Govt urged to protect more of western Qld
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The National Parks Association of Queensland says the Queensland Government is not doing enough to protect areas west of the Great Dividing Range.
Association coordinator Paul Donatiu says 3 per cent of land in some bio-regions beyond the Great Dividing Range is protected, while 13 per cent of south-east Queensland and the Cape York Peninsula is protected.
Mr Donatiu says the Government wants to protect just 7.5 per cent of the state while 16 per cent of Victoria and 20 per cent of South Australia is protected.
He says a public forum in Brisbane tonight will develop strategies to protect more of Queensland, particularly areas west of the Great Dividing Range.
"A lot of attention has been given to declarations, particularly in coastal areas, but there still is a high percentage of ecosystems and biodiversities yet to be captured as part of the protected area, particularly the national park estate in some of the western parts of the state," he said.
The association says the State Government must increase its national park network to 15 per cent of the state to protect Queensland's fragile biodiversity.
