Impacts to Threatened Species reduced

Related Content

• NRM Investment Programs

  

  Regional Land Partnerships

  The aim of Regional Land Partnerships is "to protect, conserve, and provide for the productive use of Australia's water, soil, plants and animals and the ecosystems in which they live and interact, in partnership with governments, industry and communities. Regional Land Partnerships is a major component of the second phase of the National Landcare Program. The investment for 2018-2023 will fund biodiversity projects focused on protecting rainforest, woodlands and coastal vine thickets as well as cassowaries and the golden shouldered parrot.

  

  Cape York - Keep It Clean

  Organisations across Cape York are working together to launch a campaign to educate people about the need to deal with their rubbish responsibly when travelling around the Cape. Funded by the Queensland Government and coordinated by Cape York NRM, the campaign will target both locals and tourists and urge them to plan ahead for responsible waste disposal before they even hit the road.   

  

  AMRUN

  Purchase of 420kg Mixed Native Grass Seed. Establishment of Cape York community seeds, casual employment of Indigenous people collecting seed and payment by kg of collection. Tranining in collection and storage methods. Seed to be sold to RIO but also purchased by the Gully Remediation projects

  

  Threatened Species Recovery Fund: Cape York Cassowaries

  Cape York NRM component of the Threatened Species Recovery Fund: Cape York Cassowaries – Traditional owners recording habitats and addressing threats to habitat

  This project built upon the knowledge of Cape York southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsoni) populations by working with Traditional Owners to map distribution and abundance in and around the Mcllwraith Ranges. The project was delivered in partnership with CSIRO, Kalan Enterprises, Wet Tropics Management Authority and Cape York NRM.

  

  Natural Resource Management Investment Program 2017-2018

  The State has allocated $80 million to the regional natural resource management investment program over five years from 2013 to 2018, including $30 million to protect the Great Barrier Reef. The majority of the funding is being provided to support strategic projects delivered through Queensland's regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies. These organisations provide an important link between governments and communities. They also work collaboratively with volunteer and grass-roots organisations (e.g. Landcare), rural industry groups and landholders.

  

  Building Resilient Landscapes - Project Development with Cape York Nature Refuge Landholders

  This project worked with Cape York Nature Refuge Landholders to provide support to develop and submit on-ground conservation project applications for funding under Northern Gulf Resource Management Groups project 'Building Resilient Landscapes- Maintaining and Enhancing Biodiversity Values in Northern Gulf and Cape York Nature Refuges'. These project applications included detailed project summaries, maps, budgets and monitoring approaches.

• Land Manager Stories

  

  Gamba grass

  Under Queensland’s Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 gamba grass is a declared Class 2 pest - land managers must take reasonable steps to keep land free of the species and it is an offence to introduce, keep or supply the species without a permit. 

  In 2012 Gamba grass was declared a Weed of National Significance. 

  

  Research Project - Crab Island Flatback Turtles

  Project Number: CY PA 13 - Crab Island

  Project Name: Crab Island Flatback Turtles

  Organisation: Cape York Peninsula Development Association

  Project status: Funded by NHT 

  Amount provided: $13,800

  Date started: April 2008   Date completed: December 2008

  MATs from Cape York Peninsula NRM Plan:  CB3.2; RA2.1; RA2.3; CB3.3; CB1.4

  Summary

• Newsletter Articles

  

  Western Cape turtles face an uncertain future

  As the year winds down, planning ramps up for WCTTAA’s end of year Forum which will focus on reviewing the outcomes of the 2019 turtle season and contemplating the year ahead.

  

  Welcome to Cape York Healthy Country Newsletter

  Welcome to our first newsletter for 2021. Some people will be glad to see the back of 2020, but there were many good things to come out of the previous 12 months. During 2020 Cape York NRM was able to restructure its operations and program support so that we are able to deliver the best on ground projects possible and we have an incredibly busy year planned for 2021. We welcome four new staff to the team and the Cooktown office is now bursting at the seams.

