AN eDNA monitoring program for native aquatic species including platypus will launch across more than 200locations in South East Queensland in a landmark milestone for the region’s conservation.

The $1.2 million program will officially launch at sites in Ipswich, Scenic Rim, Brisbane, Logan, and Moreton Bay using innovative environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring to uncover data on the region’s nativespecies including platypus, rakali, freshwater turtles, lungfish, frogs and endangered Mary River cod.

It is the first regionally co-ordinated eDNA monitoring program across 11 South East Queensland councils.

Led by Resilient Rivers SEQ, and delivered by Wildlife Queensland, data collected will help support future conservation efforts including vital habitat restoration and waterway management.

Resilient Rivers SEQ is one of 29 commitments being delivered under the SEQ City Deal, a partnership between the Australian Government, Queensland Government and Council of Mayors (SEQ). The SEQ City Deal aims to improve the accessibility, prosperity and liveability of the region, which is home to more than four million residents.

The SEQ City Deal will invest $40 million into Resilient Rivers SEQ with $10 million each from the Australian Government, Queensland Government, Council of Mayors (SEQ) and Seqwater.

The program will include community workshops, citizen science activities, and an interactive online map helping connect residents with their local environment.

This will build on a decade of community-led monitoring through Wildlife Queensland including the PlatyCount campaign, which has already surveyed more than 300 sites.

Monitoring will begin this month as part of Resilient Rivers SEQ’s new two-year program to restore habitat, enhance biodiversity and improve water security across 16,000 kilometres of rivers and streams, fromNoosa in the north, to the Logan and Albert Rivers in the south, and west to the Great Dividing Range.