Traditional Owners and trainees rehabilitating waterways on Country

Weeds, feral animals and fire in and around our aquatic ecosystems are a major threat to biodiversity. This project will address these critical threats across 3 key environmental areas; the upper Normanby Wetlands in the Northern Wet Tropics Word Heritage Area at the headwaters of Rinyirru NP (Salvinia) 2 Normanby Lagoons (feral pigs and cattle) and the Trevethan Creek wildlife corridor adjacent to the NWTWHA (Late season fires, Lantana and Gamba Grass)

If nothing is done to address these threats, these 3 key environmental areas are at risk of having their values significantly impacted by weeds, fire and pigs. Eradicating Salvinia from the upper Normanby will ensure it will not infest the nationally important wetlands of Rinyirru National Park. Excluding pigs and cattle from the Normanby lagoons will improve the habitat for native species, improve water quality and reduce sediment entering the Normanby River and ultimately the Great Barrier Reef. Removing Lantana, Gamba grass and late season fire impacts from Trevethan Creek will provide for further increases in biodiversity and decrease the risk of encroachment of  Gamba grass into the Annan River National Park and the WTWHA

Activities

Work with the community

• Partner with Holy Spirit College, to deliver project fencing works - providing cultural and environmental education to students
• Employ, supervise and train youth, providing opportunities for students to work with a variety of Natural Resource Managers and gain practical accreditation towards CALM
• Hold a workshop on country for indigenous mentors to learn how to work with disengaged indigenous youth, through cultural and environmental activities

Protect Wetlands of Rinyirru National Park and the Great Barrier Reef by:

• Conducting follow up Salvinia surveys and control within upper Normanby wetland systems
• Fencing 2 Lagoons at Normanby Station from impacts of feral pigs and cattle

Support Ranger groups to measure success of their wetland conservation works by:

• Conducting 2x wetland focused events with ranger groups

Enhance the integrity of the Trevethan Creek wildlife corridor by:

• Conducting follow up control of Lantana and Gamba grass
• Protecting 6km of riparian vegetation from wildfire impacts

Monitor works:

• Conduct post fencing wetland monitoring activities using CYRA methods, produce reports

Set up camera traps before and after fencing activities – record animals sited