Taunton National Park
Taunton National Park is situated near the town of Dingo 135 km inland from Rockhampton in eastern Central Queensland, Australia. The park encompasses an area of 11,626 ha within the Northern Brigalow Belt bioregion of Queensland. Taunton National Park is designated as a scientific nature reserve due to its importance in ensuring the ongoing survival and protection of the endangered bridled nail-tail wallaby; the wallabies protection has facilitated natural regeneration processes within reserve boundaries, protected ecosystem communities from further agricultural disturbances in the surrounding landscape, provided habitats for native fauna and helped conserve a wide range of biodiversity. Cracking clay soils and brigalow vegetation species are dominant in the northern region of the park, while texture-contrast soils in combination with Eucalypt communities dominate the western region; the parks topography is reasonably with a gradual slope from the north and western ends of the park towards the eastern and southern margins.
The regions climate is described as semi-arid. The distribution of rainfall over such a condensed period leaves the area prone to droughts; the most recent drought of significance occurred between 1991 and 1995 with detrimental impacts on the surviving bridled nailtail wallaby population. As is typical of the tropical savannah in the Northern Brigalow Belt, a combination of open, grassy Eucalypt woodlands, transitional zones and regrowing Acacia shrub-lands and forests comprise Taunton National Parks main vegetation zones; the most common vegetation associations within the park and surrounding areas, tend to be dominated by either brigalow or poplar box species, which occur along with other Acacia and Ecualyptus spp. Water-bodies present within the park boundaries consist of a small number of creeks; the region in which Taunton National Park is located, was subject to long-term, wide-scale agricultural development and associated disturbances. During the 1950s and 1960s extensive clearance of brigalow scrub began to take place in order to establish pastoral grasses for grazing domestic sheep and cattle.
Buffel grass was sowed for fodder in the cleared areas, became irreversibly established. A governmental initiative called the'Brigalow Development Scheme' provided great incentive for increasing agricultural development in the Brigalow region and accelerated the rate and scale of vegetation clearance for conversion to buffel grass; the success of this scheme resulted in agricultural system adjustments so that more intensive land use practices became common, with smaller properties and higher stock numbers. The cumulative effects of this land use change resulted in a considerable reduction in remnant vegetation patch size and occurrence; this in turn reduced the availability of habitat and shelter for native fauna, altered the natural vegetation composition. In 1973 a bridled nail-tail wallaby was sighted on a cattle property named'Taunton' and reported by a fencing contractor. There had been reports of a significant decline in the wallabies population numbers during the early 1900s with no recorded sightings since the 1930s, subsequently the species had been presumed extinct.
Following this sighting, Taunton was purchased in 1979 and established as a scientific reserve to ensure the protection and survival of the endangered wallaby. In 1984, another cattle property'Red Hill', situated adjacent to Taunton, was added to the reserve and the whole area became named'Taunton National Park'; the park occurs in the Northern Brigalow'Tropical Savannah' ecoregion, so named for the predominant flora species of the region. Vegetation clearance throughout this district and in fact the whole Brigalow Belt, has resulted in an extensive loss of biodiversity and overall ecosystem degradation. Despite considerable regional agricultural and pastoral development, a large proportion of the park's vegetation remained intact or was exposed to minimal disturbance prior to the reserve being established; the park has high regional significance today as only 17% of vegetation within the park had been removed by 1975, thereby conserving once prevalent, regionally representative ecosystems and vegetation communities, which are now restricted to bush fragments and reserves.
The region that the park is located in has been demonstrated to have one of the highest rate of annual clearance, when compared with other subregions within Queensland. This high clearance rate has contributed to a number of Brigalow-typical ecosystems becoming otherwise at risk or endangered, which highlights the importance of the parks biodiversity, as 12 of the regions ecosystems are represented within the reserve. Endangered open forest or woodland ecosystems in the park include. Brigalow shrubland/forest assemblages of A. harpophylla with yellow-wood and false sandalwood, are endangered, having undergone wide-scale clearing throughout the 1900s. Ecosystem communities represented within the park which are considered to be'of concern' include.
Deepwater National Park
Deepwater is a coastal national park in Queensland, Australia, 375 km north of Brisbane. It protects coastal heaths in the Deepwater Creek catchment; the area is one of the few remaining pristine freshwater catchments on Queensland's east coast. Deepwater National Park covers 4,090 ha; the north of the park is dominated by a 70 m high sand dune, covered in vegetation. There are some scattered rocky outcrops of volcanic origin including a number of rocky headlands along the park's 9 km of beach frontage. Vegetation in the park is varied between the landward side of the high dune. To the east are typical beach plants, on the exposed higher areas the plants appear wind-sheared and to the west in more protected area taller vegetation has formed up to three canopy levels of forest and woodlands. Beaches in the park are used for nesting by leatherback turtles. Flatback and green turtles nest on the park's beaches; this location is the only mainland site where leatherbacks return to lay eggs. Rose-crowned fruit doves, fairy gerygones and grey fantails are found in the canopies to the west.
