The Queensland Wetlands Program (QWP) delivers a range of information and decision-making tools and products to enable local, state and federal government agencies, landowners, regional NRM bodies, and First Nations to sustainably manage wetlands.

These tools and products are designed to help with all aspects of wetland management, from mapping and classification, through assessment and rehabilitation to monitoring and communication of wetlands information and underpin many state initiatives.

The QWP provides an umbrella for wetlands policies and programs across Queensland, and promotes collaboration, co-ordination and information sharing among government agencies, Natural Resource Management groups, First Nations and community groups.

The QWP is recognised as one of the most comprehensive wetland programs in Australia and has led the development of many national and state level methods and tools.

Targets

Key targets for the Queensland Wetlands Program include:

• Ensure that wetlands are managed from a nature positive perspective (protection, conservation and rehabilitation).
• Continue to enhance and promote the evidence-based information and tools already available on WetlandInfo and other websites.
• Collaborate and partner across all levels of government and non-government stakeholders, for all of Queensland and engage more fully with First Nations peoples.
• Support wetland managers to apply an integrated approach to catchment, landscape and seascape management that considers the multiple values of wetlands in a whole-of-catchment context, within an adaptive management framework.

Outcomes

Key outcomes achieved over the last four years by the Queensland Wetlands Program include:

• Writing and publishing the impactful “Wetlands of Queensland” Book to raise the profile of wetlands
• Development of the “Whole of System, Values-Based Framework” and integration into programs and policy thinking
• Development and release of the Queensland River Rehabilitation Management Guideline and the Aquatic Ecosystem Rehabilitation Process
• Maintenance and expansion of the Queensland Governance Group and the Queensland Wetlands Network to ensure collaboration, coordination and support for wetlands activities across Queensland
• Development and release of over ten (10) Catchment Stories based on Walking the Landscape workshops to help explain how catchments in Queensland work
• Development and release of the Queensland Intertidal and Subtidal Classification Scheme and River Classification Schemes to assist with determining the nature and extent of ecosystems that underpins the mapping and ecosystem type descriptions.
• Development and release of comprehensive information on Aquatic fauna passage (fishways) including locations of all fishways within Queensland
• Development and release of WetCAT (Wetland condition assessment tool)
• Work to improve the documentation and management of Queensland’s five (5) Internationally important Ramsar wetland sites and for integration into planning and policy programs and initiatives.