Rediscovering native grasslands

Most people think of rainforest when they think of the Wet Tropics. Not grasslands. But grasslands were once widespread here, and maintained by indigenous groups.

Today, treeless native grasslands are perhaps one of the most rare, threatened and overlooked ecosystems in our region. One example is at Mission Beach, where kangaroo grass grows at Clump Point but is overrun by guinea grass, an environmental weed. Others are Eubenangee Swamp National Park near Innisfail and Cattle Creek south of Ingham.

Threats to the few remaining Wet Tropics treeless grasslands include weeds, trees, introduced pasture grasses, the absence of fire and a low level of awareness about the predicament for these areas.

Some community groups and organisations are now working to raise awareness. Eubenangee Swamp National Park showcases the Wet Tropics region’s best remaining lowland grassland. And a new Clump Point Coastcare group is working with Djiru Traditional Owners, the Cassowary Coast Council and grassland restoration experts on restoring the Clump Point grassland.

“This grassland is important to us. It has always been here. We’ve had a connection since we were children,’’ Djiru’s Leonard Andy says.