Bajigal Habitat Restoration Plan

Abstract

Developed under the Restoration of Reef Islands Project (RORI), the Bajigal Habitat Restoration Plan (the Plan) aims to create a shared vision of co-management for the future of Bajigal (Stephens Island) which reflects the shared values of the island. Bajigal is part of the Barnard Island Group National Park managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) along with Bimi (Sisters Island). In July 2024, representatives from Mandubarra Aboriginal Land and Sea Inc (MALSI), the Reef Authority, QPWS and Aestra met on Mandubarra Country at Kurrimine Beach to agree on a shared vision for co-managing Bajigal and discuss management options for the Island. A shared vision for Bajigal was defined as Traditional Ecological Knowledge and western science working together to support the environment of Bajigal to be healthy and resilient. The shared vision requires Traditional Owners and western science practitioners to work together to address threats on Bajigal and make the island more resilient to future conditions. To support the implementation of the vision, this Plan outlines the values present on Bajigal and the ecological threats affecting them to define an approach for on-ground management activities which work towards restoring and improving habitat. This work forms a key deliverable under the Restoration of Reef Islands Project, delivered through the Reef Joint Field Management Program (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) in partnership with Mandubarra Land and Sea Inc, and Aestra as the environmental delivery partner, and funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust. The project aims to support the rehabilitation, enhancement, and long-term resilience of island ecosystems within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area