Protecting Coolibah-Black Box and Poplar Box Grassy Woodlands Habitat Project

Do You Have Remnant Coolibah-Black Box or Poplar Box Grassy Woodlands on Your Property?

Landholders, does your property contain remnant Coolibah-Black Box or Poplar Box Grassy Woodlands habitat? Did you know that these habitats support biodiversity that is valuable to maintaining the health and productivity of your agricultural systems? A loss of biodiversity can result in a reduction of ecosystem services like shade and shelter, healthy soil and water retention.

This project provides the opportunity to conserve these threatened habitats and contribute to the long-term sustainability and productivity of your agricultural systems. Protecting these threatened habitats will enable them to continue to provide the shade, shelter, and soil health that your livestock rely on, while creating mutual benefits for both your farm and the environment. You can also make a significant contribution to the quality of the nation’s environment by reconnecting the landscape along regional and national vegetation corridors.

The Coolibah-Black Box woodland habitats are found in the floodplains and drainage areas of the Brigalow Belt Southwest. Dominated by Coolibah and Black Box trees with a grassy understorey, this vegetation thrives in the grey, self-mulching clay soils, supporting a diverse range of native plants and wildlife. Threats like land clearing, invasive species, and water flow changes are threatening this system further.

Similarly, the Poplar Box Grassy woodland habitats are a grassy woodland, dominated by Eucalyptus populnea (Poplar Box) with an understorey of grasses and herbs. This ecological community is found on gently undulating and flat landscapes, often near watercourses, and benefits soil stability and nutrient cycling. The Poplar Box trees are significant hollow-forming species, providing essential habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, including birds, mammals, and invertebrates. This habitat is also under threat from land clearing, weed invasion, inappropriate fire and grazing practices, and hydrological changes.

This project aims to improve the quality of remnant, fragmented Coolibah-Black Box and Poplar Box Grassy woodland habitats in Southern Qld. The project will support work on both public and private land through land management activities including:

Install fencing to improve grazing management, livestock watering and protect remnant woodland vegetation
Manage weed invasion that impacts threatened woodland habitats
Pest Management to increase woodland habitat health
Implement appropriate fire regimes to mitigate vegetation edge effects and prevent uncontrolled fires
Erosion repair using spreader bank installation and erosion channel repair

Collaboration with landholders, First Nations people, Government, and local communities will be crucial for successful implementation that achieves lasting positive impacts in threatened Coolibah-Black Box and Poplar Box Grassy woodland habitats.

Get Involved!

If your property contains Coolibah-Black Box or Poplar Box Grassy Woodlands remnant vegetation within our priority areas (see map below), please complete the form below. You may be eligible for financial incentives and support to implement sustainable practices on-farm, that directly benefit these threatened vegetation habitats and the species that rely on them.

A series of free information days and workshops will be held in the priority areas throughout 2025 to 2028. We encourage you to attend, share strategies to tackle land management challenges, and engage with specialist speakers. Follow us on social media or become a member of Southern Queensland Landscapes to stay updated on upcoming workshops.

This project is being delivered in southwest Queensland areas of the Brigalow Belt throughout 2025-2028. It is a $2 million investment from the Australian Government through the Natural Heritage Trust – Panel of Regional Delivery Partners program. It aims to safeguard the Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) of Coolibah-Black Box Woodlands and Poplar Box Grassy Woodland on Alluvial Plains.