Yabba State Forest land to be included in national and conservation park
A statement released by the government said the land being protected included almost 600ha of the Yabba State Forest in the Mary Valley.
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The state government will dedicate more than 12,000ha of land currently declared as state forest as national and conservation park.
A statement released by the government said the land being protected included about 843ha of Jimna State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Wrattens National Park, supporting several threatened species including the tusked frog, glossy black-cockatoo and koala, and 657ha of Peachester State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Glass House Mountains Conservation Park, containing core koala habitat and providing significant ecological and recreational values for the broader community.
It also includes 6462ha of Squirrel Creek State Forest for dedication as the new Squirrel Creek National Park, containing endangered and of-concern regional ecosystems and riverine wetlands that provide important habitat for vulnerable species including the plumed frogmouth and black-breasted button-quail, 479ha of Bellthorpe State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Bellthorpe National Park, forming part of a bioregional corridor containing important lowland forest ecosystems and including habitat for species of conservation significance including the tusked frog, koala and cascade treefrog, and two areas totalling 1119ha of Beerburrum West State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Glass House Mountains National Park, providing connectivity and management benefits for the protected area estate in the Sunshine Coast.
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It also contains significant conservation values including habitat for species such as the glossy black-cockatoo and tusked frog.
About 100ha of Deer Reserve State Forest will be included for dedication as part of the existing Deer Reserve Conservation Park, containing significant conservation values including the presence of koala and rib-fruited malletwood, and about 212ha of Elgin Vale State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Wrattens National Park, containing an of-concern regional ecosystem that will increase protection of habitat suitable for several threatened species including the koala.
About 119ha of Luttons State Forest will be included for dedication as part of the exiting Glass House Mountains Conservation Park, containing significant conservation values including the Coochin Hills grevillea and habitat for threatened fauna such as the central greater glider and koala, and about 576ha of Yabba State Forest will be included for dedication as part of the existing Wrattens National Park, supporting several threatened species including the tusked frog, glossy black-cockatoo and koala.
around 289 hectares Delaneys Creek State Forest for dedication as the new Delaneys Creek Conservation Park, forming part of a bioregional corridor that contains habitat for unique flora and fauna including the hairy hazelwood and Richmond birdwing butterfly.
In addition to this, the following other areas of state forest will be dedicated under the Yurol Ringtail Conservation Project: About 479ha of Yurol State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Tewantin National Park, which will enhance the natural ecosystems and deliver conservation and recreational opportunities for the community, including providing habitat for koalas; about 889ha of Ringtail State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Tewantin National Park, which will enhance the natural ecosystems and deliver conservation and recreational opportunities for the community, including providing habitat for koalas.
Queensland Conservation Council Protected Areas Campaigner Nicky Moffat said in the statement the community would be be overjoyed to see the vision for a connected swathe of protected forests around the Yabba State Forest come closer to fruition.
“Wildlife need large connected patches to thrive, so it is wonderful to see large areas of the high conservation value Yabba State Forest as well as the nearby Jimna and Elgin Vale state forests on track for protection,” she said.
“We would support a high level of investment in community consultation around the best management of these forests and hope the Kabi Kabi, Butchulla, Jinibara and any other Traditional Owners in the area are meaningfully involved in decisions about ongoing forest stewardship.”
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Originally published as Yabba State Forest land to be included in national and conservation park
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