AGFORCE members across Queensland are contributing to the balance of biodiversity and production for real environmental wins by protecting almost 1.7 million hectares of private land in nature refuges.
AgForce senior policy director Drew Wagner said AgForce members actively managed almost 1 million hectares of the State’s total protected area of 10 million hectares and the rural group has been actively driving the initiative on the ground since 2007.
The 10 million hectare mark was announced today by Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones.
“Nature refuges are win-win situations; a win for the public through perpetual protection of areas of high conservation significance, and a win for primary producers who may receive some financial assistance to improve their property management,” Mr Wagner said.
Many Queensland primary producers have entered into nature refuge agreements during the past few years, recognising that their production systems are sustainable and compatible with the long-term conservation of their land.
“The agreements may also allow producers to receive some assistance through the State Government’s NatureAssist program to improve their management systems which may include fencing off sensitive areas, such as creeks and spring systems, and relocating watering systems for stock,” Mr Wagner said.
“These high conservation values are testament to the way in which landholders have managed their lands – sometimes for generations.”
AgForce members D’Arcy and Raylee Byrnes run Queensland’s largest nature refuge at Holroyd Station, a 283,000 hectare breeding property on Cape York with their son Victor and his wife Caron.
The Byrnes are seeing a growing interest in nature refuges from other landholders on the Cape since they signed the Holroyd agreement.
“I think it will be the way of the future – managing our land is part of being graziers and a nature refuge provides recognition of the work we have done as well as security for the future of our land and our family,” Mr Byrnes said.
“The Nature Refuge is not just about securing conservation values, it is also about securing the future of our land as it opens the way for us to seek tenure security through the Delbessie leasehold agreement process.”
AgForce is currently running a series of field days showcasing nature refuges which have already been established by its members throughout the state.
Upcoming field days will showcase Red Cap Hill Nature Refuge, “Telgazlie”, Surat on Wednesday, 19 May and Mount Armour Nature Refuge, “Claravale”, Mitchell on Friday, 21 May. The field days will provide an opportunity for primary producers to see at close hand how the owners manage their land for beef production and conservation.
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