SDG 15 – Life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

2024 progress

The University of Queensland (UQ) supports the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems through a whole-of-institution approach that integrates research, education, community engagement and operational practice. Expertise covers a wide range of areas, in ecology, genetics and evolution, environmental management, animal and wildlife sciences, environmental policy and law, conservation decision making, regenerating ecosystems and sustainable agriculture.

Research at UQ advances ecological monitoring, threatened species recovery, habitat restoration and conservation policy. UQ’s research stations at Heron Island, Moreton Bay and Hidden Vale and the UQ-hosted Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) lead efforts to improve biodiversity outcomes through long-term ecosystem monitoring, restoration science, and innovative technologies for species detection and environmental management.

UQ offers diverse education outreach and public engagement opportunities that build awareness and capacity among students, communities, and industry, from lectures and seminars to field-based learning and collaborative projects. These initiatives promote sustainable land use across sectors such as agriculture, tourism and forestry, while fostering inclusive partnerships with local communities, Traditional Owners and conservation stakeholders.

UQ’s operational commitments are reflected in its Environment and Sustainability Policy and the UQ Design Standards, which guide the sustainable management and development of The University’s campuses and associated lands. Local biodiversity is embedded in planning and development processes through environmental management plans, native revegetation, pest control and habitat enhancement activities.

Read our SDG 15 2024 report (PDF, 232.3 KB)

See how we make a difference across key areas:

Events, education and outreach
Research and innovation
Campus environment, operations, policies and planning

Events, education and outreach

UQ has a significant teaching, learning and research footprint in SDG 15 and is leveraging its expertise to deliver for the public good and enrich communities, including through capacity building and external engagement. For SDG 15, UQ is improving agricultural sustainability, and proactively contributing directly and indirectly to conservation, biodiversity and environmental management of land-based ecosystems.

Events about sustainable use of land

UQ proactively promotes the conservation and sustainable utilisation of land, including forests and wild land such as bushland, through its events.

How we are achieving this

UQ hosted a bush care working bee on 7 April 2024 at St Lucia as part of the UQ Green Ambassador Program, involving a collaboration between the UQ Geography and Environmental Management Society (GEMS), the UQ Greens Society, and the St Lucia Bushcare Group. This free event acknowledged bush care as integral to maintaining natural ecosystems, providing participants with an opportunity to get outside and learn more about caring for our local bushland and promoting bush care conservation.
In February 2024, the TC Beirne School of Law hosted the 10th Frontiers in Environmental Law Colloquium at UQ. The event brought together environmental law academics and practitioners to explore the theme 'Looking forward and looking back: balancing environmental protection, conservation and restoration'. With a focus on legal and interdisciplinary research, sessions included presentations and collaborative discussions on the climate and biodiversity crises, addressing diverse issues including ecological restoration, the role of protected areas on public and private land, mechanisms to implement global biodiversity goals domestically, and the role of Indigenous Law.
On 2 October 2024, the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery in collaboration with UQ hosted a day of talks and tours exploring the future of sustainable timber and forestry in South East Queensland. Part of 'Forest to Fibre', an exhibition highlighting the Fraser Coast’s effluent-irrigated hardwood plantations and their role in sustainable forestry, this event explored sustainable timber processing, local histories and environmental innovation. The exhibition was supported by Fraser Coast Regional Council’s Water Reuse team and was open free to the public every Tuesday to Sunday during 21 September 2024 – 17 November 2024.

Educational programmes on ecosystems

UQ shares its expertise to support the broader education of local and national communities about ecosystems, and leverages collaborations with local communities to maximise impact.

