working with land managers, research organisations, local government and industry to strike a balance between production and nature conservation.
Biodiversity Resources Manual
The QMDC Biodiversity Resources Manual is a training tool which offers a new and exciting approach to biodiversity education. The manual is based on the value systems and drivers that underpin rural cultures and decision-making. It responds to the need for increased knowledge of how we can manage sustainably and provide opportunities for our children. Through activities, fact sheets, case studies and discussion, it demonstrates that biodiversity conservation is both practical and fulfilling.
FarmEcology
The Queensland Murray-Darling Committee ensures the whole family is involved in biodiversity through its FarmEcology Field Days. The major aim of the days is to raise awareness of biodiversity among a broad audience – from managers to general community members to school students.
Raising awareness encourages a greater uptake of improved land management approaches, while enhancing existing biodiversity values and expanding the extent of habitat within productive landscapes.
In an effort to re-ignite the community’s desire to protect and enhance native vegetation and biodiversity, the QMDC Vegetation and Biodiversity team runs a rolling series of field days targeting the whole family, with engaging activities presented in a relaxed atmosphere for the land managers of today and the future.
The field days are the culmination of a week long fauna survey, with activities provided to engage all participants with at least one school-based session along with a general field walk, barbecue dinner and spotlighting session or similar.
Topics covered on the days can include:
- healthy systems: the importance of on-farm biodiversity to healthy and productive farm ecosystems
- getting the balance right: ensuring a healthy equilibrium exists across properties and sub-catchments by focusing on the mix of production and conservation improvements for healthy farm ecosystems
- what’s in it for land managers: while conservation and preservation may seem to be a costly exercise and an unproductive use of land, the critters found in these landscapes and systems often provide important services to production management
- managing native vegetation: easy and cost-effective strategies
- why we care: identifying the underlying desires to maintain, improve or conserve a land manager’s natural areas whether these are favourite picnic spots, fishing holes or hold childhood memories
- the future: protection of these iconic landscapes and biodiversity for the enjoyment of future generations, building on the ethos of the stewards of the land
- understanding what is around us: how animals and plants interact in the landscape to form unique environments.
For more information, please contact QMDC on 4637 6200.
Local Government projects
QMDC is working with local governments to protect biodiversity on public land, such as stock routes and reserves. Check out our Local Government Program section for more information...
Bluegrass grasslands
QMDC technical staff will undertake a fauna and flora survey of bluegrass grasslands in the Hodgson sub-catchment group area, west of Roma. This important vegetation community has been largely overlooked by research efforts to date, and this data will help to establish its ecological value and how these grasslands might be best managed for production and nature conservation.
Spinifex communities
A partnership with the Queensland Herbarium and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has seen a vegetation and fauna survey undertaken on the little known 'Yelarbon Desert' Spinifex community. Conducted on private and public lands, these surveys are helping to establish appropriate management practices for this vegetation type. A field day with local Councils and interested landholders was held after the survey to discuss the results.
Brigalow regrowth study
In 2005 QMDC funded a University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, student to undertake a study on the habitat values of mature regrowth timber. Conducted on two properties in the Border Rivers region of the Brigalow Belt, the study found that mature regrowth offered similar habitat values to remnant vegetation. The results of the research have been compiled and include a number of recommendations for regrowth management. For further details see the ‘Managing regrowth for habitat and production values’ case study in the Publications section of this website.
Conserving brigalow biodiversity
Again with the University of Queensland, QMDC was involved in the production of the Conserving Biodiversity in Brigalow Regrowth booklet. In order to successfully manage brigalow landscapes for conservation and production, we need to understand how the region's fauna are affected by by how humans influence the landscape. This booklet answers a set of the most important questions on how to manage brigalow vegetation for conserving and restoring wildlife. Hard copies are available from QMDC Roma (4620 4600) or QMDC Goondiwindi (4671 7900).
Ergon Energy agreement
In 2005 QMDC signed an agreement with Ergon Energy for ‘no net-loss' on the Goondiwindi to Bulli Creek power line in southern Queensland. As part of this agreement QMDC will negotiate off-set areas of vegetation on private land to compensate for vegetation clearing along the power line.
Recovery planning
Queensland Brigalow Belt Reptile Recovery Plan
QMDC is contributing to the development of the Queensland Brigalow Belt Reptile Recovery Plan in conjunction with WWF Australia. This multi-species recovery plan will address the protection and threat management of 16 threatened reptile species. It will also provide protection for other reptile species and their habitats.
The first draft of the plan underwent an extensive community consultation phase, with six community workshops held across the region. The plan is currently awaiting signoff from the Queensland and Australian Governments. Once the plan is approved, QMDC will be one of the organisations involved in its implementation.
Granite Flora Recovery Plan
QMDC has contracted a private consultant to develop a Recovery Plan for 10 endangered, vulnerable and rare flora species found on the Stanthorpe plateau in southern Queensland. The plan will include general species information, listed threats, recovery objectives, recommended management actions and an evaluation of the recovery planning process.
A number of community consultation and stakeholder workshops were conducted in March 2006 to discuss the plan and provide an opportunity for comment. The Recovery Plan should be finalised by June 2006 and will then be submitted to Queensland and Australian Governments for endorsement. The Rare Wildflower Consortium, a group of interested stakeholders whose common interest is raising awareness of and improving conservation and management of rare wildflowers, will assist in the implementation of the planned actions highlighted in the Recovery Plan.
Native grasslands
One hundred and fifty years ago, the Darling Downs region of Queensland was covered by more than 390,000 hectares of native grasslands. Now, just over 1% of the region's original grasslands remain, making these sparsely timbered plains one of the most endangered ecosystems in Queensland.
Careful management of native grasslands is required to preserve their economic and environmental value. Research and experience has found that disturbance, overgrazing and clearing can all have a negative impact and a series of recommended practices have been drawn up to reduce these threats. These practices are documented in the book, ‘More than meets the eye: Your guide to managing the native grasslands of Queensland's Darling Downs.'
Rare Wildflower Consortium
QMDC is a member of the Rare Wildflower Consortium – a group which aims to raise awareness about the rare and threatened wildflowers of the Queensland Granite Belt. The Consortium also includes representatives from Stanthorpe Shire Council, Stanthorpe Field Naturalists, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Granite Borders Landcare and local landholders.
Over the last few years, the Consortium has held a number of Wildflower Walks, which have proved enormously popular. It has also been involved in promoting awareness of wildflower heritage, contracting a survey of roadside sites in the Stanthorpe Shire and assisting in the Granite Flora Recovery Planning process.
Vegetation Planning
Well managed native vegetation can provide a combination of production and conservation benefits and staff from the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee are working with landholders and industry groups to develop and implement vegetation plans that meet both these goals.
Vegetation planning is a major component of sub-catchment planning. This means planning is done across a group of properties, providing opportunities to better manage this native vegetation, connect up important areas of vegetation and tackle common problems across the landscape.
The first step in developing a vegetation plan is to look at what's currently known about the biodiversity value of the area. This involves:
- mapping Regional Ecosystems
- identifying high value biodiversity areas
- assessing vegetation linkages across the landscape
- reviewing the list of endangered, vulnerable and rare species for an area
- assessing the condition and trend of remnant and non-remnant vegetation and
- property visits to ground truth the information collected.
This information is gathered together by QMDC's Vegetation Officers and provided to sub-catchment groups. Staff then work with groups to develop group and individual vegetation management plans. These plans may look at linking up corridors of vegetation, such as along creek lines, revegetating or fencing off important areas, managing fire or weed and pest control.
Funding is available through our Sub-Catchment Planning program to help implement the plans.
