Native Vegetation: Protecting Native Vegetation From Invasive Weeds

PROTECTING NATIVE VEGETATION

ON-THE-GROUND WORK TO IMPROVE HABITAT

Overview

This project is improving 1000 hectares of priority native vegetation by targeting areas compromised by weeds, fire and habitat fragmentation.

Background

The Wet Tropics is the most biologically diverse region in Australia and 35 per cent of it is under world-heritage area protection. But many threats continue to erode biodiversity values – from weeds and pests to habitat fragmentation and changed fire regimes.

Terrain NRM is working with local governments and the Far North Queensland Region of Councils to identify important patches of native vegetation that would most benefit from restorative activities.

Solutions

Weed control
Tree planting
Assisted forest regeneration
Fire management
Surveying native vegetation before, during and after activities, and sharing learnings for future projects.

Locations

Daintree, Cassowary Coast and Atherton Tablelands regions

Partners

Local government (councils)

Funders

This $641,000 four-year project is funded by the Queensland Government’s Natural Resources Investment Program.

Achievements so far

Three projects have been funded to tackle:

Hiptage in Mossman River rainforest areas
Guinea grass and bramble in rainforest at Nyleta Creek, Silkwood, where world-heritage rainforest was badly damaged by fire and weeds
Lantana and guinea grass at South Cedar Creek near Ravenshoe where it is threatening a rare wet sclerophyll ecotone