Draft Conservation Advice1 for the Lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion

April 2021 – For consultation This document combines the draft conservation advice and draft listing assessment for the threatened ecological community. It provides a foundation for conservation action and further planning.

Lowland Tropical Rainforest at Eubenangee Swamp National Park, in the form of Queensland’s Regional Ecosystem classification 7.3.10a: Mesophyll vine forest. Moderately to poorly-drained alluvial plains, of moderate fertility. Lowlands of the very wet and wet zone. © Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Conservation Status The Lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion is under assessment for potential listing in the Endangered or Critically Endangered category of the threatened ecological communities list under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

1 The Conservation Advice is a statutory document as per section 266B of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

This draft document has been prepared in preliminary consultation with experts, Traditional Owners and NRM organisations from the region. Further comments are now sought from these, and other, groups, and the public on the definition and associated distribution, as well as on the threats and proposed conservation category.

CONTENTS 1. Conservation objective ...... 3 2. Description of the ecological community and the area it inhabits ...... 3 2.1 Description ...... 3 2.1.1 Introduction ...... 3 2.1.2 Name ...... 3 2.1.3 Location and physical environment ...... 3 2.1.4 Vegetation structure ...... 4 2.1.5 Flora ...... 5 2.1.6 Fauna ...... 6 2.2 Significance of the ecological community to First Nations peoples ...... 8 3. Threats ...... 9 3.1 Threats table ...... 9 3.2 Key threatening processes ...... 13 4. Conservation of the ecological community ...... 14 4.1 Identification of the ecological community ...... 14 4.1.1 Key diagnostics ...... 14 4.2 Principles and standards for conservation ...... 16 4.3 Priority conservation and research actions ...... 17 4.3.1 PROTECT the ecological community...... 17 4.3.2 RESTORE and MANAGE the ecological community ...... 20 4.3.3 COMMUNICATE, ENGAGE WITH AND SUPPORT ...... 21 4.3.4 RESEARCH AND MONITORING ...... 22 5. Listing assessment ...... 24 5.1 Eligibility for listing against the EPBC Act criteria ...... 24 Criterion 1 – decline in geographic distribution ...... 24 Criterion 2 – limited geographic distribution coupled with demonstrable threat ...... 28 Criterion 3 – decline of functionally important species ...... 29 Criterion 4 – reduction in community integrity ...... 29 Criterion 5 – rate of continuing detrimental change ...... 31 Criterion 6 – quantitative analysis showing probability of extinction ...... 32 Appendix A - Species of conservation concern ...... 33 Appendix B - Relationship to other vegetation classification and mapping systems ...... 35 References ...... 40

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1. CONSERVATION OBJECTIVE To mitigate the risk of extinction of the Lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion, and help recover its biodiversity and function through protecting it from significant impacts as a Matter of National Environmental Significance under national environmental law, and by guiding implementation of management and recovery, consistent with the recommended priority conservation and research actions set out in this advice.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY AND THE AREA IT INHABITS 2.1 Description 2.1.1 Introduction The ecological community described in this Conservation Advice includes the plants, animals and other organisms typically associated with a type of lowland tropical rainforest that is found in the Wet Tropics of north Queensland. This is a structurally complex, evergreen tall forest with a relatively high species diversity (compared with other Australian rainforests), a predominance of large-leaved (mesophyll, blade length of 12.5 – 25 cm, Walker & Hopkins, 1990) tree species, and a high representation of plant species from the families Myrtaceae (especially Syzygium) and Lauraceae. Vines and lianas, and epiphytes, are relatively common, and in an Australian context, so are herbaceous ground layer plant species. The ecological community also includes lowland mesophyll vine forests with Archontophoenix alexandrae (Feather Palm Alexander Palm) and/or Licuala ramsayi var. ramsayi (Fan Palm), typically occurring on poorly drained alluvial plains. Distinctive faunal components include tree kangaroos, Cassowaries, riflebirds, tree frogs, and a range of endemic canopy arthropods. A more detailed description of the ecological community follows below. This section describes the natural and largely undisturbed state of the ecological community, with more information to assist in identifying patches of the ecological community in section 2.1. However, as a result of past disturbance, not all patches of the ecological community still exist in a natural and undisturbed state. 2.1.2 Name Lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion (hereafter referred to as ‘Lowland Tropical Rainforest’ or the ‘ecological community’). 2.1.3 Location and physical environment 2.1.3.1 Biogeographic context Modelling of the minimum predicted extent of lowland rainforest using past climate scenarios shows that the Cape Tribulation-Mossman and Cairns-Cardwell areas are where the ecological community is enduring, having retained stable lowland rainforests during historical climate fluctuations (Vander Wal et al., 2009). The Cape Tribulation to the Daintree River area appears to have a disproportionate representation of ancient and endemic species. According to the models, lowland rainforest south of the Cardwell Range disappeared during climatically unfavourable periods and this is reflected in the low number of bioregional endemics found there today. Other types of rainforests occurring to the south of the Cardwell Range on the coastal plain and foothills are likely a result of colonisation by species which expanded their range from northern refugia during more favourable climates (WTMA, 2014). 2.1.3.2 Current distribution Lowland rainforest included within this ecological community is restricted to the Wet Tropics Bioregion (Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia, IBRA V7, DoE 2012), with approximate limits around Ingham (just south of the Cardwell Range) in the south and north of Cape Tribulation in the north. This distribution coincides mainly with three subregions of the Wet Tropics Bioregion: Herbert (Herbert River valley), Tully (Tully and Murray River valleys) and Innisfail (valleys of the Barron, Mulgrave, Russell and Johnstone rivers, and Liverpool Creek); with minor areas in the Daintree-Bloomfield (Bloomfield, Daintree,

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Mossman River valleys and associated ranges and tablelands) and Macalister subregions (Macalister Range) (Goosem et al., 1999). The ecological community occurs principally on fertile soils, which may be derived from alluvium, basalt, metamorphic and granite substrates (more likely on colluvial material in the latter two scenarios). The ecological community occurs in a tropical hot and humid climate. Overnight temperatures are mild to warm, with regular high air humidity. Average annual minimum and maximum temperatures at the time of this advice are 20.7°C and 28.8°C, respectively (e.g., in Cairns, Cobon et al., 2017). The area experiences wet and dry seasons with seasonal droughts, floods and cyclones (Goosem & Tucker, 2013), and the wettest parts of the area receive more than 3500 mm rainfall per year and are effectively aseasonal (e.g. Cape Tribulation, Babinda and Tully) whereas drier areas such as Bluewater are highly seasonal and receive less than 1300 mm per annum (Metcalfe & Lawson, 2015). In the wettest areas between Tully and Cairns, over 60% of annual rainfall occurs in the wet season from December to March, when cyclones may also occur (QDEH, 2011). The ecological community occurs mostly below 80 – 100m above sea level (asl), with the core former distribution being predominantly between 0 – 40m asl. However, it can also be found up to approximately 300 – 350m asl where substrate and other conditions are suitable, for example on fertile basaltic lava flows in the East Palmerston and Mena Creek areas west of Innisfail. These areas have a more gentle transition from the coastal plain to the foothill country (Winter et al., 1987) so the inflection point to foothills (steeper slope) is at a higher altitude than the rest of the coastal plain. The palm-dominated rainforest types of the ecological community occur in parts of the landscape more prone to waterlogging, typically alluvial soils where the watertable is always very high. The soils of these areas are derived from basaltic and granitic parent material. South of the Cardwell Range, from around Ingham, the rainfall becomes more seasonal (very low rainfall in the dry season) and this complex mesophyll lowland rainforest ecological community is replaced by simple notophyll-mesophyll rainforest. 2.1.4 Vegetation structure Lowland Tropical Rainforest, compared with other rainforest types in the region (e.g. littoral rainforest and upland rainforest), is generally recognisable in its canopy features, including being highly irregular, much more open (e.g. in its long-undisturbed state), and containing large fig trees. Variation in rainforest structure type (e.g. component Regional Ecosystems, Queensland Herbarium, 2019) can be broadly correlated with rainfall patterns associated with the height and orientation of the adjoining mountain ranges, soil drainage and soil nutrient availability. Trees of Lowland Tropical Rainforest are typically tall (at least 25 m), with well-developed buttresses, evergreen (rarely semi-deciduous) and with mesophyll leaves (blade length of 12.5 – 25 cm) being the most common leaf or leaflet size. Epiphytes of all sizes are found on tree trunks and branches. Vines are typically common. A well-developed sub-canopy tree layer is usually present as well as a sparse shrub/sapling layer, indicating a seedling bank. Ground herbs and ferns are common to uncommon, but grasses are rare. Palms are common in damp soils, and otherwise scattered through the forest. Within individual stands of the ecological community, variation in site factors results in conspicuous structural differences such as the increase in palms (particularly, rattans (Calamus spp.)) on sites with impeded drainage, and gingers, climbing pandans and aroids in gullies and along creek banks which are permanently saturated with water. The palm-dominated rainforests are distinctive structural sub-types of the ecological community, with a conspicuous and significant proportion of the upper strata (canopy layer) comprising either Archontophoenix alexandrae (Feather Palm, Alexander Palm) and/or Licuala ramsayi var. ramsayi (Fan Palm).

