Funding granted to save rat-kangaroo found near Port Douglas
ENVIRONMENT
An environmental protection group has been granted funding to help protect a small endangered marsupial only found in Far North Queensland.
Australian Wildlife Conservancy has been granted $100,000 from the state government to inform and support the land management actions necessary to conserve the Northern Bettong in Mount Spurgeon, near Port Douglas.
The Northern Bettong is a delicately-built rat-kangaroo about the size of a rabbit with a body length between 300-380 mm and a tail length of 290-360 mm.
It has a small, fragmented distribution, occurring in upland grassy eucalypt woodland and tall open forest along the western edge of the Wet Tropics.
It is considered endangered n Queensland and nationally and it is ranked as a critical priority under the department's Back on Track species prioritisation framework.
The Community Sustainability Action Grants Program is providing $18 million over six years to community groups and individuals for innovative projects to address climate change, protect our unique wildlife and conserve Queensland’s natural and built environment.
The works taking place near Port Douglas is one of 29 projects that have received funding under the grants program.
Minister for Environment, Leeanne Enoch, said these projects included supporting groups to plant more trees to enhance habitat, and funding research to grow our understanding of a variety of species including threatened shorebirds, dolphins, quolls, snakes, frogs, butterflies and gliders.
“Under this round that specifically targets projects that protect threatened species, 29 successful recipients are receiving up to $100,000 for their local conservation projects.
“This is the first time, since the Community Sustainability Action Grants Program began in 2016, that there has been a specific threatened species category.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to ensuring our threatened species are protected, and this funding will fund on-the-ground projects that help restore important habitat and conduct important research into some of Queensland’s most vulnerable flora and fauna.”
See the full list of projects here.
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