Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service facts for kids

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is a special group that works for the Government of Queensland. It is part of the Department of Environment and Science. The main job of QPWS is to look after and manage protected areas in Queensland. This includes keeping Queensland's parks, forests, and the Great Barrier Reef safe for everyone, now and in the future.

QPWS manages over 1000 places. These include national parks, state forests, marine parks, and other protected areas. They also look after five special World Heritage areas.

Queensland's first national park, Witches Falls, started on March 28, 1908. Today, it's part of Tamborine National Park. Soon after, Bunya Mountains National Park opened in July 1908, and Lamington National Park in 1915. At first, national parks were managed by the Forestry department. But in 1975, a dedicated group was formed: the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Since then, park rangers have worn a special badge. It features a symbol called Herbie, who is a Herbert River ringtail possum. Herbie has become a very well-known symbol in Queensland.

QPWS follows important laws to do its work. These laws include the Nature Conservation Act 1992, the Marine Parks Act 2004, and the Forestry Act 1959. Leeanne Enoch is the Minister for Environment and Science. She is in charge of the department that QPWS belongs to. The main office for QPWS is in Brisbane at 400 George Street.

What QPWS Does to Protect Nature

Protected areas in Queensland are very important. They provide homes for wildlife and help keep many different kinds of plants and animals safe. These areas also offer chances for people to enjoy nature outdoors.

Managing National Parks

Managing national parks means keeping them in their natural state. This includes protecting their natural processes, like how plants grow or how rivers flow. It also means showing off the park's special natural and cultural features. QPWS makes sure that any activities in the park are nature-based and do not harm the environment.

Looking After Marine Parks

Marine parks are areas in the ocean that are protected. QPWS manages these parks to create safe places for ocean animals and plants. At the same time, they allow people to use most of the marine environment for fun activities or fishing.

Planning for the Future

QPWS has a special plan called the Master Plan for Queensland's Park System. This plan guides how all protected areas in Queensland will be managed for the next 20 years. It helps make sure these special places are looked after for a long time.

Caring for World Heritage Areas

QPWS is in charge of the daily care of Queensland's five World Heritage areas. Most of these areas are also protected parks. These places are amazing examples of the world's natural or cultural history. They are very valuable for Queensland's environment, tourism, and economy.

Park Management Plans

For each park, QPWS creates a special plan. This plan identifies what makes the park unique and how to keep those special features safe. It helps make sure the park's values are preserved and improved.

The Role of Park Rangers

QPWS employs dedicated park rangers. These rangers do many important jobs:

• They build and look after things like camping areas, picnic spots, and walking tracks.
• They give helpful advice to visitors.
• They collect information about wildlife.
• They control plants and animals that are not native and can harm the park.
• They help create the plans for how parks are managed.
• They make sure everyone follows the park rules.

QPWS also works closely with Aboriginal Traditional Owners. In some places, volunteers help out too. They also team up with other government groups and organizations. Together, they work to protect, manage, share, and present Queensland’s most precious natural and cultural places.