  

  Pig trapping Peer to Peer

  Words Juliana Foxlee | Photo provided

  A Cape York NRM project is asking farmers what changes should be made on their properties to support them and their businesses, and funding a number of their suggestions.

  Regional Extension Coordinator Oliver McConnachie explains:

  ‘I’m running a project to help farmers and land managers learn from each other through regular get-togethers, meetings and workshops.

  

  Pest Animal and weed management survey

  The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) is conducting a survey on pest animal and weed management. They are seeking assistance from owners/managers of agricultural properties to provide vital information about pest animal and weed management in Australia. 

  You are invited to complete the survey by 15 July 2019.

  

  Q&A with peer to peer network facilitators

  Cape York NRM and Terrain NRM Enhanced Extension Coordination in Reef Catchments project aims to change land management practice in order to improve the water quality of the northern Great Barrier Reef.

  

  Welcome to the Cape York Healthy Country Newsletter

  This edition of the Cape York Healthy Country Newsletter highlights how the combination of solid planning and good on ground delivery combine to bring about great results.

  

  Protecting coastal ecosystems on eastern Cape York

  Projects will be spread along the full length of eastern Cape York in an endeavour to protect fragile coastal ecosystems—wetlands and floodplains, coastal vegetation, and potential turtle nesting beaches—under the Catchments to Coral program that is funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust.

  A Catchments to Coral Reference Group was established in May this year that brings together a wide range of expertise from individuals and organisations to support the coordinated and strategic delivery of the Program’s outcomes and objectives.

  

  Coordinated, whole-of-region, feral pig response needed on Cape

  Cape York NRM and the Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA) back the National Farmers Federation’s call for a national feral pig control program to be put in place

  

  North Qld Threatened Species Symposium

  The North Queensland Threatened Species Symposium will be held on 16-17 February 2021 at the Cairns Colonial Club.

  The objective of the Symposium is to increase knowledge exchange and collaboration between organisations and individuals working to conserve threatened species and ecological communities in Northern Queensland.

  The symposium will include presentations from the Threatened Species Recovery Hub researchers, and will include workshops focussing on threatening processes that impact the threatened species in our region.

  

  Milman Island marine turtle monitoring 2019

  Words and photo Kerri Woodcock, Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA) Coordinator

  A remote sand cay off the north east coast of Cape York, Milman Island became a centre of activity during the annual turtle census in summer 2018/2019. Led by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science, turtle monitoring on Milman Island has been a regular event on the turtle calendar since 1991 when it was first established as a representative monitoring beach for northern Queensland hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata).

  

  Less than 3000 Golden-Shouldered Parrots Left in the Wild

  Words Juliana Foxlee | Photos Barry Lyon

  As the focus on Australia’s extinction crisis heats up, Cape York Natural Resource Management and Northern Gulf Resource Management Group are working to protect the habitat of one of Cape York’s rarest birds – the golden-shouldered parrot.

  

  Endangered turtles thrown a lifeline

  A generous donation of 50 turtle nest cages by two businesses, Hickey’s Metal Fabrication, and Specialised Brake and Clutch Service, to the Pormpuraaw Land and Sea Management Rangers (Pormpuraaw Rangers) will help the next generation of endangered olive ridley turtles survive.

  Staff from the Penrith, NSW - based businesses donated time and materials to the effort which was organised by Specialised Brake and Clutch Service’s Kevin Gavin.

  ‘Everyone was very pleased to help,’ he said.

  

  Reef Community Action Plan Released

  Strategies and prioritisation designed to deliver meaningful benefits to local catchments, rivers, beaches, important species, and the Great Barrier Reef.

  

  Searching for sawfish in the Gulf of Carpentaria

  In late 2015, Sharks And Rays Australia commenced a research project on the distribution and abundances of sawfish in Far North Queensland, the Cape York region and the Gulf of Carpentaria.

  

  Cape York cassowary survey

  How are cassowaries in north-eastern Cape York tracking?

