Wildlife Queensland has challenged the Queensland Government to find out exactly which animals and plants live in our national parks and how well they are surviving.

Wildlife Queensland chose Threatened Species Week, when Australia honours its rich biodiversity, to urge the Queensland Government to systematically survey the unique fauna that live in the state-run national parks and reserves known collectively as the Protected Area Estate.

Wildlife Queensland says the Queensland Government has little idea what wildlife lives on the estate it manages on behalf of the public and that current records are inadequate.

"Considering we are the so-called ‘Smart State’, knowledge of our fauna and flora and their distribution is abysmal," said Des Boyland, Wildlife Queensland spokesperson.

"Cassowaries, mahogany gliders and the koala are well understood but fauna such as small mammals and plants such as ground orchids are poorly recorded in the Protected Area Estate.

"This situation has to change. Systematic biodiversity surveys are vital for good management," said Mr Boyland.

The Queensland Government manages the Protected Area Estate through the Environmental Protection Agency. The state’s total Protected Area Estate forms about 4.8% of Queensland, well short of international standards.

"We believe these lands, part of Queens land’s natural heritage, are being affected by feral species and increased human impact because of population growth," stated Mr Boyland.

"How can we be certain the management strategies put in place by the government are appropriate if the flora and fauna are not mapped?" asked Mr Boyland.

"Parks funding has been increased," Mr Boyland added. "But emphasis has been on visitor-related infrastructure with some funding for feral animal and weed control programs.

"However it is absolutely essential to know what plants and animals the Protected Area Estate houses. Only then can strategies be devised to ensure threats to wildlife are minimised and that species continue to exist."

Threatened Species Week centres around 7 September 1936, the day the last known thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) died at the Hobart Zoo. David Fleay, one of the founders of Wildlife Queensland, filmed the famous last footage of the Hobart thylacine that is the only moving image of this extinct Australian icon.

For more information about the poultry shed grant scheme and other activities, contact Wildlife Queensland by email or call +61 7 3221 0194.