 This is a group of organisations who have come together to have the NSW and Queensland Stock Routes managed for travelling stock and biodiversity.
Although their use has decreased, the stock routes of NSW and Qld provide a valuable service to travelling stock, as well as an emergency drought refuge. With steeply rising fuel prices their use is likely to increase again.
For over 100 years their managers (Rural Land Protection Boards in NSW and Local Governments in Qld) have maintained their grazing value and incidentally their biodiversity values. The light and intermittent grazing regimen has ensured that the native vegetation is mostly in reasonable condition and that reservoirs of native seed persist.
Many cross cleared agricultural and pastoral landscapes and provide habitat for flora and fauna lost from the surrounding areas. The only surviving examples of some Regional Ecosystems are on stock routes.
In many places they are the only source of connectivity in the landscape, providing corridors for the movement of wildlife and plants. Stock routes incorporate a variety of local landforms, and vegetation types. Stock routes often contain fertile soils and much greater biodiversity than adjoining private grazed or cropped land.
Some flora and fauna are likely to be adversely affected by climate change. Stock routes provide east-west and north-south corridors for these species west of the Dividing Range.
 The iconic Long Paddock also has cultural values associated with indigenous trade routes and sites of archaeological significance. Both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples have family and personal connections to certain stock routes. Stock routes have links with exploration and settlement.
For more information see the Coalition website.
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