Private Protected Area Program and NatureAssist
The Private Protected Area Program (formerly Nature Refuges Program) has expanded to include a new class of private protected area, special wildlife reserves, after the passing of an amendment to the Nature Conservation Act 1992 in 2019. The program forms part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to saving habitat, protecting wildlife and restoring land.
Special wildlife reserves fill a gap in the available protected area classifications in Queensland by providing national park level protections to privately owned and managed land. Mining, timber harvesting and commercial grazing are not permitted on special wildlife reserves. Where such interests exist, they must first be resolved prior to the reserve’s declaration.
Nature refuges remain the cornerstone of the Private Protected Area Program. Nature Refuges are established through perpetual, legally binding agreements that protect areas of conservation-significance whilst allowing compatible and sustainable land uses to continue.
NatureAssist is a financial incentives program that targets properties that meet the Queensland Government’s priorities for the Private Protected Area Program. Properties have previously been selected for their significant conservation values, connectivity and/or their predicted resilience to a changing climate. The landholders of these identified properties are contacted by the government to ask if they are interested in participating. Private Protected Area Program staff work with landholders to protect significant conservation values on their land and enhance the resilience of the property. Participation is conditional on a formal conservation agreement being signed by the landholder and the Minister.
As at 30 June 2020, nature refuges comprised just over 2.5% of Queensland’s land area. To date no special wildlife reserves have been declared.
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