Background

In 1998/99 the Taroom Shire Landcare Group did a two week pilot study, which was funded by the Meat and Livestock Association. A National Dung Beetle planning forum was held in Brisbane in December 1999, and it was at this forum that the National Dung Beetle Steering Committee was formed. The Committee assisted in the development of a dung beetle project proposal for Queensland.

The project was entitled "Improving Sustainable Land Management Systems in Queensland using Dung Beetles" and was funded by the Natural Heritage Trust for the years 2000 to 2002. The lead agency for the project is currently Agforce Queensland with project support provided by the Department of Primary Industries, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Natural Resources, Landcare groups and Landholders.

The project received around $800,000 over two years and saw four Project Officers appointed across Queensland, as well as technical support. More than 100 trapping sites have been established across the state and beetles collected monthly by co-operating landholders, to monitor dung beetle species diversity and activity. The project has identified dung beetle species which were abundant enough to be harvested and redistributed to suitable locations around the state.

For further information on the Queensland Project please contact Dung Beetles Australia.