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With increased elevation the ecological community transitions into upland rainforest communities, where larger trees and buttresses are less frequent, the canopy becomes more even, and there is a change in species composition. 2.1.4.1 Influence of cyclones Cyclones have a substantial impact on vegetation structure. Effects vary from defoliation of the canopy in low-intensity cyclones, to extensive tree fall in the most intense cyclones. Tree fall occurs during a cyclone or any other time due to the stress of repeated strong gales, liana and vine infestation or erosion on steep slopes (Webb, 1958). Increased penetration of light to the forest floor promotes saplings and vines. Weeds commonly invade at this time following disturbance. The stand structure in areas exposed to cyclones reflects the history of disturbance and recovery from major storm events, notably Cyclones Larry (2006) and Yasi (2011). These cyclones damaged large canopy trees and promoted invasion by weeds including Miconia (Miconia calvescens), Mile-a-minute Vine, Mikania Vine (Mikania micrantha), Mexican Bean Trees (Cecropia spp.) and Harungana (Harungana madagascariensis). Native scramblers and vines such as Calamus spp. (Lawyer Cane) and Merremia peltata (Captain Cook Vine, Convolvulus) may also be dominate early successional stages, forming dense mats and vine towers that smother trees. 2.1.5 Flora Overview Over 50% of the Wet Tropics’ bioregional flora has the potential to exist in lowland rainforest, but few are strictly endemic, with some species extending into littoral rainforest or to higher elevations. The current species pool is a unique mixture of ancestral flowering plants, likely to have been long-term Gondwanan relics, and more recent immigrants that transgressed Australian plate boundaries since the Miocene (Crisp & Cook 2003; Weston & Jordan 2017). Many species, particularly those which reach their southern distributions in the Wet Tropics, are much more abundant in the lowlands than at higher elevations (Metcalfe & Lawson, 2015). A number of species occur elsewhere in the tropics (for example, New Guinea and Southeast Asia) but their Australian distribution is confined to small populations in the Wet Tropics. These species that also occur outside Australia are mostly ferns and lycophytes, and predominantly occur on the wet coastal lowlands and foothills in rainforest communities (WTMA, 2014). Drainage of cool air down from the mountains in sheltered valleys also leads to disjunct mountaintop species being found in the lowlands in exceptional circumstances (Metcalfe & Ford, unpubl. data, 2014). Significant plant species include those that are endemics, rare, threatened, disjunct, or from an ancient lineage. For example, Chingia australis, currently listed as Endangered, is a terrestrial arborescent2 fern endemic to the Wet Tropics region. Much of its distribution is in the lowlands. Some populations are riparian (growing in or very close to water courses) and all are dependent on surrounding rainforest habitat and the moist microclimate it provides (Herbert, 2006). Being a complex rainforest, the floristic composition of the ecological community is very diverse and is characterised by a high species diversity of plants with predominantly large leaves, including a high representation of the families Myrtaceae, especially Syzygium, and Lauraceae (Metcalfe & Lawson, 2015). Appendix B, Table 4 – outlines more finely defined Regional Ecosystems that are components of the Lowland Tropical Rainforest ecological community.

2 Arborescent – treelike in growth or appearance.

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Are there any flora species that you think should be removed, added or described differently in the following sections to accurately represent the proposed ecological community? Please provide your reasons.

Canopy species Generally the canopy of the ecological community comprises a diverse range of tree species but may be characterised by Acmena graveolens, Argyrodendron peralatum, Alstonia scholaris, Cananga odorata, Canarium vitiense, Castanospermum australe, Dysoxylum mollissimum, D. pettigrewianum, Elaeocarpus grandis, Ficus variegata, Palaquium galactoxylon, Planchonella myrsinodendron, Syzygium sayeri, Terminalia sericocarpa and Vitex queenslandica (broadly characterised by BVG 1a, Neldner et al., 2019). In some areas a particular species may dominate, for example closed palm forests, dominated by Archontophoenix alexandrae (Alexandra palm) or Licuala ramsayi var. ramsayi (fan palm). Sub-canopy and shrubs species Subcanopy trees may be characterised by species including Antirhea tenuiflora, Brombya platynema, Cryptocarya laevigata, Gomphandra australiana, Gossia myrsinifolia, Myristica muelleri, Pisonia umbellifera, Rockinghamia angustifolia and Synima cordierorum. Vines and lianas Vines and lianas such as Adenia heterophylla, Aristolochia acuminata, A. deltantha, Austrosteenisia stipularis, Calamus australis, C. moti, Entada phaseoloides, Faradaya splendida and Merremia peltata are frequent and climb into the canopy. Understorey species The ground layer is very sparse, and may include Bowenia spectabilis, Pandanus monticola and sprawling Calamus spp. Ferns such as Blechnum, Diplazium, Selaginella longipinna and Tectaria spp. occur frequently, with fleshy herbs such as Alpinia arctiflora, A. modesta, Hornstedtia scottiana, Pleuranthodium racemigerum and Alocasia brisbanensis occurring frequently. Chingia australis (listed as Endangered) is a terrestrial arborescent fern, growing up to 60cm tall, and is endemic to the Wet Tropics Bioregion. Ground orchids include the threatened species Phaius australis (Lesser Swamp-orchid), Phaius pictus (Forest Swamp Orchid) and Vrydagzynea grayi (Tonsil Orchid). Epiphytes, fungi, mosses and lichens Epiphytes include the listed threatened species Acriopsis emarginata (Pale Chandelier Orchid), Durabaculum nindii (syn. Dendrobium nindii) (Blue Antler Orchid), Durabaculum mirbelianum (Dark-stemmed Antler Orchid) and Phalaenopsis rosenstromii (Native Moth Orchid). These species may also grow on rocks, as lithophytes, in areas of high rainfall. 2.1.6 Fauna Parts of the remaining extent of the ecological community are predicted to have been relatively stable over time (VanDerWal et al., 2009), (e.g. Daintree and Cairns-Cardwell lowlands) and consequently, are considered important long-term fauna refuges and sites of speciation (DES, 2019). Lowland Tropical Rainforest habitat is used by many wide-ranging Wet Tropics endemics, for example Frogs: Litoria rheocola (Creek Frog, Common Mist Frog), L. dayi (Day's Frog, Australian Lacelid), L. serrata (Green-Eyed Tree Frog), Cophixalus australis (Southern Ornate Nursery-Frog), C. infacetus (Buzzing Nursery-Frog, Inelegant Frog); Reptiles: Carlia rubrigularis (Red-Throated Rainbow-Skink), Lygisaurus laevis (Rainforest Edge Litter-Skink), Birds: Xanthotis macleayanus (Macleay's Honeyeater), Orthonyx spaldingii (Chowchilla), Arses kaupi (Pied Monarch), Ptiloris victoriae (Victoria's Riflebird); and Mammals: Hypsiprymnodon moschatus (Musky Rat-Kangaroo), and the two Australian tree-kangaroo

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species are distinctive north (Dendrolagus bennettianus, Bennett’s Tree-Kangaroo) and south (D. lumholtzi, Lumholtz's Tree-Kangaroo) of the Daintree River. Bats include the threatened species Pteropus conspicillatus (Spectacled Flying-fox), Rhinolophus robertsi (syn. R. philippinensis) (Large-eared Horseshoe Bat) and Saccolaimus saccolaimus nudicluniatus (Bare-rumped Sheathtail Bat). Alectura lathami (Australian Brush Turkey) and Megapodius reinwardt (Orange-Footed Scrubfowl) are conspicuous birds of the ecological community, feeding on insects, small vertebrates, seeds, fallen berries and fruit of the forest floor and building large mounds of fallen leaves and debris to incubate their eggs. The ecological community also provides critical feeding and breeding habitat for lowland populations of Casuarius casuarius (Southern Cassowary) (DES, 2019), and also provides important habitat for migratory birds such as Tanysiptera (Uralcyon) sylvia (Buff-Breasted Paradise Kingfisher) (Williams, 2006) and frugivorous birds, some of which are flocking and migratory and nest on offshore islands, for example Ducula bicolor (Pied Imperial-Pigeon), and many areas are included in the Coastal Wet Tropics Key Biodiversity Area (Birdlife Australia, 2018; DES, 2019). From around September in the build-up to the wet season fruiting of many plants provides important feeding habitat for visiting migratory birds. In the fragmented landscape of the Wet Tropics lowlands patches of the ecological community, including small patches, are now concentrated stopping off points for avifauna. Metcalfe & Lawson (2015) recognised that fugivores such as the Southern Cassowary and Spectacled Flying-fox are important seed dispersers in rainforest communities (Westcott et al., 2005). The Southern Cassowary and Uromys caudimaculatus (Giant White-tailed Rat) are unique in their ability to disperse large-seeded species; extinction of other large seed- dispersing species means that some tree species (e.g. Idiospermum australiense, Ribbonwood) are now gravity dispersed only or may be moved and buried by Hypsiprymnodon moschatus (Musky Rat-kangaroo) (Joseph et al., 2014). In Lowland Tropical Rainforest the possum most likely to be encountered is Dactylopsila trivirgata (Striped Possum), which eats fruit, pollen and insects, especially beetle and moth larvae, which it takes form decaying wood using its long tongue and fingers. The invertebrate communities of the ecological community are generally poorly known relative to the vertebrate component, though the ecological community is known to facilitate high species diversity of invertebrates, with thousands of beetle species recorded per hectare and flowers supporting a rich, unique and abundant fauna of their own (Metcalfe & Lawson, 2015). Additionally, many narrow-range endemics are known to be present (e.g. spiders (Amauropelma monteithi, A. trueloves), beetles (Colasidia monteithi) and mayflies (Austrophlebioides rieki)). Similarly to tree kangaroos, two snail communities are distinctive, north and south of the Daintree River. The area also represents the biogeographic split between lowland and upland Cherax (crayfish) species (DES, 2019). Butterflies and moths such as Cethosia cydippe (Red Lacewing), Hypochrysops apollo apollo (Apollo Jewel butterfly), Ornithoptera priamus (Cairns Birdwing), Papilio ulysses (Ulysses Butterfly) and Dysphania fenestrata (Bumble-Bee Moth), and ants such as Oecophylla smaragdina (Green Tree Ant) are also prevalent and characteristic of lowland rainforest. The Ulysses Butterfly feeds on flowers of trees such as Melicope elleryana (Euodia), the flowers also being a food source for many birds and flying foxes. Some butterflies are strongly associated with vines, as a food source and for laying eggs. The Cairns Birdwing is associated with Aristolochia acuminata and Aristolochia deltantha, and the Red Lacewing with Adenia heterophylla.

