Presentations delivered at the Inaugural Reef Rescue Showcase held last month in Cairns are now available. The presentations include:

• A focus on best-practice science and engagement | NQ Dry Tropics
• Strong partnerships and sound delivery model engaging cane growers in the Lower Burdekin | NQ Dry Tropics
• An overview of Reef Rescue | Mike Berwick
• Partnerships for Practice Change | Fitzroy Basin Association
• Grains BMP program - boosting productivity and reef water quality | Grains BMP officers and participants
• What we understand and what we need to understand better: the change in research focus | Hugh Yorkston, GBRMPA
• Underpinning science to target improved practice change | Fitzroy Basin Association
• Industry-wide Reef Rescue projects - big picture projects helping out regional growers and graziers
• Milking the P's to change: powerful partnerships using performing programs, precision planning and proven practices | Rick Kowitz, Queensland Dairyfarmers' Organisation
• Horticulture: in partnership with the Reef | Growcom
• Healthy Country: managing the land for healthy waterways - a case study from SEQ | SEQ Catchments
• Reef Rescue success in the Wet Tropics | Terrain

NatureAssist is for rural Queensland landholders to help sustainably manage their land, conditional upon them entering into a nature refuge agreement. NatureAssist is a competitive market-based incentive scheme that gives landholders throughout rural Queensland the opportunity to tender for financial assistance to carry out on-ground management actions that will maintain or enhance their property’s conservation values.  Expressions of interest must be submitted by 16 March 2009 (5pm AEST). Landholders can express their interest by completing a simple one-page expression of interest form available at www.epa.qld.gov.au/naturerefuges or by calling the EPA Customer Service Centre on 1300 130 372.
 

Three species of sea turtle that nest on Western Cape York Peninsula could face regional extinction by the year 2030, according to the findings of a 2006 Turtle Nest Predation Monitoring Program conducted by the Cape York Peninsula Development Association Inc (CYPDA).

The CYPDA coordinate monitoring of turtle nest predation by Indigenous rangers, funded through the Australian Government. Brian Benham, CYPDA, said the data collected in 2006 gave a clear indication of the immediate risk to turtle populations on Cape York’s western coastline.

The Cape York Peninsula Development Association Inc. (CYPDA) was formed in 1987 with the prime function of advising the then Minister for Northern Development on pertinent issues affecting the future of this vast and sparsely populated region of Far North Queensland.

In 2007 the CYPDA provides an open forum for economic and community development through debate and direct involvement while influencing policy and decision making on matters relevant to Cape York Peninsula.

In 2006 CYPDA was appointed as interim service provider for Natural Heritage Trust funded projects administered through the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water; an arrangement that is in place until June 2008.