[C4OC] Protecting Ramsar sites and values

The project acts to develop, educate and implement cost-effective, strategic actions to
protect the Currawinya Lakes Ramsar site (traditionally owned by the Budjiti community) and
its matters of national environmental significance. The project strategically targets the Paroo
catchment (High Ecological Value Aquatic Ecosystem - HEVAE) as the primary tributary to
the iconic Currawinya wetlands. Through engagement with rural landholders, traditional
owners, industry and government, the project will demonstrate and promote strategic threat
abatement activities that will repair, enhance and sustain the ecological characteristics of the
Ramsar site. This process will enhance the condition and resilience of critical drought
refugia, threatened ecological communities, and other vulnerable ecosystems encompassing
the internationally significant wetlands.
The project encompasses the entire Queensland Paroo catchment of 3,655,543 hectares,
with a focus on developing natural resource management skills and knowledge of
landholders, being the primary custodian of land management surrounding the five
freshwater lakes, two saltwater lakes and many temporary small claypan lakes and swamps
of the Currawinya wetlands. The region consists of 95% agricultural grazing land, primarily
degraded through extreme variations in temperature and rainfall, and a significant loss of
profitability and finance serviceability of grazing businesses. Landholders exhibit strong risk
adversity and limited financial ability to implement strategies for environmental protection
and conservation.
The project will leverage off and value-add to the experience and success of previous
protection and conservation activities; further enhancing the strategic relationships of the
organisation with respect to the adoption of alternative grazing system strategies for better
environmental management.