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Queensland Wetlands Program

The Queensland Wetlands Program was established by Australian and Queensland governments in 2003 to support projects and programs that enhance the wise use and sustainable management of Queensland’s wetlands.

The QWP provides an umbrella for wetlands policies and programs across Queensland, and promotes collaboration, co-ordination and information sharing among government agencies, NRM groups, First Nations and community groups. The QWP Phase V commenced in in 2023.

Quick facts

Projects: delivered by the Queensland Wetlands Program answer the questions:

What are wetlands?
Why bother managing them?
Where and what type are they?
What is in wetlands?
What is their relative importance?
How do different wetland types function?
How to manage and monitor wetlands?
How to deliver the tools?

See factsheets on wetlands projects and tools.

The Queensland Wetlands Program (Program) is a multi-agency partnership between a number of Queensland Government departments, non-government organisations and the Australian government including the:

QWP tools and products are designed to help with all aspects of wetland management, from mapping and classification, through assessment and rehabilitation to monitoring and communication of wetlands information and underpin many state initiatives.

The QWP is recognised as one of the most comprehensive wetland programs in Australia and has led the development of many national and state level methods and tools.

An evaluation of the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Management Strategy 2016-21, was carried out in 2021. It confirmed the Strategy was an effective and useable document and showed that over 60 organisations delivering relevant wetland activities and used the Strategy to inform the development of their own strategies and work programs.

Queensland Wetland Program (Program) Phase 2 Strategic Management Audit.

An evaluation of Phase 1 was undertaken in 2009 by a non-government agency, while for Phase 2, a smaller synopsis has been undertaken by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) independently of the Program.

Queensland Wetlands Program evaluation

In 2009, an independent evaluation was conducted of the Program (2003-2009) to determine its effectiveness in meeting the project aims and objectives.

The evaluation found the Program supported and enabled a range of quality projects and programs to enhance the sustainable use, management, conservation and protection of Queensland's wetlands and has set new benchmarks for wetland management.

Both Australian and Queensland governments recognised the significant contribution of the Program and continued their investment to 2013.

Census of Regional Body Wetland Activities

In 2007, an independent review was undertaken to analyse how wetland activities aligned between regional bodies and the objectives of the QWP.

It contains detailed regional profiles for each of the 14 natural resource management regions of Queensland with each profile identifying key achievements, wetland activities and future directions.

The review concluded that many of the regional body wetland activities were contributing to the QWP objectives and were complemented and supported by the products from the QWP.

Last updated: 13 November 2023

This page should be cited as:

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2023) Queensland Wetlands Program, WetlandInfo website, accessed 8 May 2025. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/about-us/qld-wetland-program.html