Have your say on Queensland’s private protected areas

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Boomerang Lagoon

Queensland has terrestrial protected areas on both public and private land. These areas help to preserve our unique landscapes, plants, animals and our cultural heritage for everyone to enjoy now and in the future.

Private protected areas, like special wildlife reserves and nature refuges, make up 34 per cent of the State’s protected area system and are recognised internationally as playing an important role in the overall protected area system.

Over the 30 years since the first nature refuge was declared, the State’s private protected area network has grown to cover almost five million hectares of privately owned or managed land.

Shaping a new approach

Queenslanders, including farmers and other landholders, are invited to share their thoughts on private protected areas through the A Fresh Start for Private Protected Areas– Discussion Paper.

The paper explains how private protected areas currently work in Queensland, and asks for ideas on how to grow them across the state.

Your feedback will help create a new approach to expand protected areas and achieve better environmental outcomes for the future.

How to provide your feedback

You can complete a survey, submit a document or email your submission.

Complete a survey

  1. Register with In the Loop by selecting “Register” in the top-right menu of this screen. Already have an account? Sign in
  2. Once your account is set up (or if you already have one), select the “Sign in” option in the top-right of this screen.
  3. Choose the Take Survey button below.
  4. You can then complete a survey or save and return to the survey later.
  5. Submit your response. Once submitted a copy of your response will be emailed to you.
  6. If you require any assistance, please email stewardship@detsi.qld.gov.au.

Submit a document

  1. Register with In the Loop by selecting “Register” in the top-right menu of this screen. Already have an account? Sign in
  2. Once your account is set up (or if you already have one), select the “Sign in” option in the top-right of this screen.
  3. Choose the Upload document button below.
  4. Attach your document in Word or PDF format and submit.

Email your submission

You can also submit your feedback on the discussion paper by emailing stewardship@detsi.qld.gov.au.

Consultation closes 5pm, Friday 12 September 2025.

Privacy statement

Why we request your personal information:

  • The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) uses an online engagement platform to seek feedback on various issues and initiatives. We try to minimise the personal information collected, but we need your name and contact details to register you as a user, which allows you to complete surveys, be kept updated on projects, and to be notified of future activities (if you choose).
  • The platform we use is called ‘In the loop’, hosted by EngagementHQ, a third-party cloud-based service platform owned and operated by Granicus.
  • Other questions asking personal information in this survey are optional and you can skip them if you prefer.
  • All personal information gathered by DETSI is treated in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009. For further details view the DETSI privacy policy.
  • Please be aware that your de-identified response may be shared with other Queensland Government agencies and Australian Government agencies to help inform future policy developments. Personal information will not be shared.

More information

For more information about private protected areas:

Banner image shows Cobbold Gorge Nature Refuge. Credit: © Tourism and Events Queensland

Queensland has terrestrial protected areas on both public and private land. These areas help to preserve our unique landscapes, plants, animals and our cultural heritage for everyone to enjoy now and in the future.

Private protected areas, like special wildlife reserves and nature refuges, make up 34 per cent of the State’s protected area system and are recognised internationally as playing an important role in the overall protected area system.

Over the 30 years since the first nature refuge was declared, the State’s private protected area network has grown to cover almost five million hectares of privately owned or managed land.

Shaping a new approach

Queenslanders, including farmers and other landholders, are invited to share their thoughts on private protected areas through the A Fresh Start for Private Protected Areas– Discussion Paper.

The paper explains how private protected areas currently work in Queensland, and asks for ideas on how to grow them across the state.

Your feedback will help create a new approach to expand protected areas and achieve better environmental outcomes for the future.

How to provide your feedback

You can complete a survey, submit a document or email your submission.

Complete a survey

  1. Register with In the Loop by selecting “Register” in the top-right menu of this screen. Already have an account? Sign in
  2. Once your account is set up (or if you already have one), select the “Sign in” option in the top-right of this screen.
  3. Choose the Take Survey button below.
  4. You can then complete a survey or save and return to the survey later.
  5. Submit your response. Once submitted a copy of your response will be emailed to you.
  6. If you require any assistance, please email stewardship@detsi.qld.gov.au.

Submit a document

  1. Register with In the Loop by selecting “Register” in the top-right menu of this screen. Already have an account? Sign in
  2. Once your account is set up (or if you already have one), select the “Sign in” option in the top-right of this screen.
  3. Choose the Upload document button below.
  4. Attach your document in Word or PDF format and submit.

Email your submission

You can also submit your feedback on the discussion paper by emailing stewardship@detsi.qld.gov.au.

Consultation closes 5pm, Friday 12 September 2025.

Privacy statement

Why we request your personal information:

  • The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) uses an online engagement platform to seek feedback on various issues and initiatives. We try to minimise the personal information collected, but we need your name and contact details to register you as a user, which allows you to complete surveys, be kept updated on projects, and to be notified of future activities (if you choose).
  • The platform we use is called ‘In the loop’, hosted by EngagementHQ, a third-party cloud-based service platform owned and operated by Granicus.
  • Other questions asking personal information in this survey are optional and you can skip them if you prefer.
  • All personal information gathered by DETSI is treated in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009. For further details view the DETSI privacy policy.
  • Please be aware that your de-identified response may be shared with other Queensland Government agencies and Australian Government agencies to help inform future policy developments. Personal information will not be shared.

More information

For more information about private protected areas:

Banner image shows Cobbold Gorge Nature Refuge. Credit: © Tourism and Events Queensland

  • We want to hear about your experiences and views to help shape our approach to private protected areas in Queensland.

    Please ensure you have read the A Fresh Start for Private Protected Areas – Discussion Paper before answering the following questions.

    Glossary


    Queensland’s protected area estate comprises areas on both public and private land.

    Private protected areas

    Private protected areas, including nature refuges and special wildlife reserves, are established through voluntary binding agreements with eligible landholders under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NC Act).

    Nature refuges can be established on a variety of land types and provide farmers and other landholders whose lands are confirmed to possess essential habitat and threatened or under-represented ecosystems with an opportunity to protect the biodiversity values on their land, while allowing compatible and sustainable land uses to continue.

    A special wildlife reserve is a voluntary, binding and perpetual class of protected area, for application on privately-managed land in Queensland. Like national parks, they are created to protect areas of Queensland identified as containing exceptional natural and cultural resources and values.

    Public protected areas
    In Queensland, national parks, conservation parks and resources reserves are all types of public protected areas. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is the custodian and manager of terrestrial public protected areas, often in
    partnership with First Nations Peoples.

    Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures
    Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), also known as Conserved Areas, are areas outside protected areas that provide effective and long-term in-situ biodiversity conservation.


    Take Survey
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  • Preferred document formats are Word or PDF.

    Upload document
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Page last updated: 02 Aug 2025, 03:27 AM