Conserving an Endangered Wet Tropics Ecosystem
A conservation project Trend Environmental has been involved in since 2015, involves the protection of 600 acres of private land in the Wet Tropics region of North Queensland. This land contains an endangered regional ecosystem, essential habitat for the endangered EPBC listed Mahogany Glider and endangered EPBC listed Southern Cassowary, and is considered to be a threatened species priority corridor linking two seperate national parks.
This environmentally significant habitat suffered from sclerophyll thickening* and rainforest incursion* as a result of impacts from Cyclone Yasi, back in 2011. It was in drastic need for protection. Sclerophyll thickening is one of the main drivers of habitat loss for the Mahogany Glider. This thickening affects the gliders ability to glide throughout its habitat, but also results in a decline in the abundance and recruitment of plant species that the Mahogany Glider relies on for food, and shelter, resulting in a loss of nesting trees (hollows) overtime.
To assist in improving the habitat and bringing it back to pre-Yasi condition, Trend has assisted with the implementation of appropriate fire regimes throughout the property each year. Fire, if implemented in an appropriate way can restore the integrity, functionality and structure of an ecosystem. To assist in improving the ecosystem, weed control and management across the site has also been implemented and vegetation monitored to track the progress over time.
Do you need help with a conservation project, assistance with grant applications to gain funding, conservation project management, or onsite monitoring and vegetation assessments? We offer very reasonable rates for all conservation projects, so please contact us today to discuss your conservation needs!
* Sclerophyll in Australia is typically a Eucalyptus woodland with a grass ground layer, though can contain other tree species.
* Sclerophyll thickening is the formation of a thick secondary tree layer (shrub) by saplings of the affected sclerophyll community, such as Acacia spp.
* Rainforest incursion is where the understorey of a sclerophyll community transitions to rainforest species, with or without rainforest species in the canopy.
