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The Inland and Biodiversity project is a multi-species and ecosystem recovery project in the plains and ranges landscape of the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region. The focus is to protect priority habitat of national significance through a range of activities such as weeding, revegetation, fire management or fencing. The fire activities range from controlled burns by consultants or landholders, to working with rural fire brigades to review and update fire management plans.

The engagement of six local community groups to undertake activity relevant to their community or area has empowered them to identify and implement action and change. Projects increase participation, engagement and capacity of the community to contribute to natural resource management.

Reef Catchments successfully engaged landholders in areas of high conservation value (e.g. areas adjacent to National Parks) to undertake conservation works. Works conducted by landholders promotes natural regeneration and native plant regrowth and protects and enhances valuable habitat. Through their participation landholders were able to protect priority habitat, riparian areas and creek systems on their property, and also on adjoining National Parks such as the Dryander National Park. All landholders delivered projects that supported essential habitat in the region for threatened or endangered species including Proserpine rock-wallaby (Petrogale persephone), northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus), lesser swamp-orchid (Phaius australis), black ironbox (Eucaluptus raveretiana), and the Eungella day frog (Taudactylus eungellensis).

Other landholder activities funded through the programme included improvements to grazing activities. Fencing excludes cattle, improves riparian corridors and allows for increased vegetation buffers. This promotes vegetation establishment and introduces additional habitat and biodiversity in modified environments. Landholders undertaking activities, such as fencing, commented that while projects have exceeded their original budget, they were happy with any funding to assist with the works and noted that the opportunity to apply for a grant had encouraged them to undertake the works.

IN 2015-2016:
• 114,500 hectares of improved fire management delivered through the development of 16 fire management plans (9 reviews, 7 new)
• 20,705 hectares were burned aiding the re-establishment of a natural buffer around fire sensitive ecosystems
• Management plans and associated training will foster the implementation of improved fire regimes in coming years
• Six community groups were funded under ‘Looking after Local Landscapes’, to a total of $45,450
• The ‘Mammals, Weed Management, and Cultural Heritage’ field day in June 2016 at Cape Hillsborough National Park saw the audience engage in discussions with Traditional Owners about Indigenous culture and its significance to natural resource management

Monitoring Organisation Reef Catchments

Name Katrina Dent

Phone 4968 4207

Email katrina.dent@reefcatchments.com

Position in organisation General Manager

Activity Type land management (e.g. revegetation, pest and weed management)

Activity Indicators water quality in freshwater river basins

Activity location O'Connell catchment, Pioneer catchment, Plane catchment, Proserpine catchment

Frequency of monitoring

Monitoring Start Date 01/06/2015

30/07/2016

Location of monitoring data

Date quality / confidence

Website URL http://reefcatchments.com.au/land/inland-funding/

Collaborators Australian Government

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