COASTAL ecosystems in North Queensland will be better protected under a new three-year program to be delivered in the Burdekin region.
Habitats around the Black, Haughton and Don catchments, between Townsville and Bowen, will be the focus of the $3.8 million From the Land To the Sea: Improving the Health of Coastal Ecosystems initiative.
NQ Dry Tropics will work with community partners to improve the health of native vegetation, fish and other animals in a bid to improve the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef.
NQ Dry Tropics' Protecting Biodiversity Manager Rachael Payne said coastal ecosystems, including wetlands and creeks played a key support role for the reef.
"They provide essential habitat for native species including fish, birds, invertebrates and crustaceans, and capture nutrients and sediment before they reach the ocean," Ms Payne said.
"We will be working with community partners on a range of measures to improve the health and extent of native vegetation, and fish and other animal species that rely on healthy habitat corridors connected to the reef.
"These will include mitigating barriers to fish migration by constructing three fishways on the Haughton River, including at Val Bird Weir and Giru Weir."
Tackling invasive pests, including plants and animals will also be part of the plan.
Ms Payne said the project would complement work already underway around Bowling Green Bay National Park, and other catchments in the lower Burdekin region.
The project is funded by the Australian Government's Reef Trust, and delivered through the National Landcare Program Regional Land Partnerships agreement.
The program is one of six recently-announced reef region coastal environment protection projects being delivered by natural resource management groups - NQ Dry Tropics, Cape York NRM, Terrain NRM, Reef Catchments, Fitzroy Basin Association and Burnett Mary Regional Group