Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Summary The Daintree IBA supports a population of the vulnerable Southern Cassowary and all of the 15 restricted-range species of the Queensland Wet Tropics. Most Wet Tropics endemics are common but the status of White-streaked Honeyeater is poorly known.

Ornithological information Infrequent sightings of Bush Stone-curlew, Silver-crowned Friarbird, Yellow Honeyeater and Banded Honeyeater were reported in Atlas of Australian Bird surveys from 1998 to 2008 (Atlas of Australian Birds).

Site description The Daintree IBA is located at the northern end of the Wet Tropics and encompasses one of the largest and most intact blocks of tropical rainforest remaining in Australia stretching from Helenvale south to Mount Molloy and encompassing 269,041 ha. The boundary of the IBA coincides with the Wet Tropics World Heritage area. Additional areas of forest could be included in the IBA but the World Heritage Area adequately protects populations of all the key bird species. Dominating the underlying geology of the area are granites and metamorphics, forming high hills and mountains which rise up from a narrow coastal plain. Covering this topography is rainforest vegetation; the Daintree IBA encompasses the most intact sequence of rainforest vegetation from coast to mountain top in the Wet Tropics. Overall the area has little human impact although development pressure is increasing. The climate of the region is monsoonal with a pronounced wet and dry season.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Black Mountain	National Park	903	protected area contained by site	903
Brooklyn	Private Nature Reserve	60,000	protected area overlaps with site	4,600
Cairns	Marine Park	702,533	protected area overlaps with site	2,315
Cedar Bay	National Park	5,650	protected area contained by site	5,650
Cooper Creek Wilderness Nature Refuge	Other Conservation Area	56	protected area contained by site	56
Daintree	National Park	76,798	protected area contained by site	76,800
Great Barrier Reef	Marine Park	34,440,000	protected area overlaps with site	403
Mount Lewis	Forest Reserve	21,287	protected area overlaps with site	14,058
Mount Spurgeon	Forest Reserve	1,194	protected area contained by site	1,194
Mount Windsor	National Park	43,820	protected area overlaps with site	20,367
Mowbray	National Park	8,670	protected area overlaps with site	2,960
Riflemead 1	Forest Reserve	627	protected area contained by site	627
Riflemead 2	Forest Reserve	1,043	protected area contained by site	1,043
Von Keyserlingk Woodlands Nature Refuge	Other Conservation Area	67	protected area overlaps with site	56

Habitats

Land ownership Queensland State Government - Dept of NPWS.

Land use

Other biodiversity The Daintree IBA contains populations of three species of endangered frog, Common Mistfrog, Waterfall Frog and Lace-eyed Tree Frog. The area also contains a number of threatened plant species and Regional Ecosystems. Given its location in the Wet Tropics and the isolated and rugged nature of the area, it is almost certain that with further investigation other significant fauna and flora values will be discovered within the IBA.

Management considerations Assessment of impacts, monitoring and management of weeds and ferals should be a high priority for land managers. Maintenance of the ecological integrity of high altitude forests through appropriate management of public access, weeds and feral animals is particularly important.

Protection status Numerous - see separate section.

Conservation response Comprehensive mapping of the regional ecosytems in the area has just been completed by the Wet Tropics Management Authority. The area has also been an important region for research on rainforest ecology and management. In 1998 a canopy research facility was developed in the lowlands of the Daintree. The centrepiece of this facility, a canopy crane, which is the only such facility in the southern hemisphere. Currently, significant areas of private land with high conservation value are part of a state and federal "buy back" scheme with purchased areas being added to the protected area estate.

Acknowledgements The nomination was prepared by Alastair Freeman.

References Barrett, G., Silcocks, A., Barry, S., Cunningham, R. and Poulter,R. (2003) 'The new atlas of Australian birds'. (Birds Australia: Melbourne).

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 and management needs. Australian Wildlife Research 17: 369-385.

Garnett, S. and Crowely, G. (2000). 'The Action Plan for Australian birds'. (Environment Australia: Canberra).

Higgins, P.J., Peter, J.M. and Steele, W.K. (2001) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 5. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Hilbert, D.W., Bradford, M., Parker, T. and Westcott, D.A. (2004) 'Golden bowerbird (Prionodura newtoniana) habitat in past, present and future climate: predicted extinction of a vertebrate in tropical highlands due to global warming. Biological Conservation 16 :367-377.

Nix, N.A. and Switzer, M.A. (1991). 'Rainforest animals. Atlas of vertebrates endemic to Australia's Wet Tropics'. (Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service: Canberra).

Stanton, P. and Stanton, D. (2005). 'Vegetation mapping of the Wet tropics. Wet Tropics Management Authority, Cairns. Australia.

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: Daintree. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013

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