Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Summary The IBA supports significant numbers of the globally vulnerable Sounthern Cassowary. It also supports nine of the 17 Queensland Wet Tropics restricted-range species.

Ornithological information 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.

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.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Cairns	Marine Park	702,533	protected area overlaps with site	2,888
Clump Mountain	National Park	283	protected area contained by site	282
Dallachy Creek	Fish Habitat Area A	1,723	protected area overlaps with site	1,342
Edmund Kennedy	National Park	10,800	protected area overlaps with site	8,280
Ella Bay	National Park	3,710	protected area contained by site	3,710
Eubenangee Swamp	National Park	1,900	protected area overlaps with site	1,720
Glen Idle Nature Refuge	Other Conservation Area	60	protected area overlaps with site	9
Graham Range Forest Park	Forest Reserve	193	protected area contained by site	193
Grey Peaks	National Park	1,083	protected area contained by site	920
Hull River	Fish Habitat Area A	1,507	protected area overlaps with site	1,138
Hull River	National Park	3,687	protected area contained by site	3,240
Kurrimine Beach	National Park	910	protected area contained by site	910
Malbon Thompson	Forest Reserve	5,935	protected area contained by site	5,935
Maria Creek	National Park	749	protected area contained by site	749
Moresby Range	National Park	616	protected area overlaps with site	292
Mount Mackay	National Park	3,680	protected area contained by site	3,680
Russell River	National Park	5,050	protected area overlaps with site	3,921
Tam OShanter	National Park	4,123	protected area contained by site	4,123
Trinity	Forest Reserve	2,244	protected area contained by site	2,244
Wet Tropics of Queensland	World Heritage Site	894,420	protected area overlaps with site	37,635
Wreck Creek	Fish Habitat Area A	1,260	protected area overlaps with site	785

Habitats

Land ownership Queensland State Government - Parks and Wildlife, Aboriginal land and the Department of Defence.

Land use

Other 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.

Management considerations 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.

Protection status Numerous - see separate listing.

Conservation response Comprehensive mapping of the regional ecosytems in the area has just been completed by the Wet Tropics Management Authority. The area has been important for research on cassowary ecology and management. CSIRO is currently carrying out research on frugivory in birds and bats within the area.

Acknowledgements Thanks to Alastair Freeman for compiling the nomination.

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).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Coastal Wet Tropics. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013

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