Coastal Wet Tropics (23864)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Coastal Wet Tropics
Central coordinates: Latitude: -17.5152, Longitude: 145.9832
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 860
Area of KBA (km2): 519.88019
Protected area coverage (%): 99.83
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Wet Tropic lowlands IBA is situated along the tropical east coast of northern Queensland. The boundary follows the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area which includes areas that are used by the defence department, are aboriginal freehold, unallocated state land and small reserves. It encompasses cassowary habitat including the Mission Beach area, which is considered by some to be the most significant area of cassowary habitat in the Wet Tropics. The climate is monsoonal with a pronounced wet season and a dry season moderated by moist trade winds. Lowland areas within the IBA encompass small areas of un-modified forested floodplain, while the majority of the IBA is made up of low hills and ranges. Native vegetation is predominantly tropical rainforest, with smaller areas of open eucalypt and paperbark forests, wetlands and mangroves.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The Coastal Wet Tropics IBA contains a wide range of lowland rainforest bird species, including the rare subspecies Rufous Owl subspecies queenslandica. Other habitats include extensive remote beaches, which support Beach Stone-curlew, and some small but well-populated freshwater wetlands, such as at Eubenangee National Park. The rainforest avifauna is complemented by a range of species, such as the near threatened Bush Stone-curlew and biome-restricted Yellow Honeyeater, that occur only in the mosaic of eucalypt and meleleuca woodlands which are present in patches with poorer soil or drainage or where there has been a history of fire. Non-bird biodiversity: The Coastal Wet Tropics IBA contains populations of two species of endangered frog, Common Mistfrog and Lace-eyed Tree Frog, while the southern extent of the IBA encompasses a significant area of habitat for the Mahogany Glider. The area also contains a number of threatened plant species and Regional Ecosystems. Given its location in the Wet Tropics, and the relative paucity of survey information available for many of the forested areas, other significant fauna and flora values are almost certainly present within the IBA.
Other site values: Queensland State Government - Parks and Wildlife, Aboriginal land and the Department of Defence.
Habitats
Land use: military | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Savanna | 10 | |
| Forest | 90 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Monitor infrastructure plans, natural systems and invasive species. The long-term impacts of climate change maybe significant on low-lying parts of the IBA; however, the exact nature of this impact and hence the management implications have yet to be ascertained.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Crome, F.H.J. and Moore, L.A. (1990) Cassowaries in north-eastern Queensland: report of a survey and a review and assessment of their status and conservation management needs. Australian Wildlife Research 17: 369-385. Garnett, S.T. and Crowley, G. (2000) The action plan for Australian birds. Environment Australia: Canberra. Goosem, S. (2000) Renomination of the cassowary on the Commonwealth Endangered Species Schedule. Queensland Government Printer: Brisbane. Moore, L.A. (2007) Population ecology of the southern cassowary Casuarius casuarius johnsonii, Mission Beach north Queensland. Journal of Ornithology 148: 357-366. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Recovery plan for the southern cassowary Casuarius casuarius johnsonii 2001-2005. (Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane). Sattler, P. and Williams, R. (1999) The conservation status of Queensland's bioregional ecosystems. (Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane). Stanton,P. and Stanton, D. (2005) 'Vegetation mapping of the Wet tropics. Wet Tropics Management Authority, Cairns. Australia. Stocker, G.C. and Irvine, A.K. (1983) Seed dispersal by cassowaries (Casuarius casuarius) in North Queensland's rainforests. Biotropica 15, 170-176. Wet Tropics Management Authority(1996) Wet Tropics in profile. Reference guide to the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area. (Wet Tropics Management Authority, Cairns).
Contributors: Thanks to Alastair Freeman for compiling the nomination.