  

  Coastal habitat protection for the eastern Cape

  The Communities and coastal habitats of eastern Cape York will benefit from the Australian Government’s Reef Trust funded, Catchments to Coral program. Running from 2021–2023, the project will invest in a broad range of activities that focus on improving the health and resilience of eastern Cape York catchments and coastal ecosystems.

  

  Seeds of Change

  “We can teach our young people now — to learn revegetation processes for a healthy, natural habitat, and what the results of healthy habitats mean.” Joey Dix

  Almost 80 Cape York Indigenous participants have been busy working on the Cape York Community Seed Collection Program. The program was established in early April 2018, attracting pickers from the Cape York communities of Cooktown, Hope Vale and Laura. Pickers have collected 840kg of mixed native grass seeds over three months.

  

  Springvale Station sediment solution

  Words and photos Juliana Foxlee

  Springvale Station Nature Refuge is located 40km south west of Cooktown. Once a cattle station, the culturally – important property is now a refuge for a diverse range of vulnerable flora and fauna.

  The Palaszczuk government purchased Springvale Station in 2016 in a bid to reduce sediment flowing from the degraded paddocks into the Normanby River.

  The Queensland government is now investing in a new project which will support water quality outcomes and *Bama livelihoods.

  

  Threatened species ‘citizen science’ initiative

  Within Australia, citizen science is increasing exponentially in popularity.

  

  Talaroo Fire Forum Focuses on Threatened Species

  Words Juliana Foxlee | Photo James Donaldson

  Cape York NRM are partnering with Northern Gulf Resource Management Group (Northern Gulf RMG) to facilitate opportunities for Aboriginal people to showcase and share their cultural fire knowledge and establish a network of Aboriginal fire practitioners.

  

  Support needed to continue turtle protection

  Despite its record of success, WCTTAA funding is due to cease in June 2020.

  ‘It is not overstating it to say WCTTAA is the only thing standing between olive ridley turtles and localised extinction on the western Cape,’ Kerri said.

  ‘If businesses would like to provide support for the program to continue, please contact WCTTAA on kerri.woodcock@capeyorknrm.com.au

  WCTTAA is supported by Cape York NRM and is funded by the Nest to Ocean Turtle Protection Program, a joint initiative of the Australian and Queensland Governments

  

  Cassowaries on eastern Cape York Peninsula

  Compared with their southern counterparts, we know very little about the Cape York cassowary sub- population.

  

  Native grasses initiative for the Mitchell River catchment

  Words Robyn May | Photo Cape York NRM

  Cape York land managers’ efforts to reduce the loss of valuable top soil, and increase grazing productivity, are being supported by a suite of native grass identification tools.

  

  Protecting Cape York’s endangered species

  Coastal vine thickets, ant plants and cassowaries need protection from a range of threats including out of control wildfires

  

  Action planning workshops a success

  Over the past several months, community members in south-east Cape York have come together during five interactive workshops to develop the Cape York Reef Community Action Plan (CAP).

  The workshops included community events held in Wujal Wujal, Cooktown and Hope Vale, as well as a school workshop at Endeavour Christian College and a school holiday session with young Reef enthusiasts, and were well attended by a range of community members including Traditional Owner Groups, land managers, scientists, local council members and ranger groups.

  

  Actions and words speak volumes

  Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA) has kicked many goals this year protecting marine turtles on the Western Cape through its highly successful on-ground work as well as through spreading the word on these quiet achievements.

  WCTTAA Ranger groups have again delivered a turtle nest monitoring and protection program during 2021 on beaches covering some 150 kilometres of remote coastline.

  The Ranger groups included:

  • Pormpuraaw Land and Sea Management Rangers

  • Napranum Rangers

  • Mapoon Land and Sea Management Rangers

  

  Trialling drones for turtle track monitoring

  The Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA) has recently conducted trials to explore the potential use of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles), or drones, for turtle monitoring activities. The NPARC/ Apudthama Rangers participated in the trials in June 2018 on Apudthama Country where marine turtles can nest all year round.
   

