Protecting bats and biodiversity: planned burn at Mount Etna Caves National Park
Issued: 19 Dec

QPWS carries out planned burns all year round in favourable conditions and we've recently conducted a burn which plays a vital role in conserving a protected bat species.

Issued
19 December 2024
Region

The outcomes from a recent planned burn at Mount Etna Caves National Park are playing a vital role in conserving Australia’s unique biodiversity, particularly its protected bat species.

Home to more than 80% of Australia’s breeding population of little bent-wing bats (Miniopterus australis) and one of Australia’s few colonies of the vulnerable ghost bat (Macroderma gigas), Mount Etna Caves National Park is a sanctuary of immense ecological significance.

Little bent-wing bats cling to a cave ceiling
A close up of two small ghost bats' faces
Little bent-wing bats cling to a cave ceiling Little bent-wing bats Photo credit: John Augusteyn © Queensland Government A close up of two small ghost bats' faces Ghost bats

Mount Etna Caves National Park has a storied history as the focal point of Australia’s longest conservation dispute, ultimately emerging as a triumph for environmental protection.

Since its gazettal in 1974 and expansions in 1990 and 1999, the national park has become a symbol of reconciliation, with conservationists and mining companies working together to protect its extraordinary natural and cultural heritage.

Beyond its iconic bats, the national park safeguards endangered plants, rare dry rainforests, and intricate karst and cave environments, forming a haven for countless species.

The planned burn conducted in early December is going a long way to support local colonies by managing grass which helps the bats forage for food, and reducing hiding ability of predators such as cats and foxes. This planned burn also helped to prepare a site to  re-establish native vegetation post-catastrophic impacts of a 2018 bushfire in the area.

This is part of a broader conservation effort that will promote a healthy environment while reducing the risk of devastating bushfires.

In charge of the planned burn, Capricorn Ranger Bryce said it showcased a collaboration between school students, dedicated volunteers and our Rangers to maintain and restore the national park’s delicate ecosystems.

‘Among the key contributors were the Old Guys Rehabilitating Ecosystems (OGRES), a tireless volunteer group that spends every Thursday helping to restore the national park’s natural beauty. They have been truly instrumental in re-establishing the national park’s native ecosystem through a range of re-vegetation activities including native seed collecting, weed management, planting and ongoing care,’ Ranger Bryce said.

‘Their efforts this year were bolstered by the Yadaba Nunthi program, where First Nations students from Rockhampton public high schools earned a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management while actively contributing to the project.’

Rangers conducting planned burn
Small fire in the foreground with Rangers observing in the background
A Ranger mops up a burnt area by extinguishing the last of flames on the burn line
Rangers observe flames forming part of their planned burn
Rangers conducting planned burn Small fire in the foreground with Rangers observing in the background A Ranger mops up a burnt area by extinguishing the last of flames on the burn line Rangers observe flames forming part of their planned burn

Our planned burns support ecological resilience, ensuring the conservation of species and habitats that rely on these sensitive landscapes while also reducing the risk and intensity of bushfires.

Related parks

  • Mount Etna Caves National Park

    Limestone outcrops, decorated caves, rare bats and dry rainforest patches are now protected in a national park that once was the site of Australia’s longest running conservation battle.

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