Research programs
In order to make informed decisions on the management of Queensland's natural resources, the department implements a range of research programs. These include:
- the monitoring of air, water and wetlands
- the monitoring of macropod populations to ensure a sustainable harvest of kangaroos
- research on plants, fungi, and ecological systems, undertaken by the Queensland Herbarium, including the Weed Spotters' Network Queensland.
A. Horsup
Research and monitoring of threatened species
The department conducts research and monitoring of a number of Queensland’s threatened plants and animals. Examples are:
- A koala expert panel has been established to provide advice on the effectiveness of existing koala conservation measures, in the wake of the South East Queensland Koala Population Modelling Study report which identified a significant decline in koala populations in certain areas in South East Queensland. This group is made up of members with diverse areas of expertise in koala conservation, including genetics, captive breeding, disease, ecology and planning.
- Marine turtles, the Queensland Turtle Conservation Project has been operating for more than 30 years and has greatly advanced scientific knowledge of turtles both in Australia and internationally.
- Cassowary, where a cooperative project that uses satellites to track cassowaries is helping to find out how these birds use their habitat and fragmented landscapes.
- Greater bilby, where there is monitoring of the re-introduced population at Currawinya National Park, and research into the species’ current range in Queensland.
- Hastings River mouse, where there is monitoring of the species in their known habitats.
- Shorebirds, where research and monitoring is fostered through the Shorebird Management Strategy: Moreton Bay.
Records of plant and animal locations are stored in the Department’s WildNet database. Information from WildNet is made accessible to the public through Wildlife Online, Wetland Summary Information Search and WetlandMaps (Report Tool).
All research is conducted in accordance with the provisions of Queensland’s Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 and is monitored by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Animal Ethics Committee.