Blog – Page 18 – National Parks Association of Queensland

Ranger Profile – Ben Hall

Ben Hall is Ranger in Charge of Eungella National Park in the Mackay Management Unit. He has always enjoyed exploring the outdoors, in particular new remote places. He could think of no better profession to do this, and help protect the environment, than becoming a Ranger! How long have you worked in national parks? I […]

Queensland’s new Protected Area Strategy

After much lobbying by the National Parks Association of Queensland and others, the Queensland Protected Area Strategy was finally released by the Government a few days before caretaker mode came into effect prior to the recent State election. The release of the Strategy has been one of the major requests of NPAQ as it will […]

Queensland’s First Special Wildlife Reserve Declared

In 2014 I had the privilege of sitting on a rocky “jump-up” (or mesa) at the end of a long and hot day on what is now Pullen Pullen Reserve. It’s a remote and vast landscape in the Channel Country of central-west Queensland dominated by long unburnt spinifex, Mitchell grass downs and stony gibber plains. […]

Queensland’s National Parks: An Economically Important Tourism Resource

National parks are important environmental resources, giving protection to the flora, fauna and ecosystems that underpin a healthy environment for us all to live in and pass on to future generations. National parks not only play a vital role in the environment but also contribute social, cultural and economic value to our society. The University […]

St Helena Island National Park

History First Nations people visited St Helena Island thousands of years prior to European habitation. They were attracted to the Island each year during the warmer months, when large colonies of fruit bats congregated. During the winter they hunted dugong in the surrounding waters. Huge middens of bone and shell, one being the oldest man-made […]

Ranger Profile – Cathy Gatley

Cathy Gatley is Ranger-in-Charge of Mon Repos Conservation Park, just east of Bundaberg. Working with plants and animals is in her DNA… Why did you decide to become a ranger? My dad was a veterinarian who treated lots of native animals, so I was fortunate to grow up with koalas, gliders and birds around the […]

Indigenous Protected Areas

Nantawarrina, the first Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) in Australia was declared in 1998, on the Adnyamathanha lands (SA), since that time IPAs have grown due to demand from traditional owners across the country. In October 2022 there are now 81 IPAs nationally, protecting over 85 million hectares of land and over 5 million hectares of […]