The Conservancy was formed to promote a new non-government approach to nature conservation in tropical Queensland. The following organisations are its founding participants:

• FNQ Wildlife Rescue Association
• Mareeba Wetland Foundation
• Tree Kangaroo and Mammal Group
• Cairns Frog Hospital
• Tolga Bat Hospital

This is only the beginning, as we already know other bodies in the region also see the benefit of a regional nature conservation alliance, further adding to the Conservancy’s capacity to manage the incredible biodiversity of the region.

One example of this is local government, which has already opened a dialogue with the Conservancy on the future management of reserves and other land parcels of significant existing or potential biodiversity value.

What are the Conservancy’s Member Organisations already doing?

The Conservancy’s members are involved in a range of nature conservation initiatives in the region:

FNQ Wildlife Rescue Association was founded in 1993 and established a Wildlife Centre in Cairns in 1999, which provides a facility for assessment and short term care of wildlife prior to it being transferred volunteer carers. The veterinary hospital moved to larger premises in 2001, after the weekly wildlife caseload began to exceed 100 animals.

There are currently over 300 registered wildlife carers, spread over an area extending approximately 1,000 kilometres from Tully in the south to the Torres Strait in the north; caring for over 5,000 native animals every year. The Association's aims are to provide training for carers, assistance with veterinary care for sick, injured and orphaned native animals and education by increasing awareness of threats to local fauna and environmental conservation.

The diversity of fauna in the tropical Queensland region means that the group provides care for over 250 different species of birds including sea birds, black-necked storks, Australian pelicans, sea and wedge-tailed eagles and parrots, numerous kangaroos and wallabies, possums, reptiles and frogs. More unusual species handled by the Association include platypus, echidnas, spotted-tailed quolls, fig parrots, spotted and grey cuscus, plus the rare palm cockatoo and red goshawk.

An active schools and community education programme has allowed hundreds of school children and adults to get ‘up close and personal’ with some of the region's unique and diverse fauna.

The Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetland Reserve was established by the Mareeba Wetland Foundation in 1995. The 2,000 hectare Reserve is managed by the Foundation as a model of non-government community led nature conservation, attracting national and international accolades.

Visitors can enjoy several kilometres of self guided walking trails, boat tours, the Twilight Reserve Safari and can stay overnight in Jabiru Camp, the Conservancy’s tented safari camp in the heart of the Reserve. The Reserve offers visitors fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities, with a current bird species list of 206, as well as bush walking and photography. Refreshments are available at the Visitor Centre, situated on the shores of Clancy’s Lagoon.

Members enjoy free access to the Reserve as well as priority bookings for accommodation and discounts on tours and merchandise, as well as a series of members’ events throughout the year.

Volunteers from all over the world help on the Reserve, in the Visitor Centre and with ongoing conservation projects, such as the award-winning Gouldian Finch Reintroduction Programme and freshwater crocodile project. A key management aim is to promote native grasses essential to the survival of tropical granivorous birds, such as one of the Reserve’s specialties, the critically endangered buff-breasted button quail.

The Tree Kangaroo and Mammal Group is based on the high altitude Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland, Australia, but extends its work into the surrounding region, wherever possible. The group is comprised of a wide range of local residents, including scientists, farmers, teachers, artists and publicans; all concerned about the conservation of North Queensland's amazingly rich mammal fauna.

Its key aims are to conserve tree kangaroos and other Far North Queensland mammals by promoting awareness and knowledge of the species; undertaking and assisting with studies into their habitat; and liaison with groups and organisations with similar objectives.

Current key applied research projects underway include important work on Lumholtz's and Bennett's tree kangaroos, spotted-tailed quolls, musky rat kangaroos, yellow bellied gliders, northern bettongs and black footed tree rats.

Tolga Bat Hospital was founded in 2002, carrying on the work of the Friends of the Far North Flying Foxes, which was established in 1990.

Its original purpose was to assist in treating sick, injured and orphaned spectacled flying foxes affected by tick paralysis in maternity colonies on the Atherton Tablelands. The facilities have since been extended to incorporate a hospital, recovery cages and free-flight bat enclosures.