Iron and McIlwraith Ranges (24045)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Iron and McIlwraith Ranges
Central coordinates: Latitude: -13.1872, Longitude: 143.2882
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 824
Area of KBA (km2): 6006.50592
Protected area coverage (%): 48.63
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Iron and McIlwraith Ranges are the most northerly extent of the Great Dividing Range, located in the north of the Cape York Peninsula, 750 km north of Cairns. The boundary of the IBA was drawn to encompass most of the area of closed forest in the region as well as significant areas of heathland vegetation suitable for White-streaked Honeyeater. This includes the Iron Range National Park, Iron Range Resources Reserve and the forested part of the Mungkan Kundju National Park. A range of other tenures is present within the area including aboriginal freehold and leasehold land. Much of the area has very poor sandy soils formed from eroded granite, which only support stunted heath which dominates this area. Richer soils produced by older, more easily eroded metamorphic rocks support lush rainforests, found to the east below the escarpment. The Iron and McIlwraith Ranges support the largest area of tropical rainforest on Cape York Peninsula which has close affinities with New Guinea. While many species found at Iron Range occur nowhere else in Australia, all these also occur in much larger numbers in New Guinea.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: The ornithological fauna is a unique combination of New Guinean and Australian elements not found elsewhere on the Australian continent. As well as species of global conservation concern and assemblages of restricted-range species this area is also important for a number of species which occur in both New Guinea and Australia, but whose distributions in Australia are restricted to Cape York Peninsula. These include Palm Cockatoo, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Red-bellied Pitta, Trumpet Manucode, Magnificent Riflebird, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Yellow-legged Flycatcher; Tropical Scrub-wren and Frill-necked Monarch are sometimes considered full species endemic to Cape York. The southern end of the Mcllwraith Range represents the southern limit of the Australian distribution for a number of these species. Notable species which are rarely encountered within the IBA include the near threatened Australian Bustard, Bush Stone-curlew and Black-throated Finch, the restricted-range Green Catbird and Pied Monarch and the Australian Tropical Savanna biome-restricted White-gaped Honeyeater (Atlas of Australian Birds database). Graceful Honeyeaters are common in the ranges (S. Garnett and A. Freeman pers. obs). Non-bird biodiversity: Iron and McIlwraith Ranges is significant for a number of species that mainly occur in New Guinea. Some examples include the cuscus Phalanger intercastellanus and Spilocuscus maculatus, the rufous spiny bandicoot Echymipera rufescens. The area also encompasses the entire known Australian distribution of the snake Morelia viridus. Cape York endemic species that are entirely confined to this area include the marsupial Antechinus leo, the varanid Varanus keithhorni and the frogs Cophixalus crepitans, C. peninsularis and Litoria longirostris. The Iron Range area is also the site of a closed tussock grassland ecosystem that is currently considered endangered (Sattler and Williams, 1999).
Other site values: Most of the area is currently under indigenous ownership but there is also a small amount of other freehold and the National Parks are co-managed with QPWS.
Habitats
Land use: hunting | nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 50 | |
| Shrubland | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Monitor any exploration and proposals to mine in the Iron Range area. Measure and manage the ongoing degradation from feral animals and weeds, which is currently not managed outside of small areas within the National Parks.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Trend Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Barrett, G., Silcocks, A., Cunningham, R. and Poulter, R. (2003) The new atlas of Australian birds. Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union: Melbourne. Blakers, M., Davies, S.J.J.F., and Reilly, P.N. (1984). 'The atlas of Australian birds'. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne.) Fox, I.D., Neldner, V.J., Wilson, G.W., Bannick, P.J., Wilson, B.A., Brocklehurst, P.S., Clark, M.J., Dickinson, K.J.M., Beard, J.S., Hopkins, A.J.M., Beeston, G.R., Harvey, J.M., Thompson, E.J., Ryan, T.S., Thompson, S.L., Butler, D.W., Cartan,H., Addicot, E.P., Bailey, L.P., Cumming, R.J., Johnson D.C., Schmeider, M., Stephens, K.M., and Bean, A.R. 2001. The vegetation of the Australian tropical savannas. Queensland Herbarium, Environmental protection Agency, Queensland. Garnett, S, and Crowely, G. (2000). 'The action plan for Australian birds'. (Environment Australia: Canberra.) Leung, L., Venables B. and Pritchard, J. (1994). Terrestrial vertebrate fauna survey of the Iron Range area Cape York Peninsula 1993-1994. Unpublished report prepared for the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage, Cairns. Mathieson, M.T. and Smith, G.C., 2007. National recovery plan for the buff-breasted button-quail Turnix olivii. Report to Department of the Environment and Water Resources, Canberra. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane. Moore, L.A. (2007) Population ecology of the southern cassowary Casuarius casuarius johnsonii, Mission Beach north Queensland. Journal of Ornithology 148: 357-366. Neldner, V.J. and Clarkson, J. (1996). Broad vegegtation groups of Cape york Peninsula.A map prepared for the Queensland Herbarium and Department of Environment. Sattler, P. and Williams, R. (1999). The conservation status of Queensland's bioregional ecosystems. (Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane). Winter, J.W. (1980). McIllwraith Range closed forest fauna survey. Final report (outline) compiled for ANPWS. Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane. Winter, J.W. and Lethbridge, P.J. (1994). Terrestrial vertebrate fauna, report on field survey sub project (NR 03) of Cape York Peninsula Land Use Strategy (CYPLUS). Natural Resource Analysis Program, prepared on behalf of the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage.
Contributors: The nomination was prepared by Alastair Freeman.