  

  2019 Cape York Indigenous Fire Workshop

  Words and photo Robyn May

  ‘Manage landscape and all species benefit’ was just one of the many positive comments made during the feedback session following the 2019 Cape York Indigenous Fire Workshop.

  This year’s workshop was held in July at Mary Valley and coincided with the school holidays, so lots
  of kids were able to attend and learn an array of traditional fire and land management techniques while spending time on Country. This is critical as these children are the land and sea managers of the future.

  

  Sawfish research along the Mitchell River

  Since 2015, Sharks And Rays Australia (SARA) has been running regular expeditions to the Mitchell River in Cape York under the lead of Dr Barbara Wueringer, an expert on sawfish and other sharks and rays.

  In July 2020, when COVID-19 travel restrictions to the Cape eased, SARA, together with Cape York NRM and Northern Gulf RMG, ran a research expedition to sample for sawfish along the Mitchell River.

  

  Turtle monitoring season has started

  Sea turtles are beginning to arrive on western Cape York Peninsula beaches to lay their eggs.

  

  Coordinated burn in southern Cape

  Words and photo Jessie Price-Decle

  Late season fires can destroy habitat, threaten property and livestock, and scorch groundcover leaving country vulnerable to erosion. Fighting fires is also a significant drain on people’s time and resources.

  

  Sand temperature influences sex of marine turtle hatchlings

  Ongoing efforts to protect marine turtles on western Cape York Peninsula will be boosted with the assistance of a grant to Cape York NRM from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.

  Funds will be used to purchase sand temperature loggers and nest protection cages.

  Two of the major threats to nesting marine turtles on the Cape are nest predation by feral pigs, and an increase in sand temperature as a result of climate change.

  

  Coastal vegetation in Gamaay Country

  Beach scrub is a unique ecological community of coastal vegetation that is directly affected by salt spray, tides, storm surge, and tropical cyclones.

  

  Working on the Wetland—Keatings Lagoon, Cooktown

  Wetlands on Cape York are very important because they are a filter for water flowing from land to the Great Barrier Reef, they are a refuge and a breeding ground for many different animal species, and also home to many aquatic species, both plants and animals. Some threats to coastal wetlands are feral animals, erosion, pollution, fire, and loss of oxygen in the water from aquatic weeds. Along with the threats comes the problems or issues caused, such as a decrease in native animal and plant species and a decline in water quality.

  

  Cape York Regional NRM Plan

  In early November, global leaders met in Glasgow at COP 26 (Conference of the Parties 26) to seek agreement on a path to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius.

  Almost 200 countries were asked for their plans to cut emissions as a means to reduce current and future climate impacts.

  

  Connecting the farmer and farm services dots

  Words Juliana Foxlee | Photo Robyn May

  Cape York NRM and Terrain NRM are working together to help farmers learn from each other and bring greater coordination to personal farming support services, also known as extension services.

  Known as the Enhanced Extension Coordination project, the three - year initiative is designed
  to improve coordination, collaboration and communication between extension networks and farmers within the Wet Tropics and Cape York catchment areas to increase efficiency, reduce duplication and improve environmental outcomes.

  

  Reducing impact of late season wildfires

  Land managers from northern Cape York, in a vast area spanning from the western to the eastern coast, came together in July this year to plan a coordinated burn in order to reduce the risk of wildfires. This collaborative project brought together land managers from across the Embley, Mission, Wenlock, Olive and Pascoe catchments.

  

  Sawfish monitoring project gets underway

  Northern Australia is home to four sawfish species, and three of these are listed as vulnerable on national legislation.

  

  That's a wrap - the Reef Alliance Cape York Grazing Project draws to a close

  Words Jessie Price-Decle and Juliana Foxlee | Photo Jessie Price-Decle

  The three-year project saw graziers make changes to their land and grazing practices to improve land condition and water quality outcomes.