Please provide details of any fauna species that you think should be included or excluded, particularly characteristic or functionally significant species that could highlight their role in this Section (and/or in a separate table of species found in Lowland Tropical Rainforest)? Please provide a reason and potential references with your response.

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2.2 Significance of the ecological community to First Nations peoples

The area of North Queensland containing the Lowland Tropical Rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion ecological community has great cultural significance for the many Traditional Owner groups that live in the area and care for Country. Consultation is continuing, and feedback is sought from Traditional Owners on Indigenous cultural values, preferred ways to present the information, as well as permissions to include such information. Information included in the Conservation Advice can highlight cultural values and inform future management.

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3. THREATS The Lowland Tropical Rainforest is primarily impacted by clearing, fragmentation legacies, invasive flora and fauna, exotic disease/pathogens, hydrological changes, cyclones and climate change. 3.1 Threats table Table 1 outlines the key threats facing the ecological community. The key threats faced by the ecological community are described to help explain why this ecological community merits listing as threatened and supports the assessment against the criteria at section 5.1. Although presented as a list, these threats often interact, rather than act independently.

Do you agree with the information in the table on the following pages? In particular - are any of the listed threats more, or less, severe or of different timing or scope than currently proposed for this ecological community? Are any threats missing, and if so please specify? Please provide additional examples of threat impacts, including potential threats.

Table 1: Summary of threats facing the ecological community Threat factor Threat Status* Evidence base Clearing and Timing: • Europeans colonized the Wet Tropics from the 1870s, first timber past / ongoing exploiting timber reserves. Red cedar (Toona australis), a harvesting key rainforest canopy and valuable hardwood species, Severity: was heavily selectively logged in the Daintree, Mossman extreme Rivers, and Cairns regions (Stanton et al., 2014). Scope: Uncontrolled timber extraction occurred until logging whole quotas were enforced in 1948, however, these quotas continued to allow high levels of unsustainable clearing (Frawley, 1987).

• Rainforest also began to be cleared for mining, sugar and dairy farming in the late 1800s. Land clearing in lowland areas increased during the sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum, and hybrids) boom of the 1880’s (Frawley, 1991; Griggs, 2007).

• Land grants to returned servicemen from 1916 to the 1920s came with the condition that allotted land was ‘improved’, leading to the clearance of rainforest even on steep slopes and in areas which were marginal for agriculture. Another major phase of clearance of rainforest for agriculture took place during the 1960s, demonstrated by the establishment of King Ranch in 1963, a 21,000 ha cattle station in the Tully River Valley (Frawley, 1991; Metcalfe & Lawson, 2015).

• Clearing for rural-residential development and associated infrastructure (water, roads, electricity) has occurred more recently, mainly since the mid -20th century.

• As a result of these factors, the greatest impact of clearance has been on the coastal lowlands with high rainfall, fertile soils and accessible topography (Winter et al., 1987; Accad & Neil, 2006; Metcalfe & Lawson, 2015), coinciding with much of the range of ecological community.

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Threat factor Threat Status* Evidence base • The main threat to some orchid species, apart from habitat loss, is illegal collecting (e.g. Dendrobium nindii DES, 2009; Phalaenopsis rosenstromii DoE, 2018) Fragmentation Timing: • Historic clearance of the ecological community as well as legacies ongoing other surrounding vegetation has resulted in severe fragmentation and invasion by exotic species, which leads Severity: to ongoing loss of species diversity through extinction extreme / major debt; loss of ecological function in remaining patches; and Scope: greater vulnerability and reduced resilience of smaller whole patches to stochastic events. Much of the community now occurs in linear fragments with large edge-to-area ratios. This increases potential harm done through threatening processes such as weed invasion, storms and incremental clearing, and the remnants are more difficult to maintain and manage for biodiversity.

• Fragmentation causes impacts including changing forest microclimates, especially closer to cleared edges. This can have a variety of impacts on the species and ecological processes near these edges. Potentially, the largest ongoing threat associated with habitat loss and fragmentation is the interaction between previous clearing and fragmentation. This includes the enhancement and spread of invasive weed species, and the problems they pose as barriers to faunal movement and dispersal under a changing climate (WTMA, 2016).

• There are marked differences between the assemblages of animals and plants present in intact forest compared to those in patchy fragmented forest (Laurance et al., 2008) while more subtle effects can be seen in morphological and genetic diversity of affected species (e.g. Sumner, 2005; Sumner et al., 2008).

• The leading edge of rainforest margins typically are more susceptible to edge effects (e.g. to cyclonic winds, or intensive adjacent landuse). Drainage works on adjoining lands have altered vital hydrological and water table relationships for components of the ecological community in poorly drained parts of the landscape. Increased wind exposure associated with agricultural clearing is also a threat (Queensland Herbarium, 2019)

• Following cyclones, debris clean-up operations and widening of infrastructure corridors (e.g. roads and electricity) can cause direct damage to the ecological community and exacerbate other threats (e.g. weeds; light and wind exposure). Invasive Timing: • Invasive plant species represent a serious threat to the species – flora ongoing integrity and condition of lowland rainforest communities and their various ancient, endemic and threatened species Severity: (WTMA, 2014). extreme / major • Scope: Invasive plant species that significantly impact the whole ecological community include Giant Bramble (Rubus alceifolius), Harungana (Harungana madagascariensis), Lantana (Lantana camara), Mexican Bean Trees (Cecropia spp.), Miconia (Miconia calvescens), Mile-a- minute Vine, Mikania Vine (Mikania micrantha), Pond Apple (Annona glabra) and Siam Weed (Chromolaena odorata). Lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion Draft Conservation Advice Page 10 of 43

Threat factor Threat Status* Evidence base • Weeds of national significance such as Pond Apple and Miconia can even aggressively invade intact rainforest. Pond Apple invades into the sub-canopy and understorey layers, forming dense stands, particularly in poorly drained parts of the landscape. • In cyclone-impacted rainforests disturbance has allowed the invasion and spread of aggressive weeds (WTMA, 2014) to the extent that some species may have longer- term effects on the successional trajectory of the rainforest and future forest composition and structure (Tracey, 1981). Invasive Timing: • The invasive vertebrate species currently identified of species – ongoing highest levels of concern include feral pigs (particularly in fauna palm-dominated rainforests, Queensland Herbarium, Severity: 2019), cats, cane toads and dogs. minor / major • Scope: Invasive invertebrate species include the Palm Leaf Beetle majority (Brontispa longissima) and Tramp Ants, (including Yellow Crazy Ants, Anoplolepis gracilipes, and Electric Ants, Wasmannia auropunctata). Exotic Earthworms (Pontoscolex corethruthrus) also have impacts on the region’s ecosystems, on the processes of soil nutrient availability and on the composition of the native rainforest earthworm fauna. Honeybees (Apis spp.) also represent a threat to ecosystem processes by competing with native bee species that are more efficient plant pollinators. Honeybees reduce fruit set, which changes the reproductive performance of select native fauna and flora that depend on bee pollination for food. Recent incursions of the Asian Honeybee (Apis cerana) can impact on native vertebrate fauna as they compete with birds and small mammals for tree hollows (WTMA, 2016). Exotic Timing: • Phytophthora has been implicated in dieback and patch disease/patho ongoing deaths of some rainforest patches. gens Severity: • More recently Myrtle rust has been identified as impacting major some rainforest species in the region and a substantial Scope: potential threat to other structurally significant species. majority The abundance and diversity of myrtaceous species characteristic of this ecological community highlights its susceptibility to this disease. Hydrological Timing: • Many areas of the ecological community are groundwater change and ongoing dependent, particularly low-lying areas and some changes to components (e.g. Palm-dominated rainforests), and are Severity: water quality therefore susceptible to surrounding land uses that affect extreme / major surface and sub-surface water flows, including clearing Scope: and the construction of drainage channels (e.g. for cattle majority farms and sugar cane plantations). Recovery is generally not possible following significant changes to catchment hydrology. Cyclones Timing: • Cyclones are a natural disturbance that can cause ongoing significant habitat loss and/or degradation. Cyclone impacted parts of this ecological community are Severity: characterised by an uneven canopy densely draped with extreme / major vines. Scope: • majority Fragmentation of the community and the vastly increased edge to area ratio of patches has greatly exacerbated the impact of cyclonic wind damage and associated weed and smothering vine prevalence, reducing the inherent Lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion Draft Conservation Advice Page 11 of 43

