22 August 2025
Wildlife Queensland is proud to share the historic news that Weranga Scarps Nature Reserve, managed by our sister organisation Wildlife Land Fund Limited (WLFL), has officially been recognised as Australia’s first “Conserved Area” under the National Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) Framework.
A new milestone for conservation
Located near Dalby on Queensland’s Western Downs, Weranga Scarps spans 48 hectares of ecologically significant woodland and provides habitat for a diverse array of native wildlife, including the vulnerable glossy black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami), the vulnerable yakka skink (Egernia rugosa), and the endangered koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Once the private property of celebrated conservation photographer Wayne Lawler, the reserve was gifted to WLFL in 2021 and later expanded through a successful donor campaign that raised $50,000 to purchase an adjoining 12-hectare block.
This landmark moment highlights the vital connection between Wildlife Queensland, founded in 1962, and WLFL, which was established in 2001 to increase the amount of land protected for wildlife through private ownership and long-term conservation agreements.
What is an OECM and why is it important?
The National OECM Framework, released in June 2024, allows land outside of national parks or state forests to be officially recognised for its biodiversity conservation value. These “Conserved Areas” contribute to Australia’s target of protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a global agreement to stem biodiversity loss.
Weranga Scarps is 48 hectares of high biodiversity and conservation value land protected in perpetuity for wildlife. Image: Wayne Lawler
OECMs recognise that biodiversity can be protected on lands not traditionally part of protected area networks. These include private reserves, Indigenous-managed land, grazing properties with restoration programs, and even biodiversity offset areas. Weranga Scarps, managed solely for wildlife conservation by WLFL, became the first site in Australia to meet all criteria under this framework.
A model for community-driven conservation
Weranga Scarps’ mix of eucalypt and cypress woodland, understorey wildflowers and ephemeral wetlands supports more than 120 bird species, frogs, reptiles, insects and mammals. It’s a stunning example of how privately managed land can safeguard critical habitats and strengthen landscape connectivity.
“This designation is a testament to Wayne Lawler’s legacy and the hard work of our members, partners, and supporters,” said WLFL President Adrian Caneris. “We’re excited to work with the Queensland Government and other landholders to identify more properties like Weranga Scarps that deliver genuine, long-term biodiversity outcomes.”
Want to help protect Queensland’s wild places?
Wildlife Land Fund Ltd works to secure, manage and restore high-conservation-value land across Queensland, ensuring it remains a safe haven for wildlife for generations to come. By purchasing or receiving land through bequests, WLFL protects habitats that might otherwise be lost, and then manages them with a focus on long-term biodiversity outcomes. We also provide opportunities for volunteers, citizen scientists and community members to contribute to conservation management, from habitat restoration to species monitoring.
Ready to explore how your own property could become part of Queensland’s conservation success story?
Whether you manage bushland, farmland or a mixed-use property, by protecting your land’s environmental values, you’ll be joining a growing network of Queensland landholders helping to secure a future for wildlife, just as we have with Weranga Scarps.
What you can do
- Find out more about WLFL’s work: wildlifelandfund.org.au
- Subscribe to our eBulletin Talking Wildlife to learn more about your local wildlife, plus Wildlife Queensland’s latest news, offers and events.