BIODIVERSITY BRIGHTSPOTS – WOODLANDS
TACKLING THREATS TO WOODLAND GLIDER HABITAT
Overview
This project is improving woodland habitat in the southern part of the Wet Tropics, which is a biodiversity hot-spot for threatened species including the mahogany glider, ant plant and broadleaf tea tree ecological community.
Background
Woodland habitat in the Wet Tropics region has been significantly impacted by development, agriculture and forestry. What remains is fragmented and its quality has also been compromised by weeds, habitat-thickening and altered fire regimes.
Mahogany gliders, already listed as endangered, are limited to small pockets of habitat. Other woodland species, like the endangered broad-leafed tea tree ecological community and the ant plant (listed as ‘vulnerable’), are also at risk.
Solutions
- Tree planting to reconnect corridors
- Weed management in priority areas
- Cultural burning with the Girringun Rangers
- Mahogany glider monitoring program
Achievements so far
- 277 hectares of appropriate fire management
- 105 hectares of weed control
- 2 gaps in priority corridors revegetated
- Landholders advised on tree planting to support mahogany glider populations
- Revegetation Guidelines Booklet for landholders.
- Supporting genetic study of mahogany gliders to ensure long-term survival
Locations
A Wet Tropics area from Tully to Ollera Creek (north of Townsville).
Partners
Mahogany Glider Recovery Team, Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, James Cook University and the Herbert River Catchment Group.
Funders
This five-year project is supported by Terrain NRM through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
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