Threat factor Threat Status* Evidence base resilience of the remaining patches. Impacts from cyclones therefore can also transform long-term vegetation structure and function. • On average a weak tropical cyclone will cross the coast between Cooktown and Ingham every five years, and a powerful cyclone every fifty or more years (Turton, 2008). There have recently been two such powerful cyclones (Tropical Cyclone Larry in 2006 and Tropical Cyclone Yasi in 2011), each making landfall in the Innisfail-Tully area and causing substantial structural damage to forests (WTMA, 2014). The impact of cyclones is likely to become more severe in the future with the average increase in intensity of cyclones predicted under climate change (WTMA, 2016), and is discussed further under ‘Climate Change’, below. • Clean-up operations after cyclones are also a potential threat to the ecological community, particularly if areas that would regrow naturally are instead cleared for new land-uses. Climate Timing: • Climate change is expected to impact the ecological change ongoing / future community through factors including temperature extremes and rainfall patterns outside of the range Severity: experienced to date (e.g. delayed start to wet season), major increasing intensity and decreasing speed of cyclones, Scope: and sea level rise. The capacity of species and flora and whole fauna communities to adapt is uncertain. In addition, current species assemblages (e.g. those that are part of the ecological community) may not be maintained as species shift their range at different rates in response to different abiotic/biotic factors. That is, the ecological community will not shift as a defined unit. • Species diversity in lowland rainforests is likely to be significantly affected by climate change, as the lowlands lack a source of species adapted to higher temperatures while those with narrow temperature requirements are driven uphill or go extinct (Colwell et al., 2008; Metcalfe & Lawson, 2015). The ranges of some specialist lowland rainforest species are likely to be increasingly contracted between rising sea levels, development and the mountains. • Adaptation of the ecological community to climate change, or some of its component species, is compromised in the current landscape. Hard infrastructure such as roads and railways as well as managed corridors such as verges, water pipe and powerline corridors can all present barriers to the dispersal of fauna, seeds, pollen or other propagules, and change hydrology. These barriers are emphasised where urban or agricultural practice makes surrounding areas increasingly hostile for biodiversity. • Modelling predicts an increase in the intensity, if not the frequency, of tropical cyclones and their attendant wind damage, storm surges and flooding. Wet Tropics vegetation communities have evolved with cyclones, but more frequent devastating storms, combined with weed pressure, patterns of land clearance, fire and pests and diseases may lead to dramatic shifts in vegetation structure and species composition (Williams et al., 2008; WTMA, 2014).

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Threat factor Threat Status* Evidence base • Plants become more toxic and less nutritious to folivores. Many plants respond to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels with a decrease in their concentration of overall plant nitrogen, and an increase in poisonous protective chemicals. If widespread, this may affect plant- animal interactions and have consequences for species competition (Hovenden & Williams, 2010). *Timing – the threat occurs in the past (and unlikely to return), is ongoing (present/continuing), is likely to occur/return in the future, or timing is unknown Severity – the threat causes or has the potential to cause impacts that are extreme (leading to loss or transformation of affected patches/occurrences), major (leading to degradation of affected patches/occurrences), minor (impacting some components of affected patches/occurrences), negligible or unknown Scope – the threat is affecting the whole (>90%), a majority (>50%), a minority (<50%), a negligible amount, or unknown amount of the ecological community

3.2 Key threatening processes The EPBC Act provides for the identification and listing of key threatening processes. A process is defined as a key threatening process if it threatens or may threaten the survival, abundance or evolutionary development of a native species or ecological community. The following are EPBC-listed key threatening processes, current at the date of writing, that may be relevant to the ecological community or specific plants and animals that comprise it: • Competition and land degradation by rabbits • Competition and land degradation by unmanaged goats • Land clearance • Loss and degradation of native plant and animal habitat by invasion of escaped garden plants, including aquatic plants • Loss of climatic habitat caused by anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases • Novel biota and their impact on biodiversity (e.g. Myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii), deer) • Predation by European red fox • Predation by feral cats • Predation, Habitat Degradation, Competition and Disease Transmission by Feral Pigs • Infection of amphibians with chytrid fungus resulting in chytridiomycosis Any approved threat abatement plans or advice associated with these items provides information to help landowners manage these threats and reduce their impacts to biodiversity. These can be found at http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi- bin/sprat/public/publicgetkeythreats.pl.

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4. CONSERVATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY 4.1 Identification of the ecological community Lowland Tropical Rainforest intergrades with other vegetation types and ecological communities. Key diagnostic characteristics are used to identify an area of native vegetation as being the Lowland Tropical Rainforest, and define the features that distinguish it from other communities, noting that additional information to assist with identification is provided in the other sections of this document, particularly the description (section 2.1). 4.1.1 Key diagnostics The key diagnostic characteristics are designed to allow identification of the ecological community irrespective of the season. Nature is an intergrading continuum and its ecological classification and mapping is an evolving process, open to subjective interpretation. The ecological community persists in a number of natural, modified and disturbed states. Also, environmental variables, such as climate (and the ecological community’s response to them) fluctuate or change over time. For these and other reasons there will be ‘atypical’ occurrences of the ecological community; and so qualifiers such as "typically", “principally”, “generally”, “rarely” and “common” are used in the Key diagnostic characteristics. A judgement should therefore be made as to whether the ecological community is present or not, based on: the Key diagnostic characteristics and any contra-indicators; along with the description of the ecological community and the area it inhabits in Section 2 of this advice. The ecological community is defined as patches of native vegetation meeting the description in section 2.1. The ecological community that is protected under national environment law consists of areas of vegetation (and associated biota) that overall, meet the following key diagnostic characteristics, given the considerations outlined above: • Lowland Tropical Rainforest is restricted to the Wet Tropics Bioregion (Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia, IBRA V7, DoE 2012), with approximate limits around Ingham in the south and north of Cape Tribulation in the north. • It occurs principally on fertile soils, which may be derived from alluvium, basalt, metamorphic and granite substrates (more likely on colluvial material in the latter two scenarios). • The climate over most of the extent can be described as aseasonal, with rainfall expected throughout the year. The ecological community typically occurs in areas with high annual rainfall (>1300 mm to > 3500 mm per annum). • The ecological community is typically confined between sea-level and 80-100m above sea level (asl) in most occurrences, with the core former distribution being predominantly between 0 – 40m asl. However, it can also be found up to approximately 300-350m asl where substrate and other conditions support the ecological community, for example on fertile basaltic lava flows in the East Palmerston and Mena Creek areas west of Innisfail. • Lowland Tropical Rainforest is generally recognisable in its canopy features, including being highly irregular, much more open (e.g. in its long-undisturbed state) compared with upland or littoral rainforests, and containing large fig trees. Trees are typically tall (at least 25 m), with well-developed buttresses, evergreen (occasionally semi-deciduous) and with mesophyll leaves (blade length of 12.5-25 cm) being the most common leaf or leaflet size. • Being a complex rainforest, the floristic composition of the ecological community is very diverse and is characterised by a high species diversity of plants with predominantly large leaves, including a high representation of the families Myrtaceae, especially Syzygium, and Lauraceae. Within individual stands, variation in site factors results in conspicuous structural differences such as the increase in palms (particularly, rattans (Calamus spp.)) on sites with impeded drainage, and

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gingers, climbing pandans and aroids in gullies and along creek banks which are permanently saturated with water. • Typically, a well-developed sub-canopy tree layer is present as well as a sparse shrub/sapling layer. • Typically, there is an absence or relatively low abundance of species from the genera Eucalyptus, Corymbia, Melaleuca and Casuarina. • Epiphytes of all sizes are commonly found on tree trunks and branches. • Vines can be a common and conspicuous feature of the ecological community particularly following disturbance and native scramblers and vines such as lawyer cane (Calamus spp) and convolvulus (Merremia peltata) may be prominent. • Ground herbs are common to uncommon (includes ferns), with grasses being rare. • Palms are common to uncommon, depending upon the substrate. The palm leaf mesophyll rainforests represent distinctive types of the ecological community, with a conspicuous and significant proportion of the upper strata (canopy layer) comprising either Archontophoenix alexandrae (Feather Palm, Alexander Palm) and/or Licuala ramsayi (Fan Palm). • The community is subject to relatively frequent (and often high intensity) tropical cyclonic events, although some areas may be topographically protected. It is common that parts of the community are naturally in a highly-disturbed state. Cyclone impacted parts of this ecological community are characterised by an uneven canopy densely draped with vines.

Do you agree that these statements will clearly identify the ecological community? If not, why not? Are there alternative or additional characteristics that can more clearly discriminate this ecological community (and the variation in its component sub-communities, and disturbance history) from other ecological communities? Please suggest potential changes.

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4.2 Principles and standards for conservation To undertake priority actions to meet the conservation objective, the overarching principle is that it is preferable to maintain existing areas of the ecological community that are relatively intact and of high quality, rather than trying to restore or replace areas that have been lost or degraded. There are good, practical reasons to do so. It is typically more cost-effective to retain an intact remnant than to allow degradation and then attempt to restore it or to restore another area. The more disturbed and modified a patch of the ecological community, the greater the recovery effort that is required. Also, intact remnants are likely to retain a fuller suite of native plant and animal species, and ecological functions. Certain species may not be easy to recover in practice, if lost from a site. This principle is highlighted in the National Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration in Australia (Standards Reference Group SERA 2017):

“Ecological restoration is not a substitute for sustainably managing and protecting ecosystems in the first instance. The promise of restoration cannot be invoked as a justification for destroying or damaging existing ecosystems because functional natural ecosystems are not transportable or easily rebuilt once damaged and the success of ecological restoration cannot be assured. Many projects that aspire to restoration fall short of reinstating reference ecosystem attributes for a range of reasons including scale and degree of damage and technical, ecological and resource limitations.” Standards Reference Group SERA (2017) – Appendix 2. The principle discourages ‘offsets’ where intact remnants are removed with an undertaking to set aside and/or restore other, lesser quality, sites. The destruction of intact sites represents a net loss of the functional ecological community because there is no guarantee all the species and ecological functions of the intact site can be replicated elsewhere. Where restoration is to be undertaken, it should be planned and implemented with reference to the National Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration in Australia. These Standards guide how ecological restoration actions should be undertaken and are available online from the Standards Reference Group [SERA] (2016). They outline the principles that convey the main ecological, biological, technical, social and ethical underpinnings of ecological restoration practice. As restoration ecology is continually developing, it is important to reflect on the experience of others who have worked on restoring the ecological community, or other rainforest ecological communities, as well as adapting restoration projects as site-level experience accumulates. The knowledge and practices of Traditional Owners should also be acknowledged and considered. To achieve cost-effective investments in conservation management it is important to consider the likely interaction of the various management actions being undertaken at any one site, as these may be synergistic or antagonistic. There are also likely to be interactions between sites. Additionally, when allocating management resources, it is important to consider what is the minimum investment required for success and the follow-up required to secure long-term recovery (for example, for how many years should weed management be repeated).