  The project team, made up of Cape York NRM, South Cape York Catchments, and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries staff, worked across 20 properties over the life of the project.

  South Cape York Catchments Grazing Project Officer Jessie Price-Decle said the project made a difference to water quality and land condition.

  

  Soils and Weeds Solutions Field Day

  Cape York NRM hosted a Soils and Weed Solutions Field Day in Cooktown on 29 February.

  The hands-on event, aimed at growers and graziers, explored the latest thinking on sustainable solutions to the ongoing challenge of weed and soil management.

  The event brought together members of two Cape York agriculture and grazing networks—the Endeavour and Normanby Mixed Farming and Grazing communities.

  

  Thirty years of marine turtle research in the northern Great Barrier Reef

  This year marks three decades of marine turtle monitoring in the far northern Great Barrier Reef by the Department of Environment and Science. 

  

  People on the land networking for positive practice change

  Producers on the Cape are developing peer relationships as they work together to cultivate advanced farming methods.

  Greater engagement amongst the producers on Cape York has been facilitated by Cape York NRM’s Regional Extension Officer, Oliver McConnachie, under the Queensland Government’s Enhanced Extension Coordination in Reef Catchments project.

  ‘The guiding principle of the project is that practice change is not to do with land—it’s to do with people. By focusing on the people, positive change in land management is being achieved,’ Oliver said.

  

  Millions of hectares on the mend

  Graziers across Cape York’s Joint Management Area (Palmer, Mitchell and Alice River Catchments) are busy delivering all sorts of exciting projects to improve native vegetation and soil health on their properties.

  Since the program began in 2018, graziers have been partnering with Cape York NRM and Gulf Savannah NRM to plan and deliver projects across 16 grazing properties in the region, spanning more than 2.3 million hectares.

• Newsletter Editions

  

  Issue 44

  

  Issue 45

  

  Issue 43

• Podcast Episode

  

  MCYL S2 Sue Shephard

  Sue Shephard moved to Cape York in 1970 to work at Musgrave Station for the Shephard family.  She met the youngest Shephard son, Tom, got married, and together they raised four children on Artemis Station.

  Artemis is a 125 thousand hectare cattle property between Laura and Coen on Cape York Peninsula. Sue tells some amazing stories of raising kids and cattle, caring for country, and researching the endangered golden shouldered parrot.

  

  MCYL 04 Louise Stone

  Louise Stone has lived a colourful life.  She grew up on dairy farm on the Atherton Tablelands and has travelled Australia's east coast in horse and buggy. Louise can play almost any musical instrument she picks up, sings like a songbird and she once went on tour with Ester King from the Platters. She has a fascinating career working in Aboriginal communities in Queensland and Northern Territory, training Rangers in Conservation and Land Management. Until late last year, Louise was the Ranger Coordinator with Mapoon Land and Sea Rangers.

  

  MCYL 07 Wendy Seabrook

  Dr Wendy Seabrook is an ecologist, an innovator and a strategic  thinker.  She has worked around the world and is originally from London. She's worked with the giant Aldabra tortoises in the Seychelles and cane toads in northern New South Wales and on the Atherton Tablelands. And, "like many people (she) just ended up in Cooktown".

  

  MCYL S2 Tom Shephard

  We begin the second series of My Cape York Life on Artemis Station, a cattle property in the heart of Cape York.  Artemis is a 125 thousand hectare property midway between Coen and Laura. The property has been in the Shephard family for about 100 years and is run by Tom and Sue Shephard. In episode one, we are talking with Tom.

• Projects

  

  Lukin Rubber Vine Control Yarraden 2017

  Rubber vine decreases biodiversity and prevents access to both stock and native animals. It generally invades waterways first, where the seeds germinate in moist silt layers after rain.

  This Rubber Vine Control project continued to carry out the established efforts to contain the Rubber Vine threat by the method of spraying the rubber vine on Lukin River on Yarraden Station. This project ran in partnership with Willstock Cattle and Wunthulpu Aboriginal Land Trust. 

