Summary
Supported by the Australian Government’s Wildlife and Habitat Bushfire Recovery Program, Healthy Land and Water initiated Phase 1 recovery projects in April 2020. On-ground works involve removing select weeds such as lantana, moth vine, white passionflower, palm grass and devil’s fig from the Illinbah section of Lamington National Park. The second project is focused on controlling access to affected areas of Main Range National Park by repairing and erecting boundary fencing to prevent cattle intrusions.
Phase 1: Restoration of the Illinbah Section of Lamington National Park
The Illinbah section of Lamington National Park was severely impacted by high intensity fires in late 2019, damaging rainforest species, opening the rainforest canopy and allowing weeds to become established. While significant natural regeneration is occurring, re-sprouting and germinating native species need to be protected from weed growth that could overwhelm and inhibit natural regrowth.
Key facts about this area:
- Forms part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area.
- Consists of several vegetation communities including EPBC listed critically endangered lowland subtropical rainforest.
- Provides habitat for several listed plant and animal species such as the Fleay’s Barred Frog, the Giant Barred Frog and Onion Cedar.
Key objectives of this phase:
This Project will remove lantana and other invasive weeds in fire affected areas of the Illinbah section of Lamington National Park as a basis for assisting natural regeneration, protecting threatened species, protecting threatened ecological communities and improving the ecological integrity of this part of the Gondwana World Heritage Rainforests area.
Coomera River weeds at the Illinbah Section of Lamington National Park.
Phase 2: Reinstatement of eastern boundary fencing at Main Range National Park
This project will aid in supplying materials to landholders to reinstate fencing to manage cattle along sections of the eastern boundary of Main Range National Park.
Key facts about this phase:
The Main Range National Park forms part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia which is listed as a World Heritage Area. Under the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, one of the key outcomes is to reduce threats to the Outstanding Universal Values of World Heritage properties through the implementation of priority actions. This project will provide a minimum of 3 km of fencing material to enable landholders to reinstate boundary fencing to prevent cattle intrusions.
Crofton weed (Ageratina adenophora) taking advantage of fire damaged tree canopies in Main Range National Park.
This project is supported by the Australian Government’s Bushfire recovery package for wildlife and their habitat.
