NQ Dry Tropics NRM

The latest Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) annual report on the condition of the Great Barrier Reef includes some encouraging news.

After significant declines following the 2024 mass bleaching event, hard coral cover across all three Reef regions has increased slightly or remained close to last year’s levels.

That’s positive news, but it’s not a reason to take our foot off the pedal.
AIMS researchers spent 135 days at sea, surveying 121 reefs between August 2025 and June 2026. Their long-term monitoring provides the consistent, science-based evidence needed to understand how the Reef is changing and what it needs to remain resilient.

For NQ Dry Tropics, this evidence is important. As a natural resource management organisation, we work on local actions that can help protect Reef health — from reducing sediment and nutrient run-off to supporting sustainable land management, monitoring our waterways, and working with landholders, Traditional Owners, communities, and partners.

The Reef’s future depends on action at every level. Global emissions reduction is critical, but so is managing and building the resilience of local landscapes and waterways that connect our region to the Reef.

We’re fortunate to have AIMS on our doorstep, giving us regular opportunities to organise SEASIM facility tours for our cane growers and graziers, where they can hear first-hand from scientists and researchers about the latest Reef science and what it means for their industries.

Read the AIMS report here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01jvC_0

Who’s using the wetlands and woodlands in the Upper Burdekin? Our team is finding out, one camera, water sample, bird survey and spotlight survey at a time.

As part of NQ Dry Tropics’ Climate-Resilient Rangelands project, biodiversity monitoring is helping participating graziers build a clearer picture of the natural assets on their properties.

Across eight grazing properties, field officers are establishing biodiversity baselines using:

- Camera traps
- Acoustic recorders to capture wildlife sounds
- Environmental DNA (eDNA)Surveying birds.
- Bird and fauna surveys

Knowing what species and habitats are present helps landholders better understand their property’s ecological health, track changes over time and make informed decisions about grazing management and habitat protection.

The team has already recorded a fascinating mix of wildlife, from Tawny Frogmouths and microbats to frogs, geckos and a growing list of bird species. The result is a growing picture of the species that use the landscape, and how they use different habitats.

The Climate-Resilient Rangelands project is delivered by NQ Dry Tropics and funded through the Queensland Government’s Natural Resource Management Expansion Program.

Land Queensland NRM Regions Australia

Can degraded grazing country recover without locking the gate?

That’s the question being put to the test at the Wambiana Short Duration Grazing (SDG) trial — and the results so far are promising.

The trial is testing whether degraded paddocks can recover while still supporting cattle. After 24 years of heavy stocking, two paddocks were given a 12-month spell before returning to short grazing periods followed by long rest periods. So far, ground cover and forage production have increased significantly, while the paddocks have continued to support grazing.

A big shout-out to everyone involved in the recent Wambiana Grazing Field Day. It was fantastic to see the trial firsthand, hear producer experiences and chat with the researchers behind the work.

Our own Justin Macor, NQ Dry Tropics Climate Adaptation Coordinator, also shared insights into Exploring AgTech: Opportunities for Northern Beef Producers, including emerging technologies, where they fit within grazing businesses, and how data can support better pasture and livestock management decisions.

A valuable day of learning, research and practical insights from the paddock.

We were pleased to support the Mount Garnet Bushfire Preparedness and Disaster Resilience Workshop, with several members of our Grazing Team joining nine local property owners for a practical day focused on preparing for bushfire and building resilience.

The workshop brought together local knowledge and expert advice, helping landholders:

- Understand vegetation management rules, including what applies to firebreaks and fire management lines.
- Use property vegetation reports and satellite mapping to identify hazards and prioritise areas for protection.
- Develop practical strategies to reduce bushfire risks and protect livestock, infrastructure and valuable assets.
- Connect with other landholders and organisations to share knowledge and build local resilience.

A big focus was on planning, from identifying safer areas for livestock to considering access tracks, firebreaks and critical infrastructure before disaster strikes.

Thanks to everyone who took part and contributed to a productive day of learning, planning and networking.

The Australian and Queensland governments jointly fund the Industry Recovery and Resilience Officer (IRRO) program under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). The Queensland Government funds the Herbert Integrated Project. This project is funded by the Queensland Government’s Natural Resource Management Expansion Program.

