National Forum

Hugo Spooner

Hugo Spooner is a beef producer, running a family operated business in the Central Highlands of Queensland, about 300 km west of Rockhampton. As a contribution to the preservation of remnant vegetation, he has had a Nature Refuge declared on 1200 hectares, 25% of the property. It will soon be the site of the first release onto private land of the rare bridled nail-tailed wallaby. He lives in one of the country's 'hottest' areas as far as the tree clearing debate is concerned and is interested in incentives for the landholders who manage their land responsibly. Over a period of ten months he has developed a stewardship proposal which has been widely circulated and analysed by government, greens, landholders and producer bodies.