Extent and rate of change of protected areas

Key Finding

Protected areas, such as national parks, are critical to the preservation of our environment as they include the protection and management of lands to conserve natural and cultural values.

In Queensland, protected areas are established in classes under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and include State lands managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, such as national parks and conservation parks. A further 3 protected area classes — nature refuges, special wildlife reserves and coordinated conservation areas — are generally privately-owned.

In 2019, the Queensland Government became the first state in Australia to create Special Wildlife Reserves – a new category of protected areas that provide national park level protection for private land of exceptional natural and cultural value. Special Wildlife Reserves will be established by a voluntary conservation agreement between the Queensland Government and landholders. The protection of the area will mean that incompatible land uses, like mining and forestry, will not be permitted.

Protected areas increased by more than 40,971 hectares, or 0.29%, between January 2018 and June 2020.

Protected areas now cover 8.24% of Queensland.

Within Queensland’s protected areas, both cultural and environmental values are protected. The Department of Environment and Science is committed to partnering with First Nations peoples to ensure those cultural values and heritage is better understood and protected.

More information:

• National parks and other protected areas
• Special Wildlife Reserves

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals’ targets

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