🌱 Get muddy for a great cause!
Pioneer Bay’s seagrass meadows have been declining in recent years and they need a helping hand to recover.
Reef Catchments and CQUniversity’s Coastal Marine Ecosystem Research Centre are inviting the community to Bowen to collect seagrass flowers for restoration efforts at Pioneer Bay in Airlie Beach.
No experience is needed; just choose a date, come along and help give these important underwater meadows a fresh start.
📅 Click the link to learn more or choose a date and be part of the comeback story https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01hYtQ0

Seaforth Beach Seagrass Restoration Volunteer Day Join us for a fun day getting your hands dirty and helping bring seagrass back to life!

What’s happening beneath your boots matters.

Busy, diverse soil life keeps nutrients moving, carbon stored, and soils holding together. Checking soil organism diversity is like a health check for your paddock, flagging issues early and guiding smarter management.

Watch this short video that steps you through how to do a simple soil organism diversity test:

Soil Health The RASH Approach pt6 Assessing soil organism diversity Part 6 in the Rapid Assessment of Soil Health series: Assessing soi...

From above, we can see what’s happening on the ground.

Recently we shared how our field officers have been building their drone skills, completing their Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) training. These photos show one of the ways we’re putting that capability into action.

Drone imagery gives us a clearer picture of landscapes that can be difficult to assess from the ground. In this case, aerial monitoring was used to track the progress of a woody w**d trial testing innovative control methods for dense infestations of Prickly Acacia and Chinee Apple.

By combining new herbicide options with precision application techniques, the trial aimed to restore productive landscapes, reduce future w**d spread and develop effective w**d management approaches for Northern Queensland.

The large spraying drone pictured is owned by the landholder, who used it to apply herbicide across the trial site.

With 18 qualified drone pilots now part of the NQ Dry Tropics team, we’re expanding our ability to use this technology for natural resource management, from monitoring vegetation and waterways to mapping erosion, tracking w**ds and measuring environmental outcomes.

More accurate data means more informed decisions and more effective action on the ground.

More than 90 per cent of land across the Burdekin Dry Tropics is used for grazing — from humid coastal country to the arid west.

But wherever you graze, soil erosion is a constant risk. When soil is lost, so are the nutrients and organic matter that keep pastures productive and soils healthy. Protecting ground cover and managing land well isn’t just good practice — it’s essential for long-term productivity and cleaner waterways.

Download this fact sheet to learn more about the three principles to control erosion: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01dSpz0

A significant step for Australia’s w**d management.

The National Biosecurity Committee has announced the outcome of the National Established W**d Priorities (NEWP) process.

Fourteen established w**ds have been agreed as national priorities, including African lovegrass, Amazon frogbit, sea spurge, calotrope and wandering trad.

Buffel grass remains unresolved, with the Committee undertaking further work before making a final decision. It’s a complex issue, buffel grass is highly valued as a pasture species, while having environmental impacts.

For NRM, national w**d priorities can help focus investment, coordination and on-ground action on the w**ds posing the greatest risks to our landscapes, native species and communities.

At NQ Dry Tropics, managing invasive species is an important part of protecting the health and resilience of the Burdekin Dry Tropics. The decisions made at a national level can ultimately shape the resources, partnerships and on-ground action available in our region.

👉 Read more:

National Established W**d Priorities (NEWP) - W**ds Australia NEWP seeks to reduce the further spread and impacts of established w**ds across Australia. The NEWP is an initiative of the Environment and Invasives Committee, guided by the National Established W**d Priorities Steering Group.

The Reef Water Quality Report Card 2023–2025 is out!

This is important to NQ Dry Tropics because improving water quality is a key focus of our work across the Burdekin Dry Tropics.

From grazing and cane projects to gully and streambank remediation, landscape repair and improved land management, many of our projects are focused on reducing sediment and nutrient losses and improving the quality of water flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.

What’s in the Report Card?

- Ground cover targets have been achieved across the Reef catchments overall, supported by favourable conditions and effective land management.
- Progress has been made towards all four major water quality targets — dissolved inorganic nitrogen, sediment, particulate nitrogen and phosphorus.
- Landscape repair is making a difference, with gullies remediated at 57 locations and streambank works completed at 155 rapidly eroding sites.
- More than 1.8 million hectares of agricultural land benefited from improved management practices between 2023 and 2025, helping reduce sediment and nutrient loads.

But there’s still plenty to do. Inshore coral and seagrass remain in poor condition, while natural wetlands and riparian vegetation continue to decline.

For us, the Report Card reinforces why on-ground action is crucial and why working alongside landholders, Traditional Owners, industry and partners to improve land and water management is so important.

👉 Read the full Report Card: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01h1Bn0
👉Read the media statement from Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation Andrew Powell https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01h1Kt0