How we are achieving this

As part of a March 2024 event for BrisScience, UQ’s free public lecture series that makes science accessible to all, Professor James Watson presented on 'Finding and Conserving Australia’s most Elusive Birds'. This talk, open to the public and local community, explored how the use of citizen science data has helped to determine which species are the least well-known and need urgent attention, as well as revealing Australia’s top 10 least-known birds and the science and conservation efforts that are being undertaken to save them.
The annual Moreton Bay Research Station (MBRS) open day took place during National Science Week on 10 August 2024 on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). The MBRS opened its doors to the public to celebrate over 60 years of teaching and research done in and on the local ecosystem of Moreton Bay. The event, free and open to the public and local community, emphasised 'species survival in Moreton Bay' and involved interactive exhibits, nature walks, research seminars and cultural talks. With contributions from the island’s Traditional Owners, the Quandamooka community, and esteemed scientists alike including UQ’s Professor Hugh Possingham, the event explored and encouraged sound environmental stewardship of Moreton Bay’s unique and diverse ecosystems.
The Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science hosted a free 'Brewery Science' panel discussion on Sunday 18 August 2024 at the Straddie Brewing Co on Minjerribah with UQ Professors Richard Fuller and Cath Lovelock. This event offered an opportunity for the local community to learn more about the biodiversity of Moreton Bay, from leopard sharks to eastern curlews, and the current research and conservation efforts being undertaken to preserve it.
On 28 August 2024, lead biology teachers and science department heads from schools in the Lockyer Valley, Toowoomba, and surrounds attended an exclusive professional development opportunity at Hidden Vale Research Station. They were able to learn about cutting-edge research taking place at Hidden Vale Research Station and engage in open discussion to draw curriculum links with conservation.
On 30 October 2024, Hidden Vale Research Station delivered its first hands-on, interactive and educational day trip for senior high school biology students from West Moreton Anglican College. Guided by UQ science professionals, students participated in ecological field and lab workshops aligned with the Queensland Senior Biology curriculum, drawing upon a range of professional sampling methods, surveying techniques and specialised equipment, in a variety of contrasting ecosystems located on the property.

Educational outreach programmes on sustainable agriculture

UQ has expertise in areas such as agronomy and farming systems, crop science, horticulture, soil health, ecology and protected cropping, and are leaders in their field making a real-world impact. Knowledge sharing activities include educational outreach to local and national communities on sustainable agriculture practices, and practices relating to the management of land.

How we are achieving this

Sustainably farmed food on campus – UQ has community gardens at the St Lucia and Gatton campuses, which offer hands‑on spaces where students, staff and members of the broader community collaborate to grow fresh, sustainably farmed food. In 2024 the Community Gardens hosted a variety of free educational workshops for the broader community on topics including water management conservation, seasonal planning, crop rotation, soil health, permaculture, composting, organic gardening and how to design a native garden. The St Lucia garden, featuring 8 raised beds, an orchard, composting facilities, rainwater harvesting and an outdoor kitchen, functions as a living classroom, hosting workshops, working bees and harvest events that teach organic methods and water‑wise cropping. At the Gatton campus, nearly1 hectare supports 38 beds, a soil‑science pit, seating decks and a fenced zone for toxic plant species for veterinary training. Produce is grown using compost from the nearby resource recovery centre and crop rotations are guided by academic programs in agriculture and plant science.
The Future of Sustainable Food Production event – On 14 October 2024, Dr Nicole Robinson from the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability hosted an event as part of BrisScience, UQ’s free public lecture series that brings science out of the labs and to the people. Themed 'The Future of Sustainable Food Production', the event looked at how maintaining soil health is essential for sustainable agriculture and food security. With the world’s agricultural systems being threatened by degradation and pollution, this lecture explored how new developments in revitalising our soils, including the use of novel materials – such as biodegradable plastics – can support sustainable crop production.
Drought Resilient Soils and Landscaping project: In 2024, UQ researchers from the Faculty of Science launched the Drought Resilient Soils and Landscaping (DRSL) project, working with 20 farmers to trial innovative soil management strategies via a series of meetings, farmer-led demonstration sites, field trials and regionally tailored educational materials. Supported by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the research aims to improve drought resilience by enhancing soil management knowledge. Expected outcomes include increasing sustainable land management by minimising off-site impact such as runoff, erosion, nutrient loss and greenhouse gas emissions.
Genes, Germs, Greenhouse Gases and Gastronomy seminar: In May 2024 at the Beef 2024 event in Rockhampton, UQ’s QAAFI delivered a public seminar titled 'Genes, Germs, Greenhouse Gases and Gastronomy'. UQ researchers showcased their latest findings and solutions in advanced genomics, vaccine development, breeding techniques and nutrition that are positively impacting the sustainability of beef industries for northern Australia. Targeted at beef industry professionals — including producers, veterinarians and extension officers — the seminar bridged cutting-edge research with practical land and herd management education in northern Australia’s beef sector.

