Managing biodiversity in our cotton 'landscapes'
Central Highlands local government area
Area of cotton landscape:
796,400 ha
Area of cotton properties:
250,500 ha
Area of remnant vegetation in the cotton landscape:
174,300 ha (22%)
Area of remnant vegetation on cotton properties:
36,900 ha (15%)
Area of threatened ecological communities in the cotton landscape:
55,600 ha (32%)
Area of threatened ecological communities on cotton properties:
14,700 ha (40%)
Area of priority zones for native vegetation restoration and enhancement:
22,140 ha
Area of priority zones for vegetation:
30,810 ha
Main vegetation types on cotton properties:
Coolibah woodlands, Brigalow woodlands, Acacia woodlands, Forest Red Gum woodlands, Black Tea-tree woodlands, Mountain Coolibah woodlands, Gympie Messmate forests, Lemon-scented Gum forests, Native grasslands.
Main threatened ecological communities on cotton properties:
Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla dominant and co-dominant) (E).
Coolibah-Black Box woodland of the Brigalow Belt South and Darling Riverine Plains bioregions (E).
Natural grasslands of the Queensland Central Highlands and northern Fitzroy Basin (E).
Named wetlands in the cotton landscape:
Lake Maraboon, Wild Horse Swamp, Bedford Weir, Tartrus Weir.
Area of wetlands in the cotton landscape:
96,600 ha (12%)
Area of wetlands in the cotton properties:
48,500 ha (19%)
Length of major rivers in the cotton landscape:
793 km
Length of major rivers on cotton properties:
416 km
Length of minor water courses in the cotton landscape:
3,498 km
Length of minor streams on cotton properties:
1,210 km
Main rivers in the cotton landscape:
Comet River, Dawson River, Don River, Mackenzie River, Nogoa River, Borilla Creek, Meteor Creek, Minerva Creek, Retreat Creek, Retro Creek, Rocky Creek, Sandhurst Creek, Springsure Creek, Theresa Creek.
Area of national park in the cotton landscape:
4,058 ha
Area of state forests in the cotton landscape:
17,438 ha
Area of travelling stock routes in the cotton landscape:
8,581 ha
Examples of public land reserves in the cotton landscape: Fairbairn Dam Catchment Area, Amaroo State Forest, Duaringa State Forest, Fairbairn State Forest, Mount Hope State Forest, Mount Pleasant State Forest, Serocold State Forest.
Examples of iconic species in the cotton landscape:
Animals: Short-beaked Echidna, Australian Pelican, Brolga, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Magpie Goose, Tawny Frogmouth, Zebra Finch, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Black-headed Python, Frill-necked Lizard, Redclaw Crayfish.
Plants: Brigalow, Carbeen, Queensland Bottletree, Ooline, River Red Gum.
Examples of threatened species in the cotton landscape:
Animals: Bridle Nailtail Wallaby (E), Koala (V), Northern Quoll (V), Red Goshawk (V), Oriental Cuckoo (M), Satin Flycatcher (M), Star Finch (E), Adorned Delma (V), Ornamental Snake (V), Yakka Skink (V), Fitzroy River Turtle (V), White-throated Snapping Turtle (CE), Silver Perch (CE).
Plants: Coolabah Bertya (V), King Bluegrass (E), Tall Velvet Sea-berry (V), Corymbia clandestine (V), Cyperus clarus (Q).