  

  Kimba Station fish and crustacean surveys

  This project aims to document the aquatic fauna on Kimba Station pre and post installation of a 10kms fence to manage cattle access to the water way. These surveys will target fish and crustaceans and of particular concern is the Freshwater Tiger Crab, Austrothelphusa tigrina, endemic to one tributary of the Alice River. The Tiger Crabs form sealed holes in the sandy bank to last out the dry season. As such they are very susceptible to trampling by cattle during this time.

  

  Pormpuraaw Nest to Ocean- Round 1

  This work will complement activities already being conducted for ‘Project CY072: Western Cape Feral Pig Control – Pormpuraaw’ and as part of activities associated with participation in the Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA).

  Through this project the Ranger program will:

  

  Kickstarting action carbon, culture, ecology and economies in Cape York

  Kickstarting action carbon, culture, ecology, and economies in Cape York was a pilot project funded by the Queensland Government's Land Restoration Fund. The project, based in the Normanby River catchment, investigated opportunities for a carbon farming project that included co-benefits.

  

  Cape York Turtle Conservation Project

  The project aimed to increase Flatback, Hawksbill, Green, and Olive Ridley turtles breeding success through the exchange of conservation information between relevant stakeholders and sufficient pest animal management to protect nests.

  

  Aerial Control of feral pigs for turtle protection on Wik Country

  This project forms part of a broader pest management program delivering on a strategy of integrated aerial and on-ground feral pig control measures involving shooting, trapping and baiting to reduce pig numbers to a target of 70 percent each year over an area of more than 820,000 hectares.

  Control measures include aerial control of feral pigs by aerial shooting by expert marksmen trained in platform shooting. This project is an initial phase of an integrated pest management program to be undertaken in the land managed by Wik Projects.

  

  Catchments to Coral - Great Barrier Reef Coastal Ecosystems and species protection on Cape York

  Catchments to Coral—Great Barrier Reef Coastal Ecosystems and species protection on Cape York is a program funded through the Australian Government’s Reef Trust that aims to improve the health and resilience of coastal habitats within the Great Barrier Reef catchments of eastern Cape York.

  

  Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA)

  The Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA) is a partnership of land and sea owners and managers from the Northern Peninsula Area, Mapoon, Napranum, Pormpuraaw, Aurukun and Kowanyama who work together for the protection of marine turtles along the west coast of Cape York. WCTTAA was formally established in 2013, driven by the communities’ desire to improve conservation outcomes for threatened turtle species.

  

  National Indigenous Fire Workshop 2018

  On 12-15 July 2018, the four-day 2018 National Indigenous Fire Workshop was held at Bundanon in Yuin Country on the New South Wales south coast. Convened by the Firesticks Alliance and hosted by the Mudjingaalbaraga Firesticks Team, Bundanon Trust, Mulong and Cape York NRM and the workshop was attended by 296 participants, mostly from across eastern Australia. Participants came from as far north as Napranum, Cape York in northern Queensland to Truwana in Tasmania, and from the APY Lands in Central Australia.

  

  Mapoon Nest to Ocean- Round 1

  This work will complement activities already being conducted for ‘Project CY069: Western Cape Feral Pig Control – Mapoon’ and as part of activities associated with participation in the Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA).

  Through this project the Ranger program will:

  

  Sawfish monitoring in Far North Queensland

  Cape York Natural Resource Management is working in partnership with Sharks and Rays Australia (SARA) to support the delivery of a three-year Sawfish Monitoring in Far north Queensland project. This project is being led by Dr Barbara Wueringer from Sharks and Rays Australia to conduct training that will provide Indigenous groups with the skills to monitor and collate sawfish population data. The project will also build community capacity to protect these endangered species.

  

  Western Cape Feral Pig Control - Napranum

  This project forms part of a broader pest management program delivering on a strategy of integrated aerial and on-ground feral pig control measures involving shooting, trapping and baiting.  The aim of the project is to reduce pig numbers to a target of 70 percent each year over an area of more than 820,000 hectares.