Educational outreach programmes on sustainable tourism

The UQ Business School is the only university in Australia to be certified by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The UNWTO promotes responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, and as a certified member UQ leverages its expertise in ways that educate local and national communities on sustainable management of land for tourism.

How we are achieving this

The UQ Talks: How to Travel More Sustainably event was a free, studio-broadcast webinar for the public held on 16 April 2024. It considered the growing concerns around aviation emission and the impact of over-tourism and communities, promoting awareness of the need to travel sustainably and offering green travel advice for all voyagers and business owners.
The 'Tourism Destination Decarbonisation Toolkit' was developed by UQ to help tourism destinations build climate mitigation capacity and decarbonise tourism. Based on research and real-world case studies, the toolkit provides practical strategies across 9 decarbonisation areas. It is designed for destination management organisations (DMOs) to develop a coherent and comprehensive climate mitigation plan for systemic change, and includes a mobile-friendly website to increase accessibility. The project supports the tourism sector’s transition to sustainability and was showcased at COP29, the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan, underlining its global relevance in addressing climate change through industry-specific solutions.
‘Strengthening Sustainability of the Indian Ocean Territories Marine Parks and Local Economy Through Collaborative World-Class Ecotourism’ is a collaborative project with a focus on sustainable management of land for tourism. In 2024, UQ researchers continued to engage with communities on Christmas Island for the project, funded by Parks Australia and in partnership with Ecotourism Australia and the Christmas Island Tourism Association. The aim is to provide direction for sustainable tourism on Christmas Island by investigating the local communities’ preferences and attitudes towards tourism development, especially in the context of growing the tourism industry on this remote island, where the national park makes up 63% of land, and mining is being phased out. Dr Noreen Breakey visited the island in May 2024 with Dr Karen Hughes, and in December 2024 with Dr Faith Ong, to ensure that various communities had the opportunity to share their views through the future of tourism survey, while also meeting with tourism and government stakeholders. The survey was offered in English, Chinese and Malay to reflect the multicultural nature of the island’s communities. It was primarily online but also had paper options, which were especially helpful for engagement with the seniors group. Several recommendations have been developed from the project, including that sustainable tourism development must be based on the priorities and vision of the local Christmas Island community.
Associate Professor Ya-Yen Sun from the School of Business was invited by the United Nations World Tourism Organization to present at 2 sessions on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in November 2024. Associate Professor Sun’s presentation addressed findings from a study looking at the increase in tourism’s global carbon footprint between 2009 and 2019 by tracking international and domestic travel for 175 countries. Recommendations include limiting excessive tourism growth, reducing long-haul flights to lower the industry’s emissions, and targeted measures such as carbon taxes, carbon budgets and alternative fuel obligations.
During 2024, Professor Sarah Dolnicar and other researchers in the School of Business continued work on the ARC Australian Laureate Fellowship, 'Making a Sustainable Tourist'. This project develops and validates a new theory that explains, predicts and elicits pro-environmental conduct in tourism-settings. It asserts that increased pleasure or changed infrastructure are required to boost pro-environmental actions in tourist contexts. The outcomes are expected to be effective, evidenced-based social interventions that reduce the huge environmental burden of tourism and other pleasure-focused industries, which are needed to manage the impacts arising from growth of sectors critical to the Australian economy, such as tourism.

Research and innovation

Maintain and extend current ecosystems’ biodiversity

UQ researchers, often in collaboration with others, are applying their discipline expertise and capabilities to maintain and extend existing ecosystems and their biodiversity, of both plants and animals, with a focus on ecosystems under threat.

