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HOW TO WORK THE MAP

  • Click to reveal biodiversity and natural capital assets likely to occur in that location and what actions could be taken to protect it from natural disasters. Not all locations have assets mapped.
  • Click on the  < &  >  symbols to see information from other assets in the location.
  • The following layers toggle on and off with the eye symbol:
    • Properties (Department of Resources): This polygon layer is a light version of the base cadastre in the Digital Cadastral Database (DCDB).
    • Conservation significance (NQ Dry Tropics): To effectively prioritise these areas for conservation efforts, Zonation software was used. This software overlays the distribution of threatened species and ecological communities to create a hierarchical prioritisation of the landscape based on conservation value. 
    • Floodplain (Department of Resources): The Queensland Floodplain Assessment Overlay (QFAO) represents a floodplain area within drainage sub-basins. It was developed for local governments as a potential flood hazard area. It represents an estimate of potential flood areas. 
    • Cyclone (Geoscience Australia): A National Tropical Cyclone Hazard Assessment (TCHA18) showing the 1%/0.2% Annual Exceedance Probability.
    • Bushfire: This product is the 2014 State-wide mapping of the Bushfire Hazard Area (Bushfire Prone Area) developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in conjunction with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (PSBA). 

Assets (hidden): keep the eye open or the map will not function as intended. The information is sourced from public data and is where “Species or species habitat is likely to occur ” and “ecological communities may occur” (DCCEEW). Wetlands mapping is from the Aquatic Conservation assessments (DAF).

Plan to protect biodiversity and natural assets from climate disasters

Queensland, a global biodiversity hotspot, is home to more than half of Australia’s native species, many of which are unique to the State.

These species, however, face extinction risks exacerbated by natural disasters like cyclones, floods, droughts, and fires, now intensified by climate change. With 88 per cent of land in Queensland dedicated to primary production, sustainable agricultural management is crucial.

Eleven regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisations, employing 334 skilled staff in 27 offices, collaborate with communities to enhance climate resilience and sustainable farming.
Using the best possible science, these organisations ensure ecosystems, essential for environmental services, can withstand threats.

By supporting disaster preparedness, the regional NRM sector works with governments and stakeholders to optimise emergency response and recovery efforts.

NQ Dry Tropics led the development of an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan to protect the biodiversity and agricultural natural capital in the Burdekin Dry Tropics.

The primary objective of the plan is to enhance preparedness and response to natural disasters by integrating biodiversity and agricultural natural capital into emergency planning. This will help improve the resilience and recovery of these critical assets.

Key outcomes

Detailed analysis: The report provides the background of how to populate a database to represent the region’s biodiversity and agricultural assets, identifying the most vulnerable species and habitats.

Preparedness actions: The database outlines specific actions to protect these assets before disasters strike, focusing on habitat management, conservation strategies, and agricultural resilience.

Response strategies: The database details immediate response actions to safeguard biodiversity and agricultural assets during and after natural disasters.

Interactive map

Asset mapping: The interactive map represents the location of critical biodiversity and agricultural assets within the region. They are a combination of known and modelled location data.

Hazard identification: It includes layers showing the areas most susceptible to various natural disasters such as cyclones, bushfires, and floods.

Actions: Users can access specific preparedness and response actions for each identified asset.

Importance

The aim of the plan and the interactive map is to protect and sustainably manage natural resources and enhance preparedness for future natural disasters, ultimately contributing to stronger regional economies and healthier ecosystems.

Accessing the resources

Explore the interactive map here. The map is a crucial tool for visualising and interacting with the region’s biodiversity and natural capital preparedness and response strategies.

A plume of sediment from the mouth of the Burdekin River in flood.
A plume of sediment from the mouth of the Burdekin River in flood.
Sediment flowing from the mainland, sometimes originating hundreds of kilometres from the coast, can reach the Great Barrier Reef, reducing water clarity, slowing, or stopping coral growth and making it more vulnerable to disease.
Sediment flowing from the mainland, sometimes originating hundreds of kilometres from the coast, can reach the Great Barrier Reef, reducing water clarity, slowing, or stopping coral growth and making it more vulnerable to disease.
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