  Control measures to be undertaken by the Nanum Wungthim Land and Sea Management, Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council includes aerial and ground shooting, and where required, trapping and baiting.

  

  Traditional Owners and community working together to address threats to biodiversity

  This project meets three of the CFOC Environmental stream targets. Works focus on controlling 6 x weed species with 3 Traditional owner groups within 3 key environmental areas:

  • Trevethan Creek wildlife corridor site adjacent to the Northern Wet Tropics World Heritage Area
  • Aligator Creek an endangered coastal wetland environment also including weeds of Waymbuurr country in Cooktown
  • Rainforest isolates adjacent to Mt Web National Park at Starke.

  

  Caring for cassowary, littoral rainforest and coastal vine thicket and ant plant country in Cape York

  This project seeks to improve the knowledge and trajectory of two threatened species and one threatened ecological community on Cape York; all found within moist forest areas on the eastern Cape. 

  

  Land Management Strategies for Key habitats for the White Bellied sub-species of the Crimson Finch and the northern sub-species of the Star Finch in the Kowanyama Region.

  The White Bellied sub-species of the Crimson Finch, Neochmia phaeton evangelinae, and the northern sub-species of the Star Finch, Noechnia ruficauda clarescens have been declining in the Kowanyama region over the last 10 years.
  There is a Threatened Species Recovery Plan for these two species.

  

  Containing and reducing the further spread of established Pond Apple at Hopevale and South Cape Bedford

  Pond apple (Annona glabra) threatens coastal wetland landscapes through the Wet Tropics bioregion of Far North Queensland with isolated occurrences on eastern coast of Cape York. This weed of National Significance presents a threat due to its ability to colonise and transform intact natural ecosystems, forming mono cultural thickets effectively displacing native ecosystems, the native habitats of turtles, dugongs and native birds.

  

  Nest to Ocean Support Rnd 2 - Napranum

  Cape York NRM have received funding through Round 2 of the Nest to Ocean Turtle Protection Program (NTOTPP) to support the on-going work of the Napranum Ranger Program to protect marine turtles nesting on coastal areas managed by the Napranum rangers. This work will complement activities previously conducted as part of ‘Projects CY071: Western Cape Feral Pig Control – Napranum’; ‘CY097: Nest to Ocean Round 1 Support - Napranum and activities associated with participation in the Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA).
  Through this project the Ranger program will:

  

  Prospectus for Western Cape York Water Management Plan

  This project develops a detailed prospectus for Western Cape York Water Quality Improvement Plan (WCYWQIP). The prospectus is to engage with funding bodies and partners to support the WCYWQIP project and will demonstrate the benefits of supporting Cape York NRM to achieve this Plan.

  

  Mobilising Threatened Species Recovery in Golden Shouldered Parrot Habitat Cape York

  This project will collect new data on the endangered Golden-shouldered Parrot (GSP) in areas of central-eastern and northern Cape York to increase knowledge of their distribution, habitat and threats.

  These will inform the planning of targeted on-ground actions to support the GSP. Site-specific threatened species recovery actions will be undertaken including; surveys to determine presence, nesting and predation, habitat and identification of threats. Local action plans will be developed to guide initial and future actions.

  

  Support for targeted vertebrate pest program-Pormpuraaw

  The coastline north of the Pormpuraaw community has an extensive Olive Ridley sea turtle nesting rookery with PLASM rangers currently patrolling and protecting around 18,000 eggs incubating in nests along 50 klms of very remote coastline

  

  Hopevale and East Coast Pond Apple Control

  In association with Hopevale Council, Hopevale Congress Rangers, and the Traditional owners, this project will continue Pond Apple control work that has been ongoing in the Hopevale, South Cape Bedford, Alligator creek, and Cooktown areas for the last twenty-four years. The project will build upon work already undertaken and ensure we further encourage the return of biodiversity in our unique environment. It is also proposed to survey areas to the north, south and west of these areas to further reduce the Pond Apple seed spread.

