Scenic Rim (24332)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1e, B2
Year of last assessment: 2018
National site name: Scenic Rim
Central coordinates: Latitude: -28.2528, Longitude: 152.7847
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 100 to 1360
Area of KBA (km2): 1383.57182
Protected area coverage (%): 95.20
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA consists of a series of contiguous protected areas along the Queensland / New South Wales border. It is defined as the following protected areas, which support populations of threatened species: Main Range National Park, Glen Rock Regional Park, Mount Barney National Park, Mount Chinghee National Park, Lamington National Park, Springbrook National Park, Glen Rock Regional Park, Border Ranges National Park, Koreelah National Park, Mebbin National Park, Wollumbin National Park, Mount Clunie National Park, Mount Nothofagus National Park, Mount Warning National Park, Wollumbin National Park, Limpinwood Nature Reserve and Numinbah Nature Reserve. The IBA also includes private properties which support the Eastern Bristlebird but these are not displayed on the map. Additional contiguous areas of forest could be included in the IBA but are not known to support populations of the threatened species. The whole Scenic Rim is largely volcanic in origin, including the Mt Warning Shield volcano, Focal Peak volcanics and Main Range volcanics. Other areas are of sedimentary origin including parts of eastern Lamington area and parts of Mount Barney National Park. The now deeply weathered, mainly basaltic soils, which dominate the IBA, support a number of rainforest/vine thicket ecosystems as well as some rare grassland and eucalypt communities. The area has a coastal sub-tropical climate with average maximum summer temperatures of 29oC, average minimum winter temperatures of 6oC and average annual rainfall of 1555 mm at the lowest altitudes (data sourced from Tyalgum weather station altitude 55 metres). Parts of Mt Warning NP, Border Ranges NP, Limpinwood NR, Numinbah NR, 20,000 ha of Lamington NP and a portion of Mebbin NP are listed as a World Heritage site, and most of Border Ranges NP and all of Limpinwood NR are designated as Wilderness Areas.
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. Alliance for Zero Extinction (2018): site confirmed as an AZE site during the AZE project (2015-2018). Taxonomy, nomenclature and Red List category follow the IUCN 2016 Red List.
Additional biodiversity: In addition to those listed above, a further thirteen bird species listed under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act (1992) have been recorded within the Scenic Rim IBA boundary: Grey Goshawk - Rare, Red Goshawk - Endangered, Square-tailed Kite - Rare, Lewin's Rail - Rare, Glossy Black-Cockatoo - Vulnerable, Powerful Owl - Vulnerable, Sooty Owl - Rare, Marbled Frogmouth - Vulnerable, Red-browed Treecreeper - Rare, Olive Whistler - Rare, Black-chinned Honeyeater - Rare and Southern Emu-wren - Vunerable. There are also historical and recent sight records of the presence of the now critically endangered Coxen's Fig-Parrot (Coxen's Fig-Parrot Recovery Team 2001). The globally endangered Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater have been seen within the Scenic Rim IBA on one or two occasions (EPA Unpublished data). Non-bird biodiversity: Other fauna and flora listed under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act (1992) include 9 frogs, 7 mammals, 8 reptiles, 1 butterfly and many plant species. Thirty ecosystem types that are listed as either 'of concern' or 'endangered' under Queensland's Vegetation Management Act (1999) are also found within the Scenic Rim IBA boundary. (EPA 2007).
Other site values: Queensland Government and NSW NPWS; small areas of private property (not mapped). Freely accessible by road and the many walking tracks throughout the national parks. Many areas are quite remote with no walking tracks.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 43 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Savanna | 43 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Manage wildfires to reduce incidence and intensity. Manage weeds, especially Lantana infestations along rainforest edges. Actively discourage broadcasting recordings of Rufous Scrub bird and Eastern Bristlebird by birders. Monitor populations and investigate possible causes for decline in Rufous Scrub-birds and Eastern Bristlebirds.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Coxen's Fig-Parrot Recovery Team (2001) Coxen's Fig-Parrot Cyclopsitta diophthalma coxeni recovery plan 2001-2005. Report to Environment Australia, Canberra. QPWS, Brisbane. Ekert, P.A. 2005 Monitoring Rufous Scrub-birds (Atrichornis rufescens) inCentral Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia (CERRA). Final Report 2005. Report prepared by Ekerlogic Consulting Services (ECS) for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coffs Harbour. Environment Australia (2000) Revision of the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) and Development of Version 5.1, Environment Australia, Canberra. EPA (2007) Regional Ecosystem Description database (REDD). Version 5.1, updated June 2007. Database maintained by Queensland Herbarium, Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane. (http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/ Mathieson, M. and Smith, G.C. (2007) National recovery plan for the black-breasted button-quail Turnix melanogaster. Report to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources, Canberra. Ekert, P.A. 2005 Monitoring Rufous Scrub-birds (Atrichornis rufescens) inCentral Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia (CERRA). Final Report 2005. Report prepared by Ekerlogic Consulting Services (ECS) for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coffs Harbour. NSW NPWS (2004) Parks & Reserves of the Tweed Caldera incorporating National Parks: Mt Warning, Border Ranges, Mebbin, Nightcap, Mt Jerusalem, Goonengerry; Nature Reserves: Limpinwood, Numinbah, Snows Gully. Plan of Management. Stewart, D. (2006) Rufous Scrub-bird surveys in the Queensland CERRA; November 2006. Unpublished report. Moggill, Qld: QPWS.
Contributors: Nomination written by Mike Mathieson with advice on bird status, monitoring and conservation received from QPWS Southern Region and EPA Biodiversity Sciences.