Littoral Rainforest knowledge building

Representatives from the Juunjuwarra Aboriginal Corporation were provided with littoral rainforest and coastal vine thicket training at a workshop at the Cape york NRM Cooktown office last week before heading out to country to put their knowledge into practice. 

Organised by our Biodiversity Projects officer James Dobson, the survey techniques will be used to review the landing area of the Starcke River mouth to determine the regional ecosystem category and the extent of the littoral rainforest and coastal vine thicket patches. 

“We put together a guideline which provides the technical requirements of grading the vegetation and identifying any threats to the ecosystems,” James said.

“We went out to the area for three days following the workshop and the information gathered will be included in any management work for the future.”

Littoral rainforest and coastal vine thickets are unique ecosystem communities defined by the influence of oceanic processes. This threatened ecosystem is found along the east coast of Australia, including the eastern and western coasts of Cape York. They provide an important buffer zone against marine or ocean impacts and provide habitat for threatened species, such as the spectacled flying fox, the migratory Torres Strait pigeon, superb fruit dove and cassowary.

Major threats generally include coastal development and inundation from increased cyclone activity. On Cape York, where there is minimal coastal development, primary threats include weed infestation, feral animal damage, fire encroachment, and pressures associated with uncontrolled high visitor numbers.

“The area is a popular visitor spot so any management steps will be taken in cooperation between the Juunjuwarra Aboriginal Corporation, which represents the Traditional Owners of this area and has Native Title interests over it, and the Cook Shire Council which has management responsibility for the area,” James said. 

This project is supported by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.