Please provide comments, suggested edits and additions and reasons for your views on the draft priority actions that are below.

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4.3 Priority conservation and research actions Priority actions are recommended to abate threats and to support the recovery of the ecological community. They are designed to provide guidance for:

• planning, management and restoration of the ecological community by governments, landholders, Traditional Owners, NRM and community groups, and other land managers;

• conditions of approval for relevant controlled actions under the EPBC Act; and

• prioritising activities in applications for Australian Government funding programs. Detailed advice on actions may be available in specific plans, such as management plans for weeds, fire, or for certain parks or regions. This conservation advice identifies priority conservation actions under the following key approaches.

• PROTECT the ecological community to prevent further losses.

• RESTORE AND MANAGE the ecological community by active abatement of threats, appropriate management, restoration and other conservation initiatives.

• COMMUNICATE, ENGAGE WITH AND SUPPORT people to increase understanding of the value and function of the ecological community and encourage their efforts in its protection and recovery.

• RESEARCH AND MONITORING to improve our understanding of the ecological community and the best methods to aid its management and recovery. These approaches overlap in practice; and form part of an iterative approach to management that includes research, planning, management, monitoring and review. The actions below do not necessarily encompass all actions in detail that may benefit the ecological community. They highlight general but key actions required to at least maintain survival of the ecological community at the time of preparing this Conservation Advice. 4.3.1 PROTECT the ecological community This key approach includes priorities intended to protect the ecological community by preventing further losses in extent and integrity.

• Protecting the ecological community should be properly taken into account during the early stages of zoning and development planning decisions, including strategic planning documents at state, regional and local levels.

• Liaise with local councils and State authorities to ensure that detrimental cumulative impacts on the ecological community are reduced as part of broader strategic planning or large projects (e.g. road works, developments). Conserve remaining patches Further clearance and damage to this ecological community should be avoided because it has been greatly reduced in its extent and integrity. • Prevent and avoid further clearance, fragmentation or detrimental modification of remnants of the ecological community and of surrounding native vegetation; for example, during residential development. High conservation value, less modified and older growth areas are particularly important for retention and management.

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• Retain other native vegetation remnants, near patches of the ecological community, where they are important for connectivity, diversity of habitat and act as buffer zones between the ecological community and threats or development zones.

• Protect patches identified as the most intact wildlife refuges, or that form important landscape connections, such as wildlife corridors, stepping stones, or access routes to water sources, or that are of regional importance in formal conservation reserves. Consider other remnants for less formal conservation tenures, preferably ones that aim for protection over the long-term. This includes investigating formal conservation arrangements, management agreements and covenants to protect patches on private land. This is particularly important for larger patches or areas that link to other patches of native vegetation and are part of wildlife corridors or migration routes.

• Protect mature trees, particularly with hollows or as fruit sources. Large and old trees, even if they are dead, may have numerous hollows and fissures that provide shelter; support diverse insects and their predators; and act as ‘stepping stones’ for fauna moving between remnants and to water sources in an otherwise cleared landscape.

• Prevent wood collection and illegal logging or collection of rainforest timbers that leads to loss and damage of trees and logs.

• Construct wildlife friendly fences to exclude cattle and feral species that incorporate a buffer to protect rainforest remnants and allowing for recruitment and enhanced connectivity.

• Where regrowth or regeneration is occurring, provide measures that will support the regeneration to maturity (e.g. provide fencing to minimise damage risk).

• Implement measures to prevent or control inappropriate water flows, such as from road storm water drains, and erosion.

• Plan strategically to minimise further clearing.

• Remnants should be properly taken into account during the early stages of zoning and development planning decisions, including strategic planning documents at state, regional and local levels.

• Liaise with local councils and state authorities to ensure that cumulative impacts on the ecological community are reduced as part of broader strategic planning or large projects (e.g. road works, developments). Manage actions to minimise impacts • Apply the mitigation hierarchy to avoid, then mitigate, then offset potential impacts on the ecological community from development or other actions. The priority is to avoid further clearance and fragmentation of remnants with offsetting as the last resort.

• Plan projects to avoid the need to offset, by avoiding significant impacts to the ecological community.

• In circumstances where impacts cannot be totally avoided, then they should be minimised by:

o retaining and avoiding damage to high quality patches, which should be managed to retain their benchmark state; and

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o protecting important habitat features, such as large mature trees with hollows or that provide a large supply of fruit and flower resources for fauna, as these take many decades to develop and cannot be quickly replaced. • Where impacts are unavoidable, offsets should be used as a last resort to compensate for the adverse impacts of the action deemed unavoidable. The outcomes of offsetting activities are generally highly uncertain. Any proposals considering offsets for this ecological community should aim to:

o minimise the need to offset the ecological community by designing development around the ecological community and applying buffers; o retain medium and higher quality patches of the ecological community, rather than offset them (particularly with lower quality offset sites); o focus on retaining remnants of the ecological community with mature trees, or remnants that provide important connections to other native bush remnants and water sources; o manage and protect offset areas in perpetuity in areas dedicated for conservation purposes – avoid risks that may reduce their size, condition and ecological function in the future; o select offset sites as close as possible to the impact site, to allow for local and regional variation in the ecological community; o increase the area and improve ecological function of existing patches, for example by enhancing landscape connectivity, habitat diversity and condition (e.g. through planting and regeneration with local rainforest species); o focus on the restoration of moderate quality patches of the ecological community to achieve high quality condition; o extend protection to otherwise unprotected sites (e.g. sites that are currently too small or degraded to meet the condition thresholds for national protection, but can reasonably be restored to a better, more intact condition and provide habitat and connectivity between patches); and o monitor offset areas and the outcomes they deliver over the long-term, to manage them adaptively and improve understanding of the best ways to manage offsets to deliver biodiversity benefits. Minimise indirect impacts • Minimise the risk of indirect impacts to the ecological community from actions outside but near to patches of the ecological community.

• Protect and apply appropriate buffers, particularly of other native vegetation, around patches of the ecological community to minimise off-site impacts; wider buffers may be required where there is larger scale landscape change, such as changes to catchment hydrology. Buffers also serve as important landscape connections, such as wildlife corridors. Prevent the introduction and spread of exotic species • Support strong border biosecurity and avoid importing or accidentally introducing invasive species and pathogens into Australia that may have a serious adverse impact on this ecological community.

• Prevent planting of known or potentially invasive species (particularly known transformer species) in gardens, developments and landscaping near the ecological community.

• Avoid planting highly invasive (e.g. bird dispersed) species in or near remnants. Lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion Draft Conservation Advice Page 19 of 43

• When conducting activities in or around the ecological community, practise good biosecurity hygiene to avoid spreading weeds or pathogens. For example, keep vehicles and machinery to dedicated roads and out of remnants wherever possible. If vehicles must be taken into remnants ensure vehicles are washed first to remove soil, potential fungal pathogens and weed seeds. Use local rainforest plants from accredited nurseries (e.g. accredited through the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia’s Nursery Industry Accreditation Scheme).

• Minimise unnecessary soil disturbance that may facilitate weed establishment.

• Prevent dumping of garden waste into bushland, especially in or near patches of the ecological community.

• If new weed incursions do occur, detect and control them early, particularly aim to locally eradicate transformer weeds. Small infestations are more likely to be able to be eradicated.

• Limit or prevent access of grazing animals to patches of the ecological community (e.g. construct fences).

• Prevent further introduction of feral animals and, where possible, contain pets in nearby residential areas. 4.3.2 RESTORE and MANAGE the ecological community This key approach includes priorities to restore the ecological community by active abatement of threats, appropriate management, restoration and other conservation initiatives. • Restoration actions should be based on the best available knowledge and scientific research to maximise positive biodiversity outcomes. • Engage and liaise with landholders, NRM and community groups, Traditional custodians and governments to support, undertake and promote programs that ameliorate threats such as grazing and human disturbance.

• Consult with Traditional Owners and take seasonal calendars into account to assist with appropriate restoration and management actions. • Identify and prioritise action to address other specific threats and undertake appropriate on-ground site management strategies where required. Manage weeds and pests • Implement effective integrated control and management techniques for weeds affecting the ecological community and manage sites to prevent the introduction of new, or further spread of, invasive weeds.

• Control invasive species using best practice bush regeneration techniques by qualified bush regenerators.

• Consider a strategic management approach for weeds that takes into account their potential microclimatic or habitat values of weeds (e.g. providing areas for native seedling establishment or shelter for fauna) when planning their control.

• Prioritise weed control in patches for which management is most urgent.

• Encourage appropriate use of local native species in developments in the region through local government and industry initiatives and best practice strategies.

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• Ensure chemicals, or other mechanisms used to manage weeds, do not have significant adverse, off-target impacts on the ecological community or adjacent waterbodies.

• Control introduced pest animals through coordinated landscape-scale control programs. For example, work with relevant authorities to suppress fox, deer and goat numbers, in line with the regional pest management strategy. Exclude trampling, browsing and grazing • Promote regeneration by avoiding trampling, browsing and grazing.