How we are achieving this

The Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN Australia) delivered major advancements involving ecosystem monitoring, through its collaborative efforts to gather data, and is directly supporting SDG 15. One example led by UQ that is helping track progress towards conservation targets and inform conservation strategies is The Threatened Species Index (TSX), a vital data asset for tracking and reporting on changes in Australia’s threatened and near-threatened species at national, state and regional levels. The 2024 TSX revealed trends in how Australia’s threatened species are faring overall. It shows that threatened species population sizes have shrunk by an average of 73% since 1985. The TSX covers plants, mammals and birds and continues to expand, integrating additional monitoring datasets from across the country each year – and, in 2024, pilot frog data were added. TSX is managed by the NCRIS-funded Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) at UQ, having been initiated by the Threatened Species Recovery Hub at UQ under a National Environmental Science Program (NESP) grant from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
In July 2024, researchers from the School of the Environment unveiled a new airborne environmental DNA (eDNA) collection tool for endangered wildlife monitoring. The non‑invasive, cost‑effective method captures airborne DNA shed by animals to detect the presence of wildlife species, including koalas, in their natural habitats in the local Redlands region. The technology can improve detection and tracking of endangered species, aiding efforts and strategies for conservation. The tool is scalable and researchers are looking to develop a toolkit for other Australian threatened species such as gliders.
Professor James Watson co-authored a study in 2024 on the 'Global rarity of high-integrity tropical rainforests for threatened and declining terrestrial vertebrates'. The work evaluated the global availability of structurally intact, minimally disturbed tropical rainforest, and found that only 25% of that remaining is of high quality, which is a critical factor in reducing extinction risk for a range of species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The study, published in 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences' emphasises the importance of protecting high-integrity rainforests to meet the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 2030 targets and avert further biodiversity loss.
An evaluation of the Threatened Species Program (TSP) was undertaken by the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) over the period 2022–2025, in collaboration with the Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation. The program aims to manage and conserve threatened species in Queensland. The evaluation worked towards ensuring the program’s success and effectiveness by developing an understanding of how the TSP interacts with its stakeholders, how their varied contributions are incorporated, and how outcomes and learnings are translated into future action.

Collaboration for shared land ecosystems

UQ partners with industry, NGOs, government and community to help maintain and contribute towards the development of healthy and resilient land, environments and shared ecosystems, and ensure the protection of biodiversity and nature that underpins our way of life in South-East Queensland.

How we are achieving this

UQ’s Healthy Moreton Bay Initiative, launched in July 2024 and led by UQ’s Centres for Marine Science and Biodiversity and Conservation Science, is collaborating closely with Traditional Owners, communities, The Goodman Foundation, NGOs, businesses and governments to co-develop sustainable and scalable interventions with the aim of restoring the Bay’s unique biodiversity by 2032. Established in 1949, UQ’s Moreton Bay Research Station on North Stradbroke Island is an integral part of the North Stradbroke Island community and key facility for this ambitious initiative. The Healthy Moreton Bay Initiative recognises the ecological pressures present on Moreton Bay, a place of interconnected habitats that supports one of the highest levels of biodiversity of anywhere along Australia’s coastline, with challenges from runoff, pollution, erosion and decades of human impact. The initiative involves interdisciplinary field research, data modelling, solution testing, and conservation tools for environmental protection.
UQ’s Hidden Vale Research Station, a partnership with the Turner Family Foundation, provides researchers with access to thousands of hectares of multiple ecosystems, of which 4,500 hectares has perpetual Nature Refuge status, to undertake research projects. Hidden Vale continued its mission throughout 2024 to restore and conserve habitats and wildlife population, leading by example through innovative conservation, sustainable infrastructure, and diverse educational programs. Hidden Vale’s research seeks to understand biodiversity, particularly distribution and trends, effective restoration techniques, threats to native fauna and flora, ecology and biology of understudied species, rewilding, predator-control methods, and the role of ex-situ conservation. Projects undertaken contribute to delivering resilient ecosystems and self-sustaining populations of fauna and flora where the learnings are able to be applied at the global level. The station also facilitates a diverse range of education and training offerings to equip students to become conservation leaders. Community engagement is carried out through environmental awareness and citizen science activities. World-class captive wildlife facilities, an onsite veterinary clinic and laboratories combined with high-quality scientific and wildlife equipment means the station provides extensive resources and support to researchers across many disciplines.
On 18 November 2024, the Law School held a Workshop on Model Codes for Marine and Coastal Restoration at UQ Brisbane City. The workshop addressed the gap between the policy ambition to upscale ecological restoration (on international, national and Australian state levels), and the ability to do restoration, particularly in the marine and coastal space. An identified solution is for state governments to develop restoration codes to sit within existing legislative frameworks. The purpose of the workshop was to build on recent progress and momentum in this space by bringing together government decision-makers, restoration practitioners and scientists to reflect on risk in restoration with a view to informing future restoration codes. A particular focus was on reintroduction of tidal flow and oyster reef restoration.

