Protecting new areas of Cape York with Nature Refuge status

An aerial shot of Crystalvale Nature Refuge, supplied by the Queensland Government

Following the joint Federal and Queensland Government nature refuge declaration of Corporate Carbon Group’s Cape York Crystalvale Station property on 27 June, Cairns Post, Far North Queensland’s oldest continually running business and largest media organisation, covered the announcement.

In an article titled ‘Protected forever: Huge areas turned into refuges and national parks’ journalist Peter Carruthers highlights Queensland’s network of formally protected areas, which has increased by more than 1.23m hectares of land since 2015.

“Abingdon Downs North and Crystalvale make up the largest dedication of private protected areas in the past six years,” reports Carruthers. “Critical habitat for Far North threatened plants and animals, including the home of Queensland’s floral emblem, the Cooktown orchid is assured through the nature refuge project.

“The new and expanded nature refuges allow for sustainable livestock grazing and carbon projects while preserving their conservation values.”