• Strategically manage total herbivore grazing (by native and domestic animals), for instance by fencing off regrowth, revegetation areas, or high value sites to restrict grazers. Undertake restoration • Undertake restoration, including bush regeneration and revegetation, of poorer and medium quality patches to restore them to high quality.

• Plan and implement restoration with reference to the National Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration in Australia (Standards Reference Group SERA, 2017).

• Use local native species in restoration/revegetation projects for the ecological community and restore understorey vegetation to a structure and diversity appropriate to the site.

• In general, use locally collected seeds (preferably from multiple parent sources and locations), to restore native plant species. However, choosing sources of seed across their range in the region may increase resilience to climate change.

• Ensure commitment to follow up after planting, such as the care of newly planted vegetation by watering, mulching, weeding and use/removal of tree guards.

• Consider the landscape context and other relevant species and communities when planning restoration works. For example, ensure adjacent ecological–communities and threatened species are not adversely impacted by tree planting or other restoration activities.

• Seed collections should follow appropriate national guidelines and protocols with long-term storage of germplasm in an appropriate state facility.

• Implement effective adaptive management regimes using information from available research and management guidelines, for example, see the National Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration in Australia, relevant research or advice from local authorities. 4.3.3 COMMUNICATE, ENGAGE WITH AND SUPPORT This key approach includes priorities to promote the ecological community to build awareness and encourage people and groups to contribute to its recovery. This includes communicating, engaging with and supporting the public and key stakeholders to increase their understanding of the value and function of the ecological community and to encourage and assist their efforts in its protection and recovery. Key groups to communicate with include landholders, land managers, land use planners, researchers, community members and Indigenous communities, particularly Traditional Owner groups.

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Raise awareness • Educate landholders about the ecological values of and threats to the ecological community.

• Encourage landholders to protect patches through long term private land conservation mechanisms.

• Communicate with landholders/managers, relevant agencies and the public to emphasise the value of the ecological community, the key threats, its significance, and appropriate management. Encourage landholders to talk with local NRM organisations and other knowledgeable groups.

• Undertake effective community engagement and education to highlight the importance of minimising disturbance.

• Inform landholders about incentives, such as conservation agreements, stewardship projects, funding and government NRM programs etc. that may apply to help look after sites on private lands. Provide information • Develop education programs, information products and signage to help the public recognise the presence and importance of the ecological community, and their responsibilities under state and local regulations and national environmental law. This includes preparation of identification guidelines for the ecological community.

• Install signage (and where appropriate fencing, gates, bollards and formal trails) to discourage damaging activities such as the removal of rocks and dead timber, dumping garden waste and other rubbish, creating informal paths and tracks, and the use of off-road vehicles in patches of the ecological community.

• Install significant vegetation markers along roads to designate areas of the ecological community to protect and prevent inappropriate road side maintenance from occurring.

• Promote knowledge about local weeds and what garden plants to avoid planting. Recommend local native species for revegetation and landscaping or safe alternative garden plants. Coordinate efforts • Support opportunities for Traditional Owners or other members of the Indigenous community to manage the ecological community.

• Encourage local participation in restoration and ‘landcare’ efforts through local conservation groups, creating ‘friends of’ groups, field days and planting projects, etc.

• Liaise with local fire management authorities and agencies and engage their support in fire management of the ecological community. Ensure land managers are given information about how to manage fire risks to conserve any threatened species and ecological communities.

4.3.4 RESEARCH AND MONITORING This key approach includes priorities for research into the ecological community, and monitoring, to improve understanding of the ecological community and the best methods to aid its recovery through restoration and protection.

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Mapping • Collate existing vegetation mapping information and associated data for this ecological community and identify gaps in knowledge.

• Identify and map the fire interval status of surrounding fire-dependent vegetation.

• Undertake or support and enhance survey programs to: o Conduct targeted field surveys and ground-truth to fill data gaps and clarify the presence and condition of remnants. o Improve mapping of sites where the ecological community is known or likely to be present using systematic survey data. Options for managing threats • Research into appropriate and integrated methods to manage weeds that affect the ecological community.

• Research into potential impacts of climate change on current distribution of the ecological community. Monitoring • Monitor for incursions by new weeds and pest animals.

• Monitor for myrtle rust and signs of new disease outbreaks and appropriate containment actions undertaken.

• It is important that any monitoring is planned before management commences and considers what data are required to address research questions. Monitoring must also be resourced for management activities, especially for those using a novel approach, and applied during and following the management action.

• Monitor changes in the composition, structure and function of the ecological community, including response to all types of management actions and use this information to increase understanding of the ecological community and inform recommendations for future management.

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5. LISTING ASSESSMENT 5.1 Eligibility for listing against the EPBC Act criteria On the basis of available information, the ecological community is likely to be eligible for listing as endangered to critically endangered. This assessment uses the criteria set out in the EPBC Regulations.

Do you agree with the preliminary listing assessment against EPBC Act listing criteria on the following pages? Please provide advice on any reasons for disagreement and any additional information on how each criterion may be met, including relevant references.

Criterion 1 – decline in geographic distribution May be eligible under Criterion 1 for listing as Endangered. Category Critically Endangered Vulnerable Endangered Its decline in geographic distribution is: very severe severe substantial • decline relative to the longer- ≥90% ≥70% ≥50% term/1750 timeframe • decline relative to the past 50 years ≥80% ≥50% ≥30% Evidence: The majority of clearance of lowland vegetation in the Wet Tropics bioregion occurred from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century (Kemp et al., 2007). Since then, as discussed in Metcalfe & Lawson (2015), 54% of natural vegetation in the Cairns area was estimated to be lost to urban development and agriculture between 1952 and 2008 (Bohnet & Pert, 2010). In the Tully-Murray lowlands over 40 000 ha was cleared for a cattle station in the 1960s (Metcalfe et al., 2014a) and in some areas aggressive post-cyclone clean up has completely removed some fragments (Metcalfe et al., 2014b). While some of the remaining coastal lowland rainforest exists in protected areas, fragmentation continues through road, rail and power corridor expansion, having significant impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem function of the remnants (Goosem, 2007). Winter et al. (1987) estimated total decline of rainforest on the lowland plains (below 80 m in altitude) to be 56.9% in the mid-1980s. A contemporary indicative decline estimate was produced by aggregating estimates of decline from a large suite of Regional Ecosystems that may contain this ecological community, below 80 m in altitude (Table 2; see Appendix B for Regional Ecosystem descriptions). This part of the landscape captures the majority of the ecological community’s distribution and is indicative of the decline of areas at a higher altitude on the basalt flows in the East Palmerston and Mena Creek areas. This analysis shows an estimated total decline in the order of 66%. The clearing is disproportionate in some areas, with a relatively lower proportion of clearing north of the Daintree River. For some of the Regional Ecosystems, particularly some of those with less decline, the ecological community is likely to be only a small proportion of the Regional Ecosystem map unit. Therefore, it is likely that the ecological community has been cleared by more than 70% and meets the requirements for listing as Endangered under this criterion. This estimate is supported by the decline estimate of 73.8% (110 239 ha pre-clearing, to 28 846 ha in 2017) for the Broad Vegetation Group 1a ‘Complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forests usually in fertile and very wet locations’ (Neldner et al., 2019). This estimate is based on the same clearing data, but using an alternative aggregation (i.e. finer grouping) of rainforest types.

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Table 2: Analysis of decline from a large suite of Regional Ecosystem sub-units that may contain this ecological community, below 80 m in altitude (Extant (2017) data from DES (2018); pre-clearing data from DNRME (2019)). Regional Ecosystem descriptions are in Appendix B. * sub-units requiring further investigation due to discrepancies in their classification between pre-clearing and extant/remnant datasets.

Area of RE unit below 80 m asl Regional Extant Pre-clearing % decline Ecosystem (ha) (ha) (2017) 7.11.10a 41 71 42 7.11.10b 1 1 0 7.11.12a 55 55 1 7.11.12b 0 0 - 7.11.12c 0 0 - 7.11.12d 0 0 - 7.11.12f 0 0 - 7.11.1a 13186 21412 38 7.11.1b 982 0 * 7.11.1c 13 13 0 7.11.1d 0 0 - 7.11.1e 0 0 - 7.11.1f 0 0 - 7.11.23a 72 100 28 7.11.23b 99 110 10 7.11.24a 60 82 27 7.11.24b 21 31 33 7.11.24c 716 714 0 7.11.24d 3 3 0 7.11.24e 47 47 0 7.11.24f 0 0 - 7.11.24g 8 8 0 7.11.24h 1 1 0 7.11.25a 877 1181 26 7.11.25b 14 0 * 7.11.28 0 0 - 7.11.2a 15 15 0 7.11.2b 0 0 - 7.11.2c 0 0 - 7.11.2d 0 0 - 7.11.3 0 0 - 7.11.30 13 14 7 7.11.7a 802 1545 48 7.11.7b 21 0 * 7.11.7c 0 0 - 7.11.7d 0 0 - 7.11.7e 8 8 0 7.11.8a 24 24 0 7.11.8b 8 29 74 7.11.8c 1 1 0 7.12.11a 14 14 0 7.12.11b 162 166 2 7.12.11c 108 108 0 7.12.11d 124 126 1 7.12.12a 130 122 * 7.12.12b 79 79 0 7.12.12c 6 6 0 7.12.16a 35 47 26 7.12.16b 3 0 * Lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion Draft Conservation Advice Page 25 of 43

Area of RE unit below 80 m asl Regional Extant Pre-clearing % decline Ecosystem (ha) (ha) (2017) 7.12.16c 0 0 - 7.12.1a 9039 12390 27 7.12.1b 222 8 * 7.12.1c 10 14 27 7.12.1d 11 12 3 7.12.1e 0 0 - 7.12.2a 0 0 - 7.12.2b 26 26 0 7.12.2c 0 0 - 7.12.2d 0 0 - 7.12.2e 2 3 14 7.12.38a 0 0 - 7.12.38b 0 0 - 7.12.38c 1 1 0 7.12.39a 133 137 3 7.12.39b 0 0 - 7.12.40a 74 75 0 7.12.40b 492 480 * 7.12.40c 31 31 0 7.12.40d 0 0 - 7.12.40e 27 27 0 7.12.41 1 1 0 7.12.42a 0 0 - 7.12.42b 0 0 - 7.12.44 0 0 - 7.12.46a 51 51 0 7.12.46b 58 59 1 7.12.48 0 0 - 7.12.49 0 0 - 7.12.6a 9 9 0 7.12.6b 32 32 0 7.12.7a 185 249 26 7.12.7b 0 0 - 7.12.7c 0 0 - 7.12.7d 0 0 - 7.12.9 18 53 65 7.3.10a 9178 47022 80 7.3.10b 214 0 * 7.3.10c 1601 8329 81 7.3.10d 28 139 79 7.3.10e 42 47 9 7.3.10f 92 92 0 7.3.10g 9 11 19 7.3.17 3227 25288 87 7.3.20a 549 2309 76 7.3.20b 1756 2994 41 7.3.20c 693 883 21 7.3.20d 18 21 14 7.3.20e 499 1242 60 7.3.20f 289 366 21 7.3.20g 87 88 1 7.3.20h 326 572 43 7.3.20i 186 186 0 7.3.20j 14 14 0 7.3.20k 83 93 10 7.3.20l 24 26 10 Lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion Draft Conservation Advice Page 26 of 43

Area of RE unit below 80 m asl Regional Extant Pre-clearing % decline Ecosystem (ha) (ha) (2017) 7.3.20m 9 9 0 7.3.23a 2823 14575 81 7.3.23b 57 74 23 7.3.23c 0 0 - 7.3.25a 3450 6630 48 7.3.25b 579 620 7 7.3.25c 17 17 0 7.3.35a 112 963 88 7.3.35b 70 70 0 7.3.35c 8 8 0 7.3.38 31 32 3 7.3.3a 1692 4358 61 7.3.3b 44 0 * 7.3.3c 82 292 72 7.3.4 1081 2788 61 7.3.49a 38 28 * 7.3.49b 0 0 - 7.3.49c 14 14 0 7.3.50a 385 419 8 7.3.50b 58 58 0 7.8.11a 2 2 0 7.8.11b 51 51 0 7.8.12 5 5 0 7.8.14 111 205 46 7.8.1a 1241 8508 85 7.8.1b 52 3239 98 7.8.1c 0 0 - 7.8.1d 73 311 76 7.8.2a 12 12 0 7.8.2b 0 0 - 7.8.2c 0 0 -

Total 59 188 172 802 65.7

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Criterion 2 – limited geographic distribution coupled with demonstrable threat May be eligible under Criterion 2 for listing as Endangered or Critically Endangered. Category Critically Endangered Vulnerable Endangered Its geographic distribution is: very restricted restricted limited • Extent of Occurrence (EoO) <100 km2 < 1,000 km2 < 10,000 km2 • Area of Occupancy (AoO) <10 km2 < 100 km2 < 1,000 km2 • Average patch size <0.1 km2 < 1 km2 AND the nature of its distribution makes it likely the immediate medium term the near future that the action of a threatening process future future could cause it to be lost in: • timeframe 10 years or 20 years or 50 years or 3 generations 5 generations 10 generations Evidence: The extent of a minimum convex polygon enclosing all occurrences (Extent of Occurrence) of the ecological community encompasses an area of 16 476 km2. This is not considered limited against the thresholds outlined above. The Area of Occupancy is estimated to be approximately 60 000 ha (600 km2) (see Criterion 1) and is considered a limited geographic distribution. The ecological community is one of the most heavily fragmented forest types in the bioregion, reduced to minor discontinuous remnants throughout much of its original range. Most remaining areas are highly fragmented and altered in structure and species composition. A preliminary patch size distribution analysis for one of the key components of the ecological community, RE 7.3.10 ‘Simple-complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forest on moderately to poorly-drained alluvial plains of moderate fertility’ indicates a median patch size of 2.8 ha, with 80% of patches less than 10 ha in size. This is consistent with a very restricted geographic distribution. The ecological community is subject to many interacting demonstrable threats (as outlined in Section 3), for example frequent and often high intensity tropical cyclonic events. Fragmentation and the resulting vastly increased edge to area ratio greatly exacerbates the impact of cyclonic wind damage and associated weed and smothering vine prevalence, reducing the inherent resilience of the remaining patches. It is likely that the ecological community meets requirements for listing as Endangered or Critically Endangered, based on its very restricted distribution and that threatening processes could cause it to be lost in the near or immediate future (based on 3-5 generations of canopy species).

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Criterion 3 – decline of functionally important species Category Critically Endangered Vulnerable Endangered For a population of a native species that is very severe substantial likely to play a major role in the severe decline decline decline community, there is a: • Estimated decline over the last 10 years or three generations, 80% 50% 20% whichever is longer to the extent that restoration of the the immediate the medium-term the near future community is not likely to be possible in: future future • timeframe 10 years or 20 years or 50 years or 3 generations 5 generations 10 generations

An assessment against this criterion is yet to be completed. Please provide any data or other information to support analysis of decline of relevant biota against the thresholds appropriate to this criterion.

Criterion 4 – reduction in community integrity May be eligible under Criterion 4 for listing as Endangered or Critically Endangered. Category Critically Endangered Vulnerable Endangered The reduction in its integrity across most very severe severe substantial of its geographic distribution is: as indicated by degradation of the community or its habitat, or disruption of very severe severe substantial important community processes, that is: • such that restoration is unlikely the immediate the near the medium- (even with positive human future (10 future (20 term future (50 intervention ) within years or 3 years or 5 years or 10 generations) generations) generations) Evidence: Changes to the structural, compositional and functional integrity of the ecological community has followed extensive clearance of the ecological community, and surrounding vegetation, and following European settlement. There have been severe losses in the extent of the ecological community (see Criterion 1) and the patch size distribution is now heavily skewed towards smaller patches, mainly occurring as linear strips along roadsides and water courses at the margins of agricultural land, compared with the widespread distribution of the ecological community prior to clearing (see Criterion 2). Therefore, a great majority of patches are subject to edge effects. These threats and the others outlined in Section 3, or the ongoing legacies of these threats, continue to operate on sites across the range of the ecological community, regardless of land tenure and condition. Decline in integrity due to fragmentation The remnant native vegetation on the floodplain of the wet tropics is today (except for estuarine areas) severely depleted, with many of the remnants existing in various stages of weed invasion and structural alteration due to cessation of burning, timber harvesting and other activities (Kemp et al., 2007). Historical aerial photographs and survey plans show that dense, broad stands of Lowland Tropical Rainforest with diverse crown shapes and sizes clothed such rivers as the Herbert and Tully, and covered entire valleys. Given the high species diversity typical of rainforest it is possible that plant species unknown to science have become extinct since clearing began in the Wet Tropics coastal lowlands (Kemp et al., 2007). Lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion Draft Conservation Advice Page 29 of 43

Fragmented lowland rainforest remnants experience considerable edge effects. Rainforests have distinct vegetation structure favouring species adapted to humid, low light environments (Catterall et al., 2008). Rainforest clearing has resulted in artificial, abrupt edges. Margins are exposed to increased light levels, wind speeds, greater temperature extremes, and reduced humidity than rainforest interiors (Fox et al., 1997). These microclimate changes lead to alterations in species composition and vegetation structure, and consequent effects on fauna. For example, edge disturbance favours invasive weed species, early successional species, and vines (Catterall et al., 2008).

The modified landscape surrounding remnants of the ecological community rainforest impedes movement of flora and fauna, leading to altered ecosystem processes. For example, roads impact faunal movement due to road mortality (Goosem, 2012) and changes in animal behaviour due to light and noise disturbance (Goosem, 2007). This has subsequent effects on plant species if roads impact seed dispersers and pollinators. For example, dispersal of large seeded rainforest species, including Ryparosa kurrangi endemic to the ecological community, have co-evolved with frugivorous species such as nationally endangered Southern Cassowary (Metcalfe & Lawson, 2015). Cassowaries are under particular threat in lowland areas due to close proximity to urban development, increasing the risk of animal attacks and road mortality (Metcalfe & Lawson, 2015). Only 40–60% of the habitat utilised by cassowaries is protected in the cassowary population in a central part of the ecological community, and road deaths of cassowaries moving between habitat fragments are common (Campbell et al., 2012). In a study of bird species richness in much larger fragments of lowland rainforest in Papua New Guinea (Sam et al. 2014), fragments smaller than 300 ha were significantly poorer in bird species, and large frugivores were notably absent. Southern Cassowaries are the sole dispersers of many large-seeded rainforest fruits, and are important dispersers of many other species, particularly because their relatively long gut retention time and large territories mean that they provide among the longest dispersal distances of any animal (Westcott et al., 2005). Cassowaries are particularly at risk in the coastal lowlands where human population concentrations, fragmentation of habitat and mortality through dog attacks and road traffic accidents are most frequent. Decline in integrity due to invasive flora and fauna Woody weed species such as Giant Bramble (Rubus alceifolius), Harungana (Harungana madagascariensis), Lantana (Lantana camara), Mexican Bean Trees (Cecropia spp.), Miconia (Miconia calvescens), Mile-a-minute Vine, Mikania Vine (Mikania micrantha), Pond Apple (Annona glabra) and Siam Weed (Chromolaena odorata) represent a serious threat to the integrity and condition of lowland rainforest communities and their various ancient, endemic and threatened species (WTMA, 2014). Pond apple thrives in very wet conditions, reaching reproductive maturity in two years and producing copious amounts of large spherical green fruits 5–15 cm in diameter. Each fruit contains at least 100 large seeds that can germinate in thick carpets up to 20 cm deep, suppressing the germination of other species by their abundance. The fruits and seeds can survive in fresh to salt water for months and in that time can be transported considerable distances by water. Seed is also spread by feral pigs and native animals, including the cassowary. Webber et al. (2010) studied the spatial patterning and stand structure and found that habitat modification by anthropogenic and pig disturbance disrupts seed dispersal and establishment regimes structure of Ryparosa kurrangii, a small tree endemic to the coastal lowland rainforest of the Daintree. They also noted direct competition between feral pigs and cassowaries for fruits; cassowaries are the only native seed disperser with a gape wide enough to accommodate Ryparosa. Influence of climate change on future habitat suitability Studies of fragments isolated over the past 80 years shows that species richness is unrelated to patch size, but rather is inversely related to patch isolation, with isolated patches retaining greater diversity while fragments close to extensive remaining forest become dominated by early-successional species due to the intense propagules pressure they face (DJ Metcalfe, AJ Ford & TJ Lawson, unpubl. data, 2010). Simulation modelling of Lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion Draft Conservation Advice Page 30 of 43