Campus environment, operations, policies and planning

UQ is home to diverse and endemic species of flora and fauna, with a significant physical footprint, occupying around 1,670 hectares involving various campuses, agricultural land at Gatton, bushland, gardens, lakes, wetlands and island-based research stations. UQ’s Strategic Plan includes a strategy to support and promote the UNSDGs in UQ’s campus operations, and in actioning this UQ combines operational practice, campus stewardship, ecological research and restoration initiatives to manage its associated terrestrial ecosystems for long-term resilience and sustainability. UQ actively manages and restores native vegetation, protects vulnerable species, and enhances biodiversity through vegetation corridors, bird boxes, revegetation projects, native plantings, sustainable weed and pest management and Land for Wildlife areas.

Supporting land ecosystems

How we are achieving this

Policies supporting land ecosystems

The Environment and Sustainability Policy commits UQ to environmentally responsible and sustainable practices across all its operations, explicitly aiming to protect and, where feasible, enhance the natural environment by:

integrating sustainability into planning and decision-making, including investments, corporate planning, management and decision processes
facilitating operational stewardship via the Property and Facilities division’s oversight of systems to manage environmental performance, monitor compliance and advocate for sustainable practices
raising engagement and awareness by promoting sustainable practices among staff, students, contractors and visitors
operating with transparency and accountability, including through annual reporting, recording environmental metrics, and running a sustainability strategy to guide progress.

UQ’s Biodiversity Management Program includes a number of initiatives such as wildlife management programs to ensure safe natural habitats for native species and the reduction, where appropriate, of non-native species. These programs achieve this by tracking numbers of certain species, including monitoring nests and eggs, and managing vegetation to support healthy ecosystems. The recent UQ Lakes and Amphitheatre Renewal project has also been working to restore ecological function to the St Lucia campus lake system by improving water quality, enhancing native species and supporting local biodiversity.

Planning and development support for biodiversity

UQ’s planning and development processes are governed by the UQ Design Standards (PDF, 1.16MB). Targets and requirements in the standards have been derived from several different green initiatives and rating programmes. Sustainability initiatives are to be embedded holistically into all projects through good design, including through urban greening and enhancing of biodiversity, and preservation of heritage, cultural and natural assets, among other initiatives.

The standards articulate that all major projects require an Environmental Management Plan (EMP), which should align with the current UQ Sustainability Strategy and must be approved by the UQ Sustainability Manager. Contractors are also responsible for the preparation and adoption of Environmental Management Plans through all phases of the project, and need to provide relevant documentation to the Sustainability Office for approval prior to project commencement.

Land-sensitive waste disposal

Water discharge guidelines and standards

UQ complies with environmental regulatory requirements primarily under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Queensland Environmental Protection Act 1994, their subordinate legislation and local government laws where relevant. This includes, for example, the requirement for UQ to:

ensure any discharge does not harm ecological communities or listed species reliant on the waterway
develop and maintain water management plans to show compliance with environmental protection standards.

As an example, the UQ Gatton sewage treatment plant operates as a 100% effluent disposal to land system, eliminating any discharge to waters. The treated effluent supports agricultural irrigation, reducing freshwater demand and protecting aquatic ecosystems. The activity adheres to strict water quality standards under the environmental permit issued by the Queensland Government.

Furthermore, the large urban lake at UQ’s St Lucia campus was restored and re-opened in 2024 with the redesign focussed on improving water quality, amenity and biodiversity. A lake water quality monitoring program has been established to monitor the ecological health of the new system, pollutant loading and removal pathways, risk factors and performance. Water quality objectives were defined for the lake using a combination of ANZECC (2000) trigger values and Australian Runoff Quality (2006) Guidelines values.

Policy on plastic waste reduction

UQ’s Environment and Sustainability Policy demonstrates a commitment to environmental protection and compliance with all relevant environmental legislation. The policy states that UQ will transition towards becoming a single use plastic free university, with the campuses currently free of single-use plastic straws.

To aid this transition, UQ conducts annual waste audits to help identify opportunities for improvement and track progress toward waste reduction goals. Guides are made available for campus retailers and mobile food vendors to support businesses on campus in reducing their plastic use. Additionally, a Sustainable Event Guide is available to support staff and students in minimising waste at events.

Policy on hazardous waste disposal

UQ has a range of policies, procedures and guidelines to ensure that hazardous materials are handled, stored and disposed of in line with best practice. Examples include: