The Tangalla Community, Streams and Rainforest

A folio for the residents of the Tangalla Community, Jamberoo NSW. “We’ve had a deep and abiding interest for a long time in heritage and so on, and these kinds of remnant rainforest patches are quite important in defining what the area’s about, so we have a very protective approach to it”

Ron White- Tangalla Resident Welcome to Tangalla Community Streams and Rainforest.

We are a group of landholders who live in the Fountaindale sub-catchment in Jamberoo Valley, who have banded together to form the Tangalla Community Streams and Rainforest Inc. The community we live in has a unique arrangement which consists of a productive dairy farm and smaller residential lots nestled amongst the hills and rainforest gullies of the Fountaindale sub-catchment.

The Tangalla incorporation provides a mechanism for the dairy farm and rural residents to live cooperatively side by side, and an incentive for our community to appreciate and enhance the unique environment in which we reside.

This folio aims to build on this cooperation and appreciation to encourage sustainability and synchronisation in our sub-catchment. The folios can be used as both a reference point for landholders and a skills and knowledge bank to assist landholders in making the best decisions they can to manage their land. The objective of the folios is to promote consistency in management as the key to achieving effective broadscale conservation.

Each property in the TCSRinc will receive a folio, which includes information about general ecological principles and guidelines about specific restoration and management initiatives that are useful in this delicate rainforest setting. The folios are also aimed at helping to promote a positive and meaningful culture of action and cohesion in our community. Tangalla Community and Surrounds including Fountaindale Dam Land in the Tangalla Community is mostly privately owned, with a 300-acre dairy farm surrounded by smaller lots. This arrangement takes into account both the significance of the rainforest and maintaining productivity in the dairy farm whilst also providing for residential development.

The subdivision’s rural residential landholders work actively with the dairy farm to manage, protect and enhance our unique environment, rainforest and waterways. By creating productive, working partnerships between the farmers, residents and the local community, TCSRinc has achieved improved land management outcomes and positive environmental change in the Fountaindale sub-catchment and in the broader community. Tangalla

Streams and Rainforest The landholders in Tangalla have committed to actively managing and protecting the remnant rainforest around their properties. Many of the landholders carry out extensive regeneration and revegetation works on their land and on the common areas in the shared community zones.

This work has included the removal of invasive weeds and the management of populations of feral animals.

Landholders and other volunteers have planted hundreds of native rainforest species to enhance wildlife corridors, regenerate disturbed and cleared areas and strengthen buffer zones between the forest and land with other uses.

This active management is vital to maintain the health of the surrounding vegetation, and to mitigate against cumulative negative impacts which are emerging in these new rural landscapes.

The Tangalla community area covers diverse and important environmental zones. It includes the headwaters of Fountaindale Creek which flows directly into the Minnamurra River and wetlands area via the historic Fountaindale Dam. TheFountaindale Dam is located within the community area and flowing into it is a series of small pristine mountain streams. These streams bisect significant areas of remnant rainforest, much of which is unspoilt, zoned High Conservation and supports a wide and thriving variety of native birds, animals and reptiles.

Restoration and Revegetation of Fountaindale Dam

Rainforests are one of the most complex and diverse biological formations on the planet. They support a vast diversity of flora and fauna and provide important services for the survival and livelihood of humans. Subtropical rainforests are the most complex and have a huge diversity of flora, with the species composition of the canopy varying greatly even between local stands.

Rainforest in Australia is restricted to a narrow band along the eastern coast and Tasmania, where there is sufficient rainfall and humidity. They occur in closed communities, often in sheltered gullies or lowland valleys. There are three main types of rainforest dependant on the major climatic zones (Tropical, Subtropical, and Temperate) or on microclimatic variations of these zones.

The rainforests in the south east of Australia are often referred to as a scattered archipelago of small island-like stands, living museums of what was once widespread over the entire Illawarra region and beyond.

The expanse of rainforest in the Illawarra has unfortunately been intensely cleared and exploited over the years for timber, farming and development. The rainforests of Kiama were especially exploited, leaving only the inaccessible gullies and rocky slopes of remnants to this day. These areas are now important refuges for the ancient rainforest communities and must be protected from further degradation and devastation.

Rainforests such as those in Tangalla, provide refuge for a vast variety of species of plants and animals. They host many ancient species of ferns, lichens and mosses, and are home to a huge variety of invertebrates, many of which have Gondwanan origins. It is now recognised that subtropical rainforests have a mega-diverse insect fauna inhabiting the tree canopy and leaf litter. The foliage of rainforest trees in particular support a vast variety of invertebrates, some of which rely on plant specific relationships such as the caterpillar Theretra clotho with the Giant Stinging Tree (Dendrocnide excelsa).

A large proportion of rainforest trees produce fleshy fruits, which are eaten and dispersed by birds and mammals. Rainforests are renowned for the diversity of birdlife, of which many species are ‘nomadic’ and travel up and down the coast according to the flowering and fruiting times of different rainforest plants.

Rainforest thrives in high rainfall areas with warm temperatures to spur the lush growth and germinate seeds, making the Illawarra an important climatic zone for the survival of rainforest. The complexity of rainforest is largely due to the varied dependence and interactions among the various rainforest organisms.

Rainforest complexity is also due to the complex structures within the forest, and its numerous layers ranging from the subsoil abd leaf litter, to above ground layers such as groundcovers, understorey, mid- storey, canopy, and emergent trees.

The vegetation of the Fountaindale Sub-Catchment has been largely fragmented by agriculture and residential development. There are however, stands of significant size and quality that are considered to be of high conservation value. These larger stands are linked together by corridors of mixed quality vegetation. These corridors are extremely important for connecting larger vegetation stands for increased mobility of native wildlife. This mobility raises the potential for increased genetic diversity of faunal populations, which subsequently increases floristic diversity through dispersal of rainforest fruit and seed by native animals.

The rainforest remnant stands are considered to be of high conservation status due to their floristic and structural diversity, with a range of quality indicators found including epiphytes, vines and mature trees. The stands are a refuge for the Red Cedar (Toona ciliata), which was devastated after early colonial timber getting. Bangalow Palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) have also been found in the rainforest, which are rare to find in remnants this far south. The Endangered Zieria granulata also occurs in the forests and care should be taken to monitor and record sightings.

On ground works have recently been carried out in the Tangalla community to assist the recovery of the forest from impacts of vegetation loss through clearing and invasive plant species. Results of this work have found that there is excellent potential in degraded areas for regeneration and improved resilience of these rainforest communities. Improving the connectivity and quality of vegetation stands by using assisted regeneration techniques could prove to be vital for maintaining the biological and genetic diversity of these important vegetation hotspots.

Restoration is the process of returning degraded ecosystems to similar conditions as naturally occurring ecosystems, or reference sites. There are many variables which need to be taken into consideration when planning to undertake restoration activities. These include;

• The natural structural characteristics of the ecosystem such as multi-layer vegetation and tree canopy cover

• The natural functional attributes and dynamics of the ecosystem such as pollination, seed dispersal, decomposition and nutrient cycling, and

• The characteristic native species assemblages and diversity of the ecosystem, such as the plants, animals, fungi, and other lifeforms found in reference sites. It is also important to consider the priority in which work is carried out, taking practical considerations into account such as-

The natural resilience of the site: the potential for natural regeneration. Indicators may include proximity to native , mature/fruiting trees, percentage of native seedlings germinating after disturbance, microclimate of the site

The linkages to other sites: Is the target area going to add value to the landscape scale conservation effort in terms of a wildlife corridor, or alternatively, a barrier to the dispersal to invasive plants?

Heirarchy of Goals to manage Rainforests ( From ‘ The Rainforest Restoration Manual for South-Eastern Australia’ Bill Peel, CSIRO, 2010 )

GOAL 1. Protect existing remnants from major threats (including clearance and weeds) GOAL 2. Repair and extend existing remnants GOAL 3. Connect or recreate missing remnant islands GOAL 4. Recreate new stands in more isolated areas GOAL 5. Monitor your results

“Rainforest restoration is both an art and a science. By taking the time to develop your restoration skills, you will find the individual restoration tasks relatively easy (and very enjoyable). While the overall job may be complex on some sites, success is achievable if you follow advice, and learn to experiment and improve your techniques along the way. Restoration does not suit everyone's interests, time, money or abilities: it can be an expensive process (though not always) that may take many years of commitment to complete. Even if rainforest restoration is not your cup of tea (for whatever reason), your site can still be restored by engaging someone who is an expert in the field.” (Rainforest Restoration Manual for S.E Aus 2010) Hibbertia scandens The Fountaindale Sub-Catchment hosts a range of vegetation communities that vary across the landscape due to variations in aspect, geology and topography. Consequently, the vegetation communities flourish in their own niches, or microclimates, with eucalypts dominating the more exposed terrain while richer subtropical rainforest associations are confined to more sheltered gullies. The Fountaindale sub-catchment hosts a number of distinctive vegetation communities including

- Blackbutt Tall Forest (E. Pilularis, Syncarpia glomulifera)

- Blue Gum-Turpentine Forest ( E. Saligna x Botryoides ; Syncarpia glomulifera)

- Paperbark Tall Shrubland (Melaleuca armillaris)

- Complex Sub Tropical Rainforest. (Ficus spp., Toona ciliata)

The understorey of these communities predominantly consists of diverse rainforest species, which take advantage of the shelter provided by the Eucalypt and Turpentine canopies.

The Tangalla Community has welcomed many local experts who have assisted them in identifying many of the rainforest species which can be found in the surrounding forests. Experts from Landcare Illawarra, Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority and the University of Wollongong have collaborated to produce species lists for the vegetation communities in the area. The following pages contain lists of the species found in the Tangalla Community.

Adiantum aethiopicum Maidenhair fern Adiantum formosum Giant Maidenhair Adiantum hispidulum Maidenhair Fern Arthropteris tenella Jointed Wing Fern Blechnum ambiguum Asplenium australasicum Bird’s Nest Fern Asplenium flabellifolium Necklace Fern Blechnum ambiguum Native Fishbone Fern Culcita dubia Rainbow Fern Cyathea australis Rough Tree Fern Dicksonia antarctica Tree Fern Doodia aspera Rasp Fern Lastreopsis acuminata Shield Fern Lastreopsis microsora Trim Shield Fern Lastreopsis sp. Shield Fern Dicksonia antarctica Microsorum scandens Kangaroo Fern Pellaea falcata Sickle Fern Pellaea nana Dwarf Sickle Fern Pteris umbrosa Jungle Brake Pyrosia rupestris Rock Felt Fern

Asplenium flabellifolium Aneilema biflorum Scurvy Weed Commelina cyanea Kidney Weed Dichondra repens Broad Leaf Basket Grass Oplismenus aemulus Narrow Leaf Basket Grass Stellaria flaccida Oplismenus imbecilis. Four-Leaved Peperomia Peperomia tetraphylla Native Chickweed Stellaria flaccida 2 Flowered Aneilema

Elatostema reticulatum Pastel Flower Geranium homeanum Indian Weed Viola hederacea Plectranthus parviflorus Eastern Nightshade Pseudoranthemum variabile Stinging Nettle Sigesbeckia orientalis Native Violet Solanum pungetium Urtica incisa Viola hederacea Rainforest Spinach

Native Geranium Native Mint

Commelina cyanea Dendrobium speciosum Yellow Rock Orchid Dipodium punctatum Hyacinth Orchid

Dipodium punctatum Palms

Livistona australis Cabbage Palm Archontophoenix cunninghamiana Bangalow Palm

Livistona australis Sedges

Carex longebrachiata Gymnostachys anceps Lomandra longifolia Tussock Sedge Settler’s Flax Matt Rush

Stellaria flaccida Carex spp. Shrubs

Citriobatus pauciflorus Orange Thorn Clerodendrum tomentosum Hairy Clerodendron Goodia lotifolia Clover Tree Hibiscus heterophyllus Native Hibiscus Hymenanthera dentata Native Violet Hibiscus heterophyllus Indigofera australis Indigo Girls Omalanthus populifolius Bleeding Heart Pimelia ligustrina Tall Rice Flower Pittosporum revolutum Woolly Pittosporum Solanum aviculare Kangaroo Apple Synoum glandulosum Illawarra Rosewood Wilkea huegelianana Wilkea

