National Parks Association of Queensland Inc.

Want to know what's going on in one of the World's best-managed marine reserve areas? The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has just released their laest 2024 Reef Health Update. Over our nine-decade-long history, NPAQ has been heavily involved in helping establish a network of marine protected areas throughout Queensland and Australia, and despite the challenges our Reef faces from a warming climate and ocean temperatures, the GBRMP serves as an exemplar of marine park zoning and management. Check out the Reef Health Update at https://buff.ly/3BK6xue #protectedareas #GBRMP #EyeontheReef

Its #ThrowbackThursday, and It's fair to say that things have changed quite a bit since this climbing expedition to Mt Coonowrin (Crookneck) in the Glass House Mountains in 1938! Then and now, it pays to be well prepared if you intend to walk or climb anywhere within some of Queensland's more mountainous national parks. Since March 1999, the Mt Coonowrin section has been a Restricted Access Area under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and is closed to public access in the interests of public safety. But here's a short safety primer video from Ranger Nat Smith about how to prepare yourself if you do intend to climb anywhere else within Glass House Mountains National Park https://buff.ly/3A10Wz5 #climbers #mountaineering #historialphotos #pleaseshare

NPAQ is saddened to hear of the passing of Ann Neale, the youngest daughter of our Association's founder, Romeo Lahey, in Canberra last month. Ann’s funeral service will be held at 11 am on 10 October at The Anglican Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Reid, Canberra. Please see Ann’s obituary in the Canberra Times for more. https://buff.ly/3zzpLCl

Great news! Queensland’s two newest national parks have been officially established, adding 16,700 ha of land to the state’s Protected Area Estate (PAS). The 10,300 ha Redcliffe Tableland National Park sits some 114 km west of Mackay and preserves endangered regional ecosystems that provide refuge for the endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) and vulnerable squatter pigeon (Geophaps scripta scripta). Some 6,400 ha of the former Squirrel Creek State Forest, 110 km NW of Brisbane have been converted into Squirrel Creek National Park, protecting riverine wetlands that are essential habitat for the vulnerable plumed frogmouth (Podargus ocellatus plumiferus) and black-breasted buttonquail (Turnix melanogaster). A further 18,600 ha have also been added to existing national parks and conservation parks – most dedicated as part of the Labor Government’s commitment to transfer 20,000 ha of state forest to the PAS under the Native Timber Action Plan. These latest dedications bring the total area of state forest added to the PAS to just over 13,000 ha. NPAQ looks forward to seeing further, and more rapid transitions from state forests to national parks over the coming months and years. #ProtectedAreas #StateForests #WildPlaces #ActionPlan #30by30 #Threatenedspecies 📷 (Left to right): Google Maps, CanvaNFP, Wirestock/Dreamstime, SJ Bennet Wikimedia Commons.

As Australians, we're so very lucky to be surrounded by an incredible array of species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Better yet, Queensland is a hotspot for endemic species! This week is Australian Wildlife Week, so we're encouraging you to get out and go wild as much as you can, looking for and photographing your favourite Aussie wildlife species. If you would like to, please share your photos with us (visit https://buff.ly/3yLq3VL to find out how) or upload them to citizen science sites like Atlas of Living Australia, iNaturalist or QWildlife app to share our amazing wildlife with the world. #AustralianWildlifeWeek #LuckyCountry #WildlifePhotography #QueenslandBiodiversity

NPAQ members and supporters, please RSVP to attend our Annual General Meeting on Saturday 19 October and submit any nominations for Council or Proxy votes by CoB on 4 October 2024. To find out more about the AGM or RSVP, please visit https://buff.ly/3Y3pxg4

Weeds are estimated to cost Queensland $600 million annually and weed management is a huge issue in national parks and protected areas. NPAQ hopes an increase in expenditure for national parks, and increased ranger roles, will help better control invasive and exotic species in protected areas. NPAQ's vegetation management group at D'Aguilar NP and Friends of Parks Queensland activities in 20 of the state's national parks and reserves also help remove invasive species and revegetate protected areas. We'd like to know which weeds you most frequently encounter in national parks you visit. Please answer in the comments. For more on identifying and reporting invasive species, visit https://buff.ly/3XCuURX #Invasivespecies #Weeds #Revegetation

We visited the Sunshine Coast Expo at Kawana yesterday with Protect Beautiful Queensland to get attendees on board with the alliance's policy priorities, engage kids with some fun activities and giveaways, and sing the virtues of our state's fantastic national parks and protected areas. The weather wasn't the best (and that's an understatement), but let's just say ... Queensland: beautiful one day ... Protect Beautiful Queensland the next! The PBQ crew is back there today, Sunday 29 September, so if you're on the Sunshine (ahem) Coast, make sure you get down to Kawana Sporting Precinct to check out all that is on offer. Or visit Protect Beautiful Queensland to find out more about how the alliance plans to double Queensland’s protected areas by 2030 in well managed parks, private protected areas and Indigenous protected areas with inclusive, collaborative and well-funded management arrangements. https://buff.ly/4eJMfPX @ProtectQueensland #SunshineCoastExpo #KidsinParks

DESI recently released its report card for Queensland's Protected Area Strategy. The third report card produced so far, it covers an extended period from 1 October 2022 to 30 June 2024, aligning it with other governmental financial year reporting. NPAQ’s CEO and Council commend DESI on this significant improvement on past reporting, while also recognising the hard path to tread in meeting the targets of the Strategy within its decade-long timeframe. Here's our assessment of the progress so far. and what still needs to be done https://buff.ly/3XzIaGM #ProtectedAreaStrategy #ReportCard #Environmentalism #NationalParks #Queensland #ProtectBeautifulQld

Are you stuck inside today when you want to be out and about exploring the majesty of our national parks? If you can’t get out and about but need the ‘inspo’ of a quick park pick-me-up, check out a virtual park tour of Boodjamulla NP, Springbrook NP or St Helena Island NP at https://buff.ly/3MYecr9 #virtualvibes #nationalparktours #ProtecteAreas @QPWS #BoodjamullaNP #SpringbrookNP #StHelenaIslandNP