From planting trees along creeks to trapping feral pigs – neighbours are joining forces in the Wet Tropics so that new land conservation projects can deliver more ‘bang for the buck’.

A strong response from private landholders has meant 14 projects will start soon between the Daintree, Tablelands and Ingham on land in important areas between forests – where tree-planting and pest and weed control can make a big difference.

Seven of the projects cross property boundaries.

Connecting endangered Mabi forest

“Cane farmers along a creek near Atherton are planting trees in what could be the beginnings of a new green corridor connecting sections of endangered Mabi forest between the Curtain Fig National Park and Wongabel State Forest,’’ Terrain NRM’s Bronwyn Robertson said.

Removing pond apple

“Further south, pond apple is being removed across 50 hectares near Babinda thanks to an agreement with neighbouring landholders. This builds on previous work in the area to control pond apple and improve habitat condition.

Feral pig control

“At Topaz and in the Daintree, feral pig control programs will bring neighbouring landholders together over more than 200 hectares of high-value habitat.”

These new projects are part of ‘Green Connections’, funded by the Queensland Government’s Natural Resource Management Expansion Program. Community conservation groups and local councils will be working on many of them.

Tree planting to help mahogany gliders

Ms Robertson said the program was targeting areas where conservation investment could deliver the greatest benefits. It also includes tree-planting along a creek in the Ingham area to help endangered mahogany gliders, and the expansion of a Tableland couple’s forest restoration project at the base of Mt Bartle Frere, Queensland’s highest mountain.

A $2 million investment in forest restoration will expand wildlife corridors and help to reconnect forests from the Daintree to Ingham.

The Queensland Government is funding a three-year Green Connections project focused on private properties in wildlife corridors and strategic rehabilitation areas, and on building both environmental and economic resilience for the Wet Tropics region. It’s being delivered by Terrain NRM in partnership with landholders, Traditional Owner groups and community groups.

Terrain NRM’s Dr Karen Bettink said more than 60 hectares of land would be restored through weed and pest control and assisted natural regeneration of species, and over 10 hectares of land would be revegetated.

Improving forest connectivity between the Daintree and Ingham

She said improving forest connectivity from the Daintree to Ingham, and from the coast to the Atherton Tablelands, was increasingly important given the escalating climate and biodiversity challenges being faced in the region and worldwide.

“The Wet Tropics is recognised globally for its ecosystems and species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world,” Dr Bettink said. “But many of these are under threat from introduced weeds, pests and diseases, habitat loss and fragmentation, and a changing climate.

“Fortunately, we have many landholders and groups passionate about improving habitats and the condition of their land.

Part of our goal to reconnect and buffer world heritage areas

“This project will build on the great work already being done, and it stems from our broader Green Connections strategy to create corridors and to buffer and improve existing vegetation with the aim of helping threatened species from the southern cassowary and mahogany glider to Mabi and littoral rainforest.

“It will also help to increase carbon sequestration and generally make our ecosystems more resilient for future generations and economies.”

Eleven ecological corridors, strategic rehabilitation areas identified as priorities

Eleven ecological corridors and strategic rehabilitation areas have been identified in the Wet Tropics as a priority for concerted restoration efforts.

Dr Bettink said marginal farming land would be part of the project.

“This includes waterways, low-lying areas and steep slopes, where restoration can be blended with and complement agriculture. In these areas, biodiversity corridors can also act as windbreaks for stock and they can help to stabilise stream banks.