Nurturing nature – cultivating culture

A plan for improving Queensland’s natural resources 2024 – 2028

Queensland farmers spend more than $180 million a year in response to pest plants and animals.

Invasive species are the leading cause behind 4 of Australia’s 5 mammal extinctions.

“Queensland needs a coordinated approach to climate adaptation that recognises the state’s exposure to a range of climate hazards and the great diversity of our communities, regions, natural environments and industries.”

Queensland Climate Adaptation Strategy.

“The truth is, every one of us, no matter who we are or where we live, can and must play a part in restoring nature”

David Attenborough

More than 88% of Queensland’s land is used for primary production. This means how we manage agriculture is intertwined with how we manage our environment.

With nearly 20,000km of waterways, more than 13,000km of coastline, 1955 islands and 1700 beaches, Queensland is reliant on healthy rivers and creeks and marine environments.

Since 1970, extreme weather events have cost Queensland $30 billion.

Between 2011 and 2016, 45 extreme weather events caused $13bn in damage to Queensland’s public assets and infrastructure.

Cane-farmers-discussing-the-removal-of-weeds-from-waterways---one-of-the-key-barriers-for-fish-passage.

Queensland is facing big challenges

Queensland is a place of extremes, with diverse landscapes and unpredictable and intense weather. Our communities and natural assets are vulnerable to the impacts of these extremes.

Our farming communities must meet new standards to access global markets while contending with increased biosecurity threats. And a growing population brings with it new challenges managing our land and water assets sustainably.

Queensland’s NRM sector has a solution

To meet these challenges, Queensland’s regional NRM organisations have worked with their communities to develop regional NRM plans that inform a $196.4 million program of activity. We’re aming to deliver big outcomes for biosecurity, climate resilience and adaptation, Indigenous people, land condition, biodiversity and waterways and coasts.

We know that to have an impact on our most precious places and to ensure we can continue to produce food and fibre we must work together, we must think strategically and we must invest appropriately.

Brownlies-plant-koala-friendly-gums-near-Emerald

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$196.4 million over four years

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619 jobs created (258 direct jobs)

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63 Indigenous direct jobs

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43 threatened species

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86 First Nations engaged

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31 community + research partners

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24 local government collaborators

What we’re proposing

Halt the decline of Queensland’s threatened species

8 projects, $32.8 million

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First Nations Stewardship: revitalise land and Culture

9 projects, $27.9 million

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Protect and restore Queensland’s aquatic environments

6 projects, $33.6 million

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Biosecurity: safeguard biodiversity, agriculture and human health

4 projects, $18.8 million

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Improve land condition for agriculture, biodiversity and the economy

6 projects, $40.4 million

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Climate adaptation and disaster resilience

8 projects, $31.8 million

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Statewide policy and coordination

5 projects, $11.1 million

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About Queensland’s regional NRM organisations

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Science and data-driven

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Track record delivering billions of government dollars

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Regionally-based with statewide coverage

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Trusted from paddock to parliament

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Community engagement experts

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25+ years delivering outcomes on the ground

Partner Testimonials

Ideally positioned to significantly enhance our landscapes

“Queensland’s regional NRM organisations provide critical services across Queensland, especially within our rural, regional and remote communities. By working together with landcare, coastcare and catchment groups, First Nations organisations and QWaLC, Queensland’s regional NRM organisations are ideally positioned to significantly enhance our landscapes at-scale.. Building on more than 20 years of on-ground action together, QWaLC supports NRM Regions Queensland’s call for a strategic package of practical initiatives that impact communities and landscapes. These collaborative initiatives will ensure our special places are protected and enhanced, that our waterways are healthy, and that First Nations knowledge is valued and incorporated into critical land and water management projects.”

– Queensland Water and Land Carers

Farmers power the Queensland economy

“Farmers power the Queensland economy and make a significant contribution to the social fabric that underpins regional and rural communities. Programs that support farmers at the grassroots are essential in building the productivity, sustainability and profitability of Queensland agriculture and underpin the sector’s ability to respond effectively to changing operating, customer and community requirements. Queensland’s regional NRM organisations are important stakeholders as we continue to strive to work together to ensure a viable food and fibre production future in Queensland.”

– Queensland Farmers Federation

Focus on partnerships and regional delivery

“We know that to reverse the decline of our precious ecosystems and threatened species we must work together to take action on the ground, especially in regional Queensland, and we must respect First Nations’ knowledge. That’s why we support NRM Regions Queensland’s call for better investment in protecting our natural assets with a focus on partnerships and regional delivery.”

– Queensland Conservation Council

Effective working collaboration

“The Local Government Association of Queensland represents all 77 councils across the state. Many of our council members have strong relationships with regional NRM organisations and work well together in areas including pests, weeds and feral pig issues. Achieving outcomes in biosecurity, land and water management requires the effective working collaboration of multiple stakeholders. This is particularly the case for rural, regional and remote councils. The LGAQ looks forward to a continuing relationship with NRMRQ and how we can work even more closely and effectively into the future.”

– Local Government Association of Queensland

Strong track record delivering practical outcomes

“Our vision is for a Queensland where thriving, biodiverse ecosystems underpin a healthy, productive and prosperous future with benefits for human wellbeing and for nature. To achieve that, we must have coordinated investment and effort to halt the decline of threatened species and improve land condition and water quality across the state in partnership with the communities that live and work there. Queensland’s regional NRM organisations are on the ground, working hand in hand with communities and have a strong track record delivering practical outcomes.”

– Queensland Trust for Nature

NRM organisations have runs on the board

“AgForce Queensland Farmers Ltd works for the long-term growth, viability, competitiveness, and profitability of broadacre agricultural industries in Queensland, yet these industries have never been under more pressure to meet global export standards and take care of the land they’re farming. We’re endorsing NRM Regions Queensland’s proposal to increase investment and action to improve terrestrial and aquatic landscapes and biosecurity. We know Queensland’s regional NRM organisations have runs on the board working in partnership with regional land managers, on the ground, where it matters most.”

– AgForce