Prince Regent and Mitchell River (24834)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Prince Regent and Mitchell River
Central coordinates: Latitude: -15.3792, Longitude: 125.4328
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 485
Area of KBA (km2): 7216.49865
Protected area coverage (%): 99.87
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA consists of a series of contiguous protected areas in the north-west Kimberley. Between them, the Prince Regent River Nature Reserve, Mitchell River National Park, Lawley River National Park, Camp Creek Conservation Park and Laterite Conservation Park are believed to support potentially sustainable populations of all of the key bird species. However, this IBA could be extended to adjacent unsurveyed areas of unallocated Crown Land and Aboriginal Crown Reserve if these were shown to support large populations of the key bird species, particularly the endemic Black Grasswren. This extensive area represents the highest rainfall (>1200 mm) in monsoonal north-west Kimberley and has not been stocked with cattle which damage woodland habitats, especially riverine vegetation and alluvial flats, leading to higher densities of birds such as Partridge Pigeon and White-browed (Buff-sided) Robin. Much of the country comprises rugged King Leopold sandstones. Mitchell Plateau itself is a bauxitic laterite plateau with palm (Livistonia) forests. The high rainfall sustains the richest rainforests on the Kimberley mainland, important for species such as Rainbow Pitta and, on the coast, substantial areas of mangroves, important for species such as Chestnut Rail.
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: There are historical records of Red Goshawk and Western (Crested) Shrike-tit (Hill 1911). Other notable species recorded by Johnstone and Smith (1981) include Rufous Owl and 14 species of mangrove birds. The endangered Gouldian Finch was relatively common in the IBA in the 1970s but has since disappeared from many former sites (Johnstone and Smith 1981). This species was not recorded in any of 228 Atlas of Australian Birds surveys undertaken in the IBA from 1998 to 2008 (Atlas of Australian Birds database), although it is possible that small numbers may continue to persist. Similarly, the near threatened Australian Bustard was frequent in the 1970s (Storr et al. 1975; Johnstone and Smith 1981) but was not recorded in any of 228 Atlas of Australian Birds surveys from 1998 to 2008 (Atlas of Australian Birds database). Non-bird biodiversity: This area is one of only two in Australia with an intact mammal fauna. It includes the threatened golden bandicoot Isoodon auratus and Golden-backed Tree-rat Mesembriomys macrurus, and the Kimberley endemics Scaly-tailed Possum Wyulda squamicaudata, Monjon Petrogale burbidgei and Kimberley Rock-rat Zyzomys woodwardi. It has a rich reptile fauna. There are numerous small rainforest patches that protect endemic reptiles such as the rough-scaled python and several species of camaenid land snail.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Savanna | 45 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 45 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Management of fire, particularly control of extensive hot fires, is essential. Management of feral animals, especially cats, is essential. Increasing numbers of wild cattle need to be controlled. Mining and industrial development in and close to the IBA needs to be closely regulated in this region of low human impact.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Trend Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Fuller, P.J. and Burbidge, A.A. (1978) Additions to the avifauna of the Prince Regent River Nature Reserve. Western Australian Naturalist 14: 42-43. Hilller, G.F. (1911) Field notes on the birds of Kimberley, north-west Australia. Emu 10: 258-290. Johnstone, R.E. (1975) Birds in Miles, J.M. and Burbidge, A.A. (eds), A biological survey of the Prince Regent River Reserve, north-west Kimberley, Western Australia, in August 1974. Wildlife Research Bulletin of Western Australia 3: 75-84. Johnstone, R.E. and Burbidge, A.H. (1991) Avifauna of Kimberley rainforests. Pages 361-391 in McKenzie, N.L., Johnston, R.B. and Kendrick, P.G. (eds), Kimberley rainforests of Australia. Chipping Norton: Surrey Beatty & Sons. Johnstone, R.E. and Smith, L.A. (1981) Birds of Mitchell Plateau and adjacent coasts and lowland, Kimberley, Western Australia. In Biological survey of Mitchell Plateau and Admiralty Gulf, Kimberley, Western Australia. Perth: Western Australian Museum. Storr, G.M., Johnstone, R.E., Dell, J. and Smith, L.A. (1975) Birds of the Prince Regent River Reserve, north-west Kimberley, Western Australia in Miles, J.M. and Burbidge, A.A. (eds), A biological survey of the Prince Regent River Reserve, north-west Kimberley, Western Australia, in August 1974. Wildlife Research Bulletin of Western Australia 3: 75-84.
Contributors: Thanks to Andrew Burbidge as compiler.