Stronger Landscapes

Stronger Landscapes Plan

Supported by the Australian Government

SQ Landscapes acknowledges that First Nations of Southern Queensland have looked after natural assets for tens of thousands of years and that a combination of First Nation science and knowledge and other approaches can help make Country stronger.

Stronger Landscapes is an emergency preparedness and response plan for biodiversity and agricultural natural assets in Southern Queensland.

Emergency events including natural disasters like flood, fire and drought impact our lives, economy and the environment.

Please share your experiences and ideas of how we can work better together to prepare for and recover better from these events.

See what the Stronger Landscapes Plan is about and provide your thoughts using the button at the bottom of this page.

The Stronger Landscapes Plan will:

build on the lessons learned from previous natural disasters
consider the potential impacts on natural assets of future severe weather events and other threats such as new outbreaks of pests and disease
not duplicate existing State and Local governments plans for protecting life, property and infrastructure.

The Stronger Landscapes Plan will aim to:

help support current emergency planning and responses by providing information

on risks to National, State and Regional biodiversity and natural agricultural assets

help achieve actions in local disaster management plans and resilience action plans
help attract resources for emergency preparedness and response activities.

Biodiversity assets

Biodiversity assets are critical for the health and prosperity of the environment, society and the economy. It is important to prepare, preserve and repair these assets before, during and after emergencies or natural disasters. These assets include:

Species of National Environmental Significance 
National Heritage places
World Heritage Areas
National Parks and Nature Refuges
Plant Communities of National Environmental Significance 
Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance
Remnant Vegetation for Biodiversity
Regionally Significant Natural Areas

Agricultural natural assets

Agricultural Natural Assets provide food and fibre for people, animals and industry and include:

Regionally Significant Cropping Land
Water including waterways, springs and ground water
Regionally Significant Grazing Land
Forestry
Intensive Animal Production
Bushland for shade and fodder

The following map shows areas of Southern Queensland which have biodiversity and agricultural natural assets which are of national importance according to the features listed above.

How can we work better together to make the Biodiversity and Natural Assets of Southern Queensland stronger from the following impacts:
4 million ha of habitat is at risk from drought 400,000 ha is at risk from wildfire
45,000 ha of forestry is at risk from severe bushfire
1 million ha of cropping land is at risk from drought
Up to 5 million ha of significant plant communities is at risk from drought
31% of Main Range National Park is at risk from severe wildfire
150,000 ha (100%) of Currawinya Lakes National Park and Ramsar Wetlands is at risk from drought and new pest plants and animals and disease
14 million ha of grazing land is at risk from prolonged drought
GAB Springs are at risk from pests and excessive water use

Based on your experiences and thoughts, how do we work together to address the following events on the areas shown in this map?

List of Services

Several organisations have developed and are implementing actions to better prepare and to respond to emergency events including:

Local Government and Emergency Services – Local Disaster Management Plans and Disaster Management Groups

Local Government and Biosecurity Queensland (Department of Agriculture and Forestry) – Biosecurity Plans

Queensland Emergency Services – Rural Fire Brigades, State Emergency Services

Australian, State and Local Governments, First Nations, Landholders, Industry and Non Government Organisations:

Preparedness and response planning and action for natural disasters
Climate Smart Agriculture program (Australian Government)
Threatened Species Plans and investment programs (Australian and Queensland Governments)
Best Management Practices (Industry)

Other responses include:

National Park Management Plans (Department of Environment Science and Innovation)
Slow the Flow Program – rehydration of the floodplain and landscapes
Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative (GABSI) – capping bores and restoring bore drains
Fire response and management including ecological (cool) burning – First Nation knowledge and science for caring for Country
Vegetation management – shelter belts and connections.

How can the Stronger Landscapes Plan support these current responses to the predicted future impacts?

Please provide your thoughts about the Stronger Landscapes Plan by clicking here.