Sustaining the Wet Tropics
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Sustaining the Wet Tropics A Regional Plan for Natural Resource Management 2004–2008 Sustaining the Wet Tropics A Regional Plan for Natural Resource Management 2004–2008 A Regional Plan for Natural Resource Management This publication may be cited as: FNQ NRM Ltd & Rainforest CRC (2004) Sustaining the Wet Tropics: A Regional Plan for Natural Resource Management 2004–2008. FNQ NRM Ltd, Innisfail (208pp). Further copies may be obtained from FNQ NRM Ltd, PO Box 1756, Innisfail, QLD, Australia, 4860. <www.fnqnrm.com.au> April, 2005. ISBN 0 86443 745 5 Sustaining the Wet Tropics iii A Regional Plan for Natural Resource Management This Plan is dedicated to the memory of both Brad Dorrington and Garry Werren. Both men played a very significant role in natural resource management in Far North Queensland The Board deeply appreciates and would like to acknowledge the tremendous contribution of Brad Dorrington as Executive Officer of FNQ NRM Ltd. Brad’s support aided the planning process through some difficult times and almost to completion. Similarly, Garry assisted the preparation of the Plan in many ways. A true professional who was always willing to offer his assistance and expertise, Garry had a long history of involvement in natural resource management initiatives in the Far North iv Sustaining the Wet Tropics Chair’s message Managing our natural resources for sustainability is a The Plan takes an assets-based rather than issues- responsibility that ultimately sustains our social and based approach, examining how these assets can be economic wellbeing, as well as the trust we hold on enhanced and how the threats they face can be behalf of all future generations. addressed. In addition to the primary natural resource assets of the region – biodiversity, climate, land and The Wet Tropics is a unique region in Australia water – the Plan identifies both Aboriginal values for because of its high rainfall, spectacular scenery, natural resources and our community assets. biological diversity, economic productivity and ‘Community’ means everyone who lives and works in Aboriginal cultures. While the region is seen as a the Wet Tropics Region, those who visit it and those desirable place to live, visit and invest in; human who have some other connection to it. FNQ NRM Ltd activity is increasingly threatening the natural recognises that implementing the Plan is the environment. Within this context, the Wet Tropics responsibility of the whole community and that Regional Natural Resource Management Plan sets out partnerships are the key to achieving this. On behalf a vision and an integrated planning framework for of FNQ NRM Ltd I therefore invite the active land, water, climate and biodiversity management in participation of all our community partners. the region. This Regional Natural Resource Management Plan is This Regional Plan for Natural Resource Management being prepared in a setting where the Natural builds on existing planning and information Heritage Trust (NHT) Program and the frameworks, including the Wet Tropics Regional implementation of the Reef Water Quality Protection Strategy for NRM, developed by the original NRM Plan will be guided by the planning framework Board in 2000, and the regional growth framework outlined here. It should also be of use and a valued for the FNQ Region – FNQ Regional Plan. This resource for all involved in NRM in the private sector Regional NRM Plan has been developed by FNQ and at the local, State and Commonwealth NRM Ltd in conjunction with the Cooperative Government levels, Traditional Owner groups, Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology and community groups and the general public. Management (Rainforest CRC), in consultation with Traditional Owners, Commonwealth and State Government agencies, local government, interest groups and the wider regional community. Mike Berwick Chair, FNQ NRM Ltd. FNQ NRM Ltd Board Members 2004: From left to right (front row) Peter Stanton, Director Conservation; Cr Ray Byrnes, Director Local Government; Cr Mike Berwick, Chair; Chris Gloor, Director Coastal and Marine; Caroline Coppo, Director Catchment and Community, (back row) Troy Wyles-Whelan, Director Indigenous, Ken Atkinson, Director Upper Herbert; Bill Shannon, Director Industry, Peter Valentine, Director World Heritage. v A Regional Plan for Natural Resource Management Acknowledgements This plan was prepared by the Board of FNQ NRM We would also like to thank those who made Ltd with the Rainforest CRC. Its development was submissions on the draft plan and whose supported through the Natural Heritage Trust. contributions made for an improved document. This includes Australian Government facilitators, Banana The Board acknowledges those who have contributed Growers Qld, Cairns and Hinchinbrook LMACs, to this plan, either through direct input to plan Canegrowers, GBRMPA, Growcom, FNQROC, local preparation, or through their involvement in earlier governments, Innisfail banana and pawpaw growers planning processes that underpin the development of associations, Johnstone Ecological Society, Lower the plan. Preparation of the plan has involved a large Herbert River Catchment Group, Mulgrave Landcare number of people from communities, interest groups and Catchment Group, Organic Producers and agencies both within and outside the Wet Tropics Association, Qld Dairy Farmers organisation, Red Dog Region. Rambutan, State Government Agencies, Trees for the Evelyn and Atherton Tablelands, Tree Kangaroo and The Board particularly wants to acknowledge the Mammal Group, WTMA and the following assistance provided by representatives of the following individuals: Mila Bristow, Bryony Barnett, Damien government agencies: Burrows, Saeed De Ridder, Paul Devine, Sonya Maley, • Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, David Rivett, Brian Roberts and Elinor Scambler. Fisheries and Forestry • Commonwealth Department of the Environment The Background Report, Condition Reports and the and Heritage Wet Tropics Aboriginal Cultural and Natural Resource • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Management Plan are acknowledged as particularly • Wet Tropics Management Authority important source documents for this plan. The Board • Queensland Department of Natural Resources and would like to thank the authors of these documents Mines and all those who contributed to them. • Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Finally the Board acknowledges the Traditional • Queensland Department of Local Government, Owners of the Wet Tropics Region for their support Planning, Sport and Recreation and input into this Plan, and recognises the special • Queensland Environmental Protection Agency connections, knowledge and inherited custodial obligations that they have for the region. The Board acknowledges the tremendous effort of the NRM Planning Team of Geoff McDonald, Nigel Weston, Libby Larsen and Cath de Voil from the Rainforest CRC, who were ably supported by staff of the Rainforest CRC and FNQ NRM Ltd. Special mention should also be made of the following individuals who made significant contributions to this plan: Jacqueline Balston, Jenny Bellamy, Jon Brodie, Carla Catterall, Campbell Clarke, Caroline Coppo, Sophie Creighton, Jean Fenton, Mark Fenton, David Foster, Rowena Grace, Stefan Hajkowicz, Debra Harrison, Jim Kernot, Daryl Killin, Peter Latch, Ian Lowe, Keith McDonald, Katie O’Rourke, Sandra Pannell, Joe Rolfe, Kev Shaw, Neil Sing, David Skelton, Keith Smith, Dermot Smyth, Andy Stephens, David Temple-Smith, Emma Thomson, Chris Tidemann, Regional Liaison Officers Geoff Dyne and Mike Bradby as well as the members of the North Regional Coordination Group including Peter Gilbey, Regina Holden, Simon O’Donnell, Andrew Solomon and Adam West. vi Sustaining the Wet Tropics Contents Part A 1.0 Context for the plan ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose of the Plan ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Scope of the Plan .................................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Policy environment of the Plan .............................................................................................................. 2 1.2.2 Role of the Regional Body and Board ..................................................................................................... 3 1.2.3 Preparing new regional NRM plans ........................................................................................................ 4 1.2.4 Plan principles ....................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2.5 NRM Plan development process ............................................................................................................. 6 Part B 2.0 Overview of the Wet Tropics region ................................................................................................. 13 Part C 3.0 Assets and actions ................................................................................................................................. 19 3.0.1 Strategic framework – The asset framework ........................................................................................... 19 4.0 Biodiversity ..............................................................................................................................................