  

  Napranum Turtle Monitoring and Predator Control Wage support 2015

  

  Temple Bay Pand Apple Survey and Eradication Program

  This project delivers capacity building and mentoring to the Kuku yu people, with Pond Apple survey and control within the Temple Bay area. This is done in two phases, phase one is a week long training component run at the Chuula homelands with empathies given to OH&S, Quad and Chainsaw training. The second phase is two weeks at Temple Bay with the last component of training delivered as Apply Chemicals under supervision, then a ground, Aerial and water survey done of the area to map the Pond Apple in the first week.

  

  Support for targeted vertebrate pest program- NPARC/Apudthama Land and Sea Rangers

  NPARC/Apudthama Land and Sea Rangers will undertake activities to target predators of turtle nests, eggs and hatchlings. As part of the West Coast Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance, these activities represent part of the on-going efforts to reduce the potential impacts of feral pigs on nesting marine turtles.

  

  Improving native vegetation and soil condition of grazing lands within the Joint Management Area

  Project purpose

  This project aims to improve waterway/wetland health and reduce soil loss to downstream freshwater and marine environments by improving land managers skills and knowledge in native vegetation and soil erosion management.

  Project description

  

  Support for targeted vertabrate pest program-Pormpuraaw 2018

  The coastline north of the Pormpuraaw community has an extensive Olive Ridley sea turtle nesting rookery with Pormpuraaw Land and Sea rangers currently patrolling and protecting around 18,000 eggs incubating in nests along 50km of very remote coastline.

  Feral Pigs pose a serious threat to all native fauna and flora, pigs were responsible for 90% predation of the Olive Ridley prior to aerial culling operations by PLASM staff in 2014, aerial feral culling is by far the most effective option for controlling pig populations in the vast coastal marine plains within Pormpuraaw DOGiT.

  

  Sicklepod and Rubbervine Control in Palmer River Catchment

  This project will control Sicklepod and Rubber vine in the Palmer River, to stop these introduced plants advancing further along the Palmer River and out into pastures.

  Sicklepod and Rubber Vine are declared Class 2 pest plants under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002. Rubber vine’s ability to quickly spread and colonise areas makes it a threat to many areas of northern Australia. Due to this ability, rubber vine is listed as a Weed of National Significance.

  

  On-ground Pig Management WCTTAA

  From 2015, the Kowanyama Rangers will commence a turtle monitoring and protection program in conjunction with Traditional Owners and the Department of Environment and Heritage protection. This will include beach monitoring and nest protection programs to assess and react to the required management needs of nesting marine turtles

  

  Injinoo Rangers Aerial Cull Program to Increase Flatback Hatchling Success November 2012

  The purpose of this project was to undertake a targeted aerial cull on pests animals such as pigs around Flatback nesting sites. A further goal was the implementation of an Indigenous ranger NRM training and mentoring program developed and delivered with the NPARC/Apudthama Ranger Program, targetting turtle nesting beaches and including training and monitoring.

  

  Development of a Carbon Prioritisation Spatial Framework

  This project facilitates and develops a carbon prioritisation spatial framework for Cape York now and into the future. The project uses existing models, such as those being used by April Reside and Bob Pressey of James Cook University, and adapts and populates them with data for Cape York. The data might include fire, soils, vegetation, wetlands, culture, management regimes and land use. The project aim is to model different outcomes for Cape York based on different, mostly policy, scenarios. A number of maps reveal different opportunities based on different settings.

  

  Support for targeted vertebrate pest program-Mapoon at Skardon Beach

  This project is important to lower the predation rate of >90% by feral pigs and to protect against turtle nest predation/turtle eggs/hatchlings on Skardon Beach- Mapoon. The predation rate will be reduced to a measurable/ amount by conducting a turtle monitoring survey in the turtle season 2017 - August to November under the WCTTA / NTO project . The long term risk of doing nothing is not an option – we will lose this important turtle nesting beach to 100% predation