According to the Queensland Government, Queensland is home to 70 percent of Australia's native mammals (210 species), 80 percent of native birds (594 species), just over half of the nation's native reptiles (429) and native frogs (114), and 11 074 native plant species.

Queensland’s 13 regional natural resource management groups are working in partnership with a wide range of organisations and individuals to enhance Queensland’s biodiversity. The breadth of activity being undertaken is nearly as diverse as our biodiversity itself. Our regional groups are working on community capacity building and education around biodiversity, collecting data about rare, endangered and vulnerable plants and animals, undertaking on-ground biodiversity protection such as fencing off habitat and enhancing corridor connectivity, and planning for species recovery.

The latest edition of the Queensland Regional Groups Collective newsletter, The NRM Rumble focuses on the biodiversity work of Queensland’s regional NRM bodies. It is available by contacting Lane Pilon on 07 4699 5000 or by visiting the RGC website, http://www.rgc.org.au/news/chairs-reports-showcase-achievements-across-qld.
 

Pest plants and animals pose a major threat to Queensland’s biodiversity, our agriculture and our regional lifestyles. But last week, an historic MOU was signed that aims to improve the management of weeds and pest animals across the State.

The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by by Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective, Local Government Association of Queensland and Biosecurity Queensland (a division of DEEDI) aims to assist in the implementation of the Queensland Biosecurity Strategy, the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 and Regional Natural Resource Management plans.

Weeds and pest animals have major impacts on the Queensland economy, environment, social amenity and human health. They impact on primary, tourism and infrastructure industries, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, recreational and social amenity and human health. The cost to Queensland primary industries alone is in excess of $700 million dollars per annum in lost production and control costs.

Andrew Drysdale, CEO Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective believes it is a significant move. “It allows us to ensure better coordination between all parties,” he said. “The MOU clarifies the roles and responsibilities of Local Government, Regional NRM Groups and the State.”

Landcare Queensland is coordinating a campaign across three pilot regions in Queensland, aimed at boosting youth involvement in Landcare and natural resource management. The campaign, which will focus primarily on university students around SEQ, Cairns and Toowoomba will involve advertising in student publications and around campuses and interacting with young people at events such as music festivals.

Students will be encouraged to register to participate in a range of landcare related activities taking place during Landcare Week, 6 – 12 September 2010.

Landcare and Catchment Groups and other community organisations are invited to register to run an event during Landcare Week. A resource kit and one-on-one support is available to assist with coordinating a strong community activity. Modest funding may also be available depending on location and type of event.

Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective is a partner to the campaign. For more information, or to register, contact sam@wombatcreative.com.au.

Twenty candidates have nominated for positions on the new Cape York NRM Board.

A Reef Rescue Showcase will be held, 8 – 9 June in Cairns to promote the work of regional groups, landholders and rural industries to improve water quality flowing into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. The event will allow regional bodies and industry groups to share data and research results and to showcase positive practice change stories from across the Reef Rescue catchments.

The program features a range of landholders implementing Reef Rescue projects on their properties as well as overviews from key industry organisations.The regional NRM groups involved in Reef Rescue will also present on key program outcomes including foundations for measuring change; best-practice science and engagement; and partnerships for practice change.

Reef Rescue is a $200 million five-year initiative, funded by the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country Program. Reef Rescue aims to improve the quality of water flowing into the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon. The Reef Rescue Showcase is a joint initiative of Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective and Queensland Farmers Federation.
 

People interested in playing a role in the new Natural Resource Management Group being established for Cape York only have a short amount of time to nominate or register to vote.

The deadline for nominations and registrations to vote is Friday 23 April.

Bob Sullivan, former Mayor Cook Shire Council and member of the Cape York NRM Board Steering Committee said the new organisation will provide people from across the Cape with the opportunity to contribute to discussions around natural resource management and sustainability.

“There are already 13 regional natural resource management groups operating across the state,” Sullivan said, “and these organisations have been responsible for managing millions of dollars of investment by the Queensland and Australian Governments in community environmental and natural resource programs.”

“These organisations have developed community regional plans for managing natural resources, have supported land managers with training, resources and support, have lobbied government for integrated policy and legislation, and have formed partnerships with other key groups such as industry groups, the landcare movement and local government,” Sullivan said.

Cape York is the last region in Queensland to have an endorsed regional NRM group established.

After a lengthy community consultation process across Cape York, the region will soon have its own community based organisation for natural resource management planning.

For the past five years, every region of Australia, except Cape York, has been supported in natural resource planning by a regional organisation responsible for community engagement and investment in on-ground programs. And now it is the Cape’s turn.

Bob Sullivan, former Mayor Cook Shire Council and member of the Cape York NRM Board Steering Committee said the new NRM Board will provide people from across the Cape with the opportunity to contribute to discussions around natural resource management and sustainability.

“There are already 13 regional natural resource management groups operating across the state,” Sullivan said, “and these organisations have been responsible for managing millions of dollars of investment by the Queensland and Australian Governments in community environmental and natural resource programs.”

Queensland’s regional NRM groups have agreed on a position around minimising the impacts of development on Queensland’s natural resources.

Andrew Drysdale, CEO Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective said the position paper was developed as a result of community concern around managing land use change in an increasingly complex economic and social environment.

“The demand for Queensland’s natural resources is increasing in response to global population growth and associated energy and food requirements,” Drysdale said. “Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective has considered key pressures and challenges believed to lie ahead for Queenslanders and as a result, we feel strongly that land use change must be carried out in a manner that maintains the integrity and function of surrounding biological, aquatic and terrestrial systems.”

The position paper includes a set of operating codes and the Collective is hoping to work with industry for voluntary adoption of those codes. The operating codes cover areas such as vegetation and biodiversity; riverine, floodplains and wetlands; associated water; land and soils; and weeds and pest animals.

During October the Regional Natural Resource Management Programs Communication Team are undertaking client research to assist in the development, implementation and evaluation of communication, education and motivation activities by the team.

A series of case studies looking at how regional groups are working with industry to ensure Queensland’s food security through sustainable agriculture, is now available. 

The Queensland Regional NRM Group's Collective hosted a successful two day forum to celebrate and showcase five years of natural resource management in Queensland.  The event took place on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 May 2009 in Townsville.

Many people in natural resource management (NRM) have experienced the frustrations of not having access to the appropriate natural resource information they need for making informed decisions. A pilot for the new Datahub project will be a great step forward in resolving some of this frustration by addressing the drivers that influence availability and access to knowledge and information.

The pilot project will commence in mid February and run for approximately five months. It is a collaboration between the Regional NRM Groups Collective (RGC), Terrain NRM, Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) and the Department of Natural Resources and Water’s (NRW) Catchment Programs, and will involve a number of additional regional NRM bodies as stakeholders.