Omolanthus populifolius Scramblers

Rubus rosifolius Rubus sp. aff. Moorei Native Raspberry Native Bramble

Synoum glandulosum Trees

Acacia binervata 2 veined Hickory Acacia maidenii Maiden’s Wattle Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood Acmena smithii Lillypilly Acronychia oblongifolia Native Lemon/(Tic Tac) Alectryon subcinereus Native Quince Backhousia myrtifolia Alphitonia excelsa Red Ash Backhousia myrtifolia Grey Myrtle Baloghia inophylla Brush Bloodwood Bolwarra laurina Bolwarra Brachychiton acerifolius Illawarra Flame Tree Cassine australis Red Olive Plum (Native Jaffa) Ceratopetalum apetalum Coachwood Cinnamonum olivieri Oliver Sassafras Citronella mooreii Churnwood Claoxylon australe Brittlewood Cryptocarya glaucescens Jackwood Cryptocarya microneura Murrogan Ceratopetalum apetalum Dendrocnide excelsa Giant Stinging tree Diospyros australis Black Plum Diospyros pentamera Myrtle Ebony Diploglottis australis Native Tamarind Doryphora sassafras Sassafras Ehretia acuminata Koda Elaeocarpus kirtonii Pigeonberry ash Elaeocarpus reticulatus Blueberry Ash Emmenosperma alphitoniodes Yellow Ash Eucalyptus muelleriana Yellow Stringybark

Diospyros pentamera

Eucalyptus quadrangulata White Topped Box Eucalyptus Saligna x Botryoides Sydney Blue Gum X Eupomatia laurina Bolwarra Exocarpos cupressiformis Native Cherry Ficus coronata Sandpaper fig Ficus macrophylla Moreton Bay Fig Syzygium australe Glochidion ferdinandi Cheese Tree Guioa semiglauca Guioa Litsea reticulata Bolly Gum Melia azerdarach White Cedar Melicope micrococca Melicope Notalea longifolia Native Olive Pennantia cunninghamii Brown Beech Pittosporum undulatum Native Daphne Planchonella australis Black Apple Polyscias elegans Celerywood Polyscias Murrayi Pencil Cedar Melia azerdarach Psychotria loniceroides Hairy Psychotria Rapanea howitteana Brush Muttonwood Sloanea australis Maiden's Blush Stenocarpus salignus Beefwood Streblus brunonianius Whalebone Syncarpia glomulifera Turpentine Syzygium australe Brush Cherry Toona australis Red Cedar Tristaniopsis collina Kanuka

Toona australis

Calystegia marginata Calystegia Cissus antarctica Kangaroo Vine Cissus hyperglauca Water Vine Desmodium sp. Desmodium Eustrephus latifolius Wombat Berry Pandorea pandorana Geitenoplesium cymosum Scrambling Lily Glycine sp. Glycine Hibbertia scandens Climbing Guinea Flower Legnephora moorei Round Leaf Vine Maclura cochinchinensis Cockspur Thorn Malaisia scandens Burny Vine Marsdenia rostrata Milk Vine Moorinda jasminoides Native Jasmine Palmeria scandens Pomegranate Vine Pandorea pandorana Wonga Vine Tylophora barbata Parsonsia straminea Silk Pod Piper nova-hollandae Pepper Vine Rubus rosifolius Native Raspberry Smilax australis Lawyer vine Stephania japonica Snake Vine Tylophora barbata Bearded Tylophora

Eustrephus latifolius

Ziera Granulata – Endangered Species found in the Tangalla Community

Plant profiles: Weed and Native look-alikes Native Commelina Commelina cyanea

Native Anelima Anelima biflora

Weed

Trad Tradescantia flumenensis

Native Indian Weed Sigesbeckia orientalis

Weed Cobblers Peg Bidens pilosa

Weed Mist Flower Ageratina riparia

Native Knot Weed Persicaria spp.

Weed Ink Weed Phytolacca octandra Native Milk Vine Marsdenia rostrata Weed Moth Vine Araujia sericifera Moth Vine or Milk Vine? Native Weed Stinging Tree Tobacco Bush Dendrocnide exelsa Solanum mauritianum

Native Weed Native Raspberry Blackberry Rubus parvifolius Rubus fruticosis

The Tangalla community working together to achieve the best outcomes for our farming landscapes and our scarce natural resources This Folio was produced for the landholders of the Tangalla Community, with funding from the Federal Government’s Caring for Our Country Business Plan 2011 initiative. Many thanks to Landcare Illawarra and Conservation Volunteers Australia for their continued support, volunteer contribution and advice, in particular, Richard Scarborough. Many thanks to all those who volunteered their time to help us improve conservation outcomes in our community. All photos and text supplied by Erin Lake and Lynne Strong except those referenced below. Many thanks to the residents of the Tangalla community for their continued support of positive natural resource management actions and outcomes.

Photo credits: Persicaria flower (p 37) www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au; Blackberry (p 43) www.southeastweeds.org.au

A productive community partnerships project