SDG 15 Life On Land

Local

• Great Keppel (Wop-pa) Island - The partnership between CQUniversity and Wop-Pa Island (Great Keppel) focuses on the conservation and sustainability of shared land and marine ecosystems. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to environmental stewardship and gives students practical, hands-on experience with ecosystem management. As part of this initiative, Environmental Monitoring students undertake a residential school on Wop-Pa Island, where they gain invaluable fieldwork experience, participate in ecological studies, and learn directly from the island’s unique environment. This partnership fosters mutual respect for natural resources and supports immersive education in ecosystem preservation.
• Fitzroy Basin Association - The partnership between CQUniversity and the Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA) works to advance conservation and sustainability within the shared regional ecosystem. Through this collaboration, innovative solutions are developed to address ecological challenges, such as habitat preservation, water quality improvement, and sustainable agricultural practices. By combining resources and expertise, CQUniversity and the FBA support impactful, on-the-ground initiatives that drive ecological restoration, support biodiversity, and promote environmental health across the basin. This alliance demonstrates a commitment to creating long-term positive outcomes for the region’s unique ecosystems and communities.
• Fitzroy Partnership for River Health - CQUniversity provides technical, scientific advice and coordination through the FRPH Independent Science Panel to drive research to support the continuous improvement of the Fitzroy Basin Report Card. The project involves the implementation and review of data-based reporting products, including the annual Ecosystem Health Index, as well as general advice and review around water chemistry and environmental monitoring and reporting aspects within the Fitzroy River Basin.
• Bundaberg Fruit & Vegetable Growers - CQUniversity association demonstrates its commitment to Queensland’s growing agricultural sector while gaining opportunities to connect with growers, promote your services, and access valuable industry information, events, and resources.
• Queensland Government Partner-Up Queensland Regional Science & Innovation Network
• Central Highlands Cotton Growers & Irrigators Association
• Central Highlands Development Corporation

State

• Agforce Queensland - CQU and AgForce collaborate at the Belmont Research Station near Rockhampton, developing a research and training ecosystem for precision livestock management, cattle research, and training towards CQU agriculture degrees.
• Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

National

• Meat & Livestock Australia - CQU maintains a long-standing research partnership focused on tropical livestock management, animal welfare, and sustainable beef production in Central Queensland and Northern Australia
• Australian Mangoes
• Horticulture Innovation Australia - Hort Innovation collaborate on key agricultural research initiatives to reduce waste, lift fruit quality, and boost grower profitability.
• AustChilli
• Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
• Teys Australia
• CRC for Developing Northern Australia
• AgriVentis Technologies
• North Australia Beef Research Council

Global

• United Nations Global Environment Outlook - Dr Shaneel Chandra holds a role in the author team for the UN Global Environment Outlook which is the flagship report for the United National Environment Program and provides an integrated assessment of the state of the global environment.
• Latina America - CQUniversity has established a partnership with a leading Latin American research agency, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Argentina’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MINCYT) and the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET). The partnership will enable collaboration between post-doctoral researchers at CQU and CONICET in areas of mutual excellence, such as environmental science.
• The Ohio State University
• Argentina's National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) 

Protection and Restoration

Mount Etna - A full-day stakeholder workshop at Mount Etna Caves National Park has marked the first step in a long-term, collaborative approach to restoring one of Central Queensland’s most significant landscapes. Led by CQUniversity, the visioning workshop and field trip brought together researchers, Traditional Owners, natural resource practitioners, land managers, community groups and volunteers to co-design a shared pathway for ecological restoration and cultural renewal.

Ghost Bats - CQUniversity conservation students and Woorabinda Rangers have officially kicked off another year of environmental restoration work at the Capricorn Caves, helping protect a fragile dry rainforest ecosystem that supports endangered species, including the ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) and cave fern (Tectaria devexa).

Koala CQ - Our Koala Research group has been collaborating with communities and industries since 1994 to enhance koala conservation through research. The group’s focus is on aspects of koala ecology, biology, history and community engagement in Central Queensland and beyond.

Integrated Habitat Restoration - This project will see the removal of three  unlawfully installed earthen causeways at the Rodd's Harbour Fish Habitat Area. The causeways obstruct aquatic bio passage and the fresh-marine continuum in this high-value coastal wetland system. 

Capricorn Yellow chat - The Capricorn yellow chat is listed as Endangered under Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992, and as Critically Endangered under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. CQUniversity has conducted research and assessment of this sub species 

Wildlife Trafficking - This research project is a partnership between CQUniversity and Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV) on wildlife trafficking and aims to protect the douc langur, a critically endangered genus of money. 

Woorabinda - A community event held at Horseshoe Lagoon in Woorabinda included native tree-planting, water quality testing, birth watching, and learning about water life and creatures. This event was run in conjunction with the Woorabinda Rangers, Greening Australia, BMA, Darumbal Rangers, Birdlife CQ, and the Department of Environment and Science. 

Bringing Nature Back to Frenchman's Creek - This project allows participants to study local flora and fauna, control exotic weeds and support bush regeneration by planting native plants. View more here

Alien Species Management

BROLGA - Designed for Indigenous students in years 5-12, the BROLGA program is a mix of on-campus and 'on country' learning experiences that incorporate elements of community, country, and culture. As part of this program, the cohort looks t problematic weeds and feral animals and how to manage them. For more information email [email protected]

Precision Weeds Sprayer - This project uses drones, AI and image processing to develop technology to effectively manage weeds in farming crops. 

Laser weed management - This project aims to investigate the use of laser irradiation to kill weeds precisely and study the feasibility of incorporating laser weed killing technology with farming autonomous platforms such as farming robots or drones.

Toads to Tadpole Baits - The Environmental Science team source toads that are collected routinely by community toad ‘busts’, where people rally to collect toads and euthanise them humanely. 80 tadpoles were used by students during residential schools, and the rest were processed by technical staff. All specimens had the parotoid glands removed. The glands were then sent to Watergum in Brisbane where they will be used to make cane toad tadpole baits to help in the ongoing cane toad eradication programs.

Precision Horticulture - CQUniversity’s Precision Horticulture team is focused on improving the productivity and profitability of Queensland’s major horticultural commodities. Specialist research skills within the team include pest physiology, drone-based crop sensing for early detection of pests and diseases, plant parasitic nematode management in vegetable crops and automated pest insect monitoring systems.