SEQ retains significant areas of woody vegetation that provides a wide range of social, environmental and economic benefits to the community. The vitality and extent of this retained vegetation underpins a healthy and productive society and economy.

This retained vegetation faces significant pressure from population and infrastructure development, fire, weeds and pests: Moreover, the impacts of these pressures are often magnified as large tracts of vegetation are broken-up and smaller-medium sized tracts are increasingly isolated. In 2007-08, 5,254 ha of woody vegetation was cleared in the SEQ region (DERM, 2009), including over 1,300 ha of remnant (original) vegetation; similar clearing rates occurred from 2004-07.

Strategic revegetation will contribute to maintaining the area of vegetation and the connections between them thus strengthening the network of retained vegetation, while simultaneously increasing habitats for plants and animals.

Example projects and activities:

• Koala habitat - At Murrumba Downs, Koala habitat is being replanted through a project with Energex and Seqwater. This is also an example of a priority species and habitat project.
• Through eTree, a partnership with Landcare Australia Ltd and Computershare, landholders in SEQ have planted 100,000 trees across 100 ha between 2004 and 2010 to restore degraded areas, buffer reserves, restore riparian corridors and increase biodiversity.