Along the beaches pied oystercatcher, bar-tailed godwits and crested terns are seen. Emus and brahminy kites can be found in the park. Queensland's largest cockroach Macro-panesthia sp. is found in the park. Camping facilities, pit toilets and picnic tables are located at Wreck Rock, 5.5 km north of the park's southern boundary. A second camp site is located further north at Middle Rock, however there are no facilities here. Picnic facilities for day visitors is provided at Flat Rock. No domestic animals or open fires are permitted in the park; the park is accessible from the south through Wartburg. Conventional vehicle access possible in the dry season only. Alternative access is possible from the north through Agnes Water. A 4WD vehicle is recommended for this route due to the slope. Protected areas of Queensland
Curtis Island National Park
Curtis Island National Park is on Curtis Island, Gladstone Region, Australia, 474 kilometres northwest of Brisbane and 40 km southeast of Rockhampton. The island features littoral rainforest, sand dunes and beach ridges and salt flats; the national park encompasses. No facilities are provided for campers. Bush camping is permitted in three camp grounds. Curtis Island has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: Sea Hill Point: Sea Hill Light Port of Gladstone Protected areas of Queensland
Girraween National Park
Girraween National Park is an area of the Granite Belt in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia reserved as a national park. Girraween is known for dramatic landscapes and unique wildlife. Bushwalking and rock climbing are the most popular activities in the park; the park is situated 40 km south of Stanthorpe. The southern boundary of the park is the state border between New South Wales, it is a twin park with Bald Rock National Park, which lies across the border in New South Wales, features Bald Rock, the second-largest monolith on the continent. Curiously, South Bald Rock and West Bald Rock lie in Girraween National Park in Queensland, not in Bald Rock National Park in New South Wales, it features granite landscapes, balancing boulders, clear streams, wetlands and open forest. The granite outcroppings, such as the Pyramids and Castle Rock at 1112 m, dominate the local scenery; the park contains many kilometres of graded walking trails to the park's major features like the First Pyramid, Second Pyramid, The Sphinx, Turtle Rock, Underground Creek, the Eye of the Needle and Mount Norman - the highest point in the park at 1267 metres.
Fire trails can be followed when venturing into the eastern sections of the park. The park has a temperate climate. During winter snow can fall in the area. Girraween is an Aboriginal word meaning'place of flowers' and the best time to see the local flora is late in July when the Golden Wattle blooms; the park has abundant fauna, including some that are seen elsewhere in Queensland, such as the common wombat, spotted quoll and the turquoise parrot. The area is noted for its diverse flora; the eucalypt forests and heathlands provide habitat for abundant birdlife. In spring, many wildflowers bloom, this led to its being called "place of flowers" in the indigenous language; the area is the only place. In 1992, Taronga Park Zoo staff discovered the rare Bald Rock Creek turtle; the species has only been found within a ten km stretch of the creek. Camping facilities are provided by the Queensland Department of National Parks at Bald Rock Creek and Castle Rock. Both sites have toilets and showers available, the latter is suitable for caravans and has disabled access to the amenities block.
Protected areas of Queensland C. R. Twidale. Landforms and Geology of Granitic Terrains. CRC Press. ISBN 0-415-36435-3. Queensland Government and Resource Management, Official site for Girraween National Park Girraween National Park, Australia Girraween National Park QLD www.exploroz.com
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The International Union for Conservation of Nature is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. It is involved in data gathering and analysis, field projects and education. IUCN's mission is to "influence and assist societies throughout the world to conserve nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable". Over the past decades, IUCN has widened its focus beyond conservation ecology and now incorporates issues related to sustainable development in its projects. Unlike many other international environmental organisations, IUCN does not itself aim to mobilize the public in support of nature conservation, it tries to influence the actions of governments and other stakeholders by providing information and advice, through building partnerships. The organization is best known to the wider public for compiling and publishing the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which assesses the conservation status of species worldwide.
IUCN has a membership of over 1400 non-governmental organizations. Some 16,000 scientists and experts participate in the work of IUCN commissions on a voluntary basis, it employs 1000 full-time staff in more than 50 countries. Its headquarters are in Switzerland. IUCN has observer and consultative status at the United Nations, plays a role in the implementation of several international conventions on nature conservation and biodiversity, it was involved in establishing the World Wide Fund for Nature and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. In the past, IUCN has been criticized for placing the interests of nature over those of indigenous peoples. In recent years, its closer relations with the business sector have caused controversy. IUCN was established in 1948, it was called the International Union for the Protection of Nature and the World Conservation Union. Establishment IUCN was established on 5 October 1948, in Fontainebleau, when representatives of governments and conservation organizations signed a formal act constituting the International Union for the Protection of Nature.
The initiative to set up the new organisation came from UNESCO and from its first Director General, the British biologist Julian Huxley. The objectives of the new Union were to encourage international cooperation in the protection of nature, to promote national and international action and to compile and distribute information. At the time of its founding IUPN was the only international organisation focusing on the entire spectrum of nature conservation Early years: 1948–1956 IUPN started out with 65 members, its secretariat was located in Brussels. Its first work program focused on saving species and habitats and applying knowledge, advancing education, promoting international agreements and promoting conservation. Providing a solid scientific base for conservation action was the heart of all activities. IUPN and UNESCO were associated, they jointly organized the 1949 Conference on Protection of Nature. In preparation for this conference a list of gravely endangered species was drawn up for the first time, a precursor of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
In the early years of its existence IUCN depended entirely on UNESCO funding and was forced to temporarily scale down activities when this ended unexpectedly in 1954. IUPN was successful in engaging prominent scientists and identifying important issues such as the harmful effects of pesticides on wildlife but not many of the ideas it developed were turned into action; this was caused by unwillingness to act on the part of governments, uncertainty about the IUPN mandate and lack of resources. In 1956, IUPN changed its name to International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Increased profile and recognition: 1956–1965 In the 1950s and 1960s Europe entered a period of economic growth and formal colonies became independent. Both developments had impact on the work of IUCN. Through the voluntary involvement of experts in its Commissions IUCN was able to get a lot of work done while still operating on a low budget, it established links with the Council of Europe. In 1961, at the request of United Nations Economic and Social Council, the United Nations Economic and Social Council, IUCN published the first global list of national parks and protected areas which it has updated since.
IUCN's best known publication, the Red Data Book on the conservation status of species, was first published in 1964. IUCN began to play a part in the development of international treaties and conventions, starting with the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Environmental law and policy making became a new area of expertise. Africa was the focus of many of the early IUCN conservation field projects. IUCN supported the ‘Yellowstone model’ of protected area management, which restricted human presence and activity in order to protect nature. IUCN and other conservation organisations were criticized for protecting nature against people rather than with people; this model was also applied in Africa and played a role in the decision to remove the Maasai people from Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. To establish a stable financial basis for its work, IUCN participated in setting up the World Wildlife Fund
Byfield National Park
Byfield is a national park in the Shire of Livingstone, Australia. The park is 70 km north-east of Rockhampton; the parks encloses 12 km of coastline including four beaches. To the north of the national park is Shoalwater Bay and Byfield State Forest is located to the west of Byfield National Park; the park contains a number of camping areas. Water Park Creek within the park contains a population of Rhadinocentrus ornatus, a small freshwater fish species; the park demarcates the southern boundary of a tropical savannah climate, although the subtropics are a degree to the south. Protected areas of Queensland
Blackdown Tableland National Park
Blackdown Tableland is a national park in the Central Highlands Region, Australia. The park is in Central Queensland, 576 km northwest of Brisbane; the mountainous terrain of the tablelands provides a unique landscape featuring gorges and diverse vegetation. It is the traditional home of the Ghungalu people; the Blackdown Tableland is a 900 m sandstone plateau rising abruptly from the plains below. Many creeks on the Tableland have developed gorges and waterfalls along their courses, the most notable of which drains in to the spectacular Rainbow Falls over a 40 m drop; some of the creeks on the Tableland are catchment fed by rain and dry up, some are spring fed and always flow just a small amount. The national park is located in the north east of the central Queensland sandstone belt; the tablelands are positioned at the junction of the Shotover and Dawson Ranges. Evidence of folding is shown in the depressions amongst the ranges. Camping is available on Mimosa Creek in the Tableland, camping fees apply.
The plateau has a more temperate, local climate than the surrounding plains, supporting open forests, ferns, a variety of plants and animals, several of which are not found anywhere else. Parts of the eastern tablelands have an average rainfall of 1,500 mm per year. Dense fog may shroud the plateau. Camping is permitted at Munall campground. There are walking tracks leading to heritage sites and creeks. Picnic facilities are available at Yaddamen Dhina lookout. Access to the area was limited until a road was constructed in 1969 by the Queensland Forest Department. Entrance to the park is via a turn-off 11 km west of Dingo along the Capricorn Highway. Protected areas of Queensland Blackdown Tableland National Park Queensland Holidays: Blackdown Tableland National Park Photo Gallery