Additional $500,000 for projects to protect Queensland’s threatened species

Following on from National Threatened Species Day on 7th September, the Queensland Government has committed a further $500,000 in grant funding for research activities that will protect Queensland’s threatened flora and fauna species.

Under the second round of the Threatened Species Research Grants program, funding of up to $100,000 will be available to universities, not-for-profit organisations, First Nations groups and Natural Resource Management bodies for projects that will improve the understanding of the threats faced by threatened species and assist with their recovery in the wild.

This includes identifying key threats to threatened species and developing strategies to mitigate these threats.

Successful projects will help safeguard the future of Queensland’s threatened species. The funding is also an investment towards protecting the state’s biodiversity.

In July, Environment Minister Leanne Linard announced 11 projects had been selected for funding under the first round of the Threatened Species Research Grants program.

The projects, which shared in more than $1.25 million in funding, included research on bilbies, whale sharks, grey nurse sharks, freshwater sawfish, the spectacled flying fox and threatened plant species and communities.

QLD Minister for Environment and Science Leanne Linard noted “Queensland is the most biodiverse state or territory in Australia and is home to thousands of species which are of national and global significance.

“Our unique flora and fauna are vital to our rich biodiversity, but sadly there are more than 1000 species listed as threatened under the Nature Conservation Act.

“Some of our native species are declining at alarming rates and are at serious risk of extinction from a range of threats such as loss of habitat, impacts of climate change and feral pests.

“It is critical we gather important data and information on these species to help us develop and implement management strategies to protect them.

“By partnering with universities, not-for-profit organisations, First Nations groups and Natural Resource Management bodies, we can significantly increase our ability to support our threatened species to ensure they survive now and into the future.”

Applications for round 2 will close at 4pm on 2nd November 2023.

More information on the Threatened Species Research Grants can be found here.