future climate scenarios suggests that parts of the lowlands will experience novel climates, and that these new climates have the potential to have significant negative impacts on biodiversity (e.g. Williams & Middleton, 2008). The palm-dominated rainforests component of the ecological community is identified as being particularly at risk of loss under future climate scenarios (WTMA, 2014).

Summary The ecological community has undergone a severe to very severe reduction in integrity across most of its geographic distribution. The majority of remnants do not fully represent the floristic and faunal composition that was present prior to timber harvesting, clearing and development of the region. Much of the degradation is intractable and many of the underlying threats continue and interact. While active interventions make some valuable contributions to conservation, there are factors associated with the existing damage that reduce the likelihood of functional restoration across the full range of the ecological community. These factors include losses of flora and fauna components, changes in soil and vegetation structure and function, changes to hydrology (surface and sub-surface), and significant modification of the physical environment around fragmented patches. Therefore, complete restoration of the ecological functions underpinning the ecological community is unlikely in the near to immediate future. This indicates degradation of the ecological community and disruption in ecological processes that is severe to very severe. Therefore, it is likely that the ecological community meets requirements for listing as Endangered or Critically Endangered under this criterion.

Criterion 5 – rate of continuing detrimental change Insufficient data to determine eligibility under Criterion 5 Category Critically Endangered Vulnerable Endangered Its rate of continuing detrimental change is: very severe severe substantial as indicated by: (a) rate of continuing decline in its geographic distribution, or a population of a native species that is believed to play a very severe severe serious major role in the community, that is: OR (b) intensification, across most of its geographic distribution, in degradation, or very severe severe serious disruption of important community processes, that is: • an observed, estimated, inferred or 80% 50% 30% suspected detrimental change over the immediate past, or projected for the immediate future (10 years or 3 generations), of at least: Evidence: Increasing human populations will continue to create pressure for urban development and associated infrastructure (e.g. road and power corridors) that can result in further loss of the ecological community and exacerbate habitat fragmentation (Goosem, 2000; Laurance et al., 2008; WTMA, 2016). However, there are limited published data about future scenarios for the coastal lowlands (Mecalfe & Lawson, 2015). Bohnet & Pert (2010) suggest that all native vegetation in the Cairns area will be converted into urban land by 2031 under current planning scenarios. Sea level rise and increased risk of seawater inundation (McInnes et al., 2003) will also impact on the future coastal lowland rainforest resource, though only at its eastern margins. Climate change scenarios for the Tully-Murray lowlands (DJ Metcalfe & TJ Lawson, unpubl. data, 2010) suggest that under a relatively conservative scenario (1° of warming, no change to rainfall), lowland rainforest potential extent may actually increase by

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c. 30% as coastal swamps dry out, though under more severe scenarios (e.g. 2° of warming, 30% decrease in mean annual rainfall), rainforest potential extent would not increase as swamp forests convert to open woodlands. However, as most of the potential expansion is already reconfigured as agricultural or urban land, these trajectories seem likely to remain hypothetical. It is likely that there is insufficient information to determine the eligibility of the ecological community for listing in any category under Criterion 5.

Criterion 6 – quantitative analysis showing probability of extinction Insufficient data to determine eligibility under Criterion 6 Category Critically Endangered Vulnerable Endangered A quantitative analysis shows that its at least 50% in at least 10% in probability of extinction, or extreme at least 20% in the immediate the medium-term degradation over all of its geographic the near future future future distribution, is: • timeframes 10 years or 20 years or 50 years or 3 generations 5 generations 10 generations Evidence: Quantitative analysis of the probability of extinction or extreme degradation over all its geographic distribution has not been undertaken. Therefore, there is insufficient information to determine the eligibility of the ecological community for listing in any category under this criterion.

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APPENDIX A - SPECIES OF CONSERVATION CONCERN Table 3: Species of conservation concern restricted to or utilising Lowland Tropical Rainforest, under the EPBC Act 1999 or Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 (adapted and updated from Metcalfe & Lawson, 2015).

Species Common name EPBC Act NCA Distribution Mammals Saccolaimus saccolaimus Bare-rumped Vulnerable Endangered Philippines to India, nudicluniatus Sheathtail Bat including northern Australia Rhinolophus robertsi Large-eared Vulnerable Endangered Philippines to (syn. R. philippinensis) Horseshoe Bat (as R. Malaysian Borneo, philippinensis) north-eastern Australia Dasyurus hallucatus Northern Quoll Endangered Least concern Northern Australia Hipposideros semoni Semon’s Leaf- Endangered Endangered Papua New Guinea, nosed Bat north-eastern Australia Pteropus conspicillatus Spectacled Flying- Endangered Endangered Papua New Guinea, fox Indonesia, Solomon Islands and north- eastern Australia Birds Casuarius casuarius Southern Endangered Endangered New Guinea, north- johnsonii Cassowary (southern eastern Australia population) Erythrotriorchis radiatus Red Goshawk Vulnerable Endangered Endemic to Australia

Amphibians Litoria dayi Australian Lace-lid Vulnerable Vulnerable Endemic to the Wet Tropics Litoria rheocola Common Mist − Endangered Endemic to the Wet Frog Tropics Litoria nannotis Waterfall Frog − Endangered Endemic to the Wet Tropics Plants

Aponogeton prolifer Endangered Endangered Endemic to the Wet Tropics Durabaculum nindii Blue Antler Orchid Endangered Endangered New Guinea, north- (syn. Dendrobium nindii) eastern Australia

Carronia pedicellata Endangered Endangered Endemic to the Wet Tropics Chingia australis Endangered Endangered Endemic to the Wet Tropics Durabaculum mirbelianum Dark-stemmed Endangered Endangered New Guinea, Antler Orchid Solomon Islands, north-eastern Australia Endiandra cooperana Endangered Endangered Endemic to the Wet Tropics Gardenia actinocarpa Endangered Endangered Endemic to the Wet Tropics Phaius australis Lesser Swamp- Endangered Endangered North-eastern orchid Australia to the southern limits of the sub-tropics in New South Wales

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Species Common name EPBC Act NCA Distribution Phalaenopsis Native Moth Endangered Endangered Endemic to north- rosenstromii Orchid eastern Australia (syn. P. amabilis subsp. rosenstromii)

Aponogeton bullosus Endangered Endangered Endemic to the Wet Tropics Toechima pterocarpum Orange Tamarind Endangered Endangered Endemic to the Wet Tropics Plesioneuron Endangered Endangered New Guinea, the tuberculatum Moluccas, north-east Australia Vrydagzynea grayi Tonsil Orchid Endangered Endangered Endemic to the Wet Tropics Xanthostemon formosus Endangered Endangered Endemic to the Wet Tropics Actephila foetida Vulnerable Vulnerable Endemic to the Wet Tropics Asplenium wildii Vulnerable Vulnerable Endemic to the Wet Tropics Canarium acutifolium var. Vulnerable Vulnerable North-eastern acutifolium Australia and Malaysia Cyclophyllum costatum Vulnerable Vulnerable Endemic to the Wet Tropics Diplazium cordifolium Vulnerable Vulnerable Endemic to the Wet Tropics Phaius pictus Forest Swamp Vulnerable Vulnerable Endemic to north- Orchid eastern Australia Acriopsis emarginata Pale Chandelier Vulnerable Vulnerable Endemic to north- Orchid eastern Australia

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APPENDIX B - RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION AND MAPPING SYSTEMS Ecological communities are complex to classify. States and Territories apply their own systems to classify vegetation communities. Reference to vegetation and mapping units as equivalent to the ecological community, at the time of listing, should be taken as indicative rather than definitive. A unit that is generally equivalent may include elements that do not meet the key diagnostics and minimum condition thresholds. Conversely, areas mapped or described as other units may sometimes meet the key diagnostics for the ecological community. State vegetation mapping units are not the ecological community being listed. However, for many sites (but not all) certain vegetation map units will correspond sufficiently to provide indicative mapping for the national ecological community, where the description matches. On-ground assessment is vital to finally determine if any patch is part of the ecological community. Regional Ecosystems mapping (Queensland Herbarium, 2019) for the Wet Tropics bioregion are based on vegetation classification and mapping by Stanton & Stanton (2005). Regional Ecosystems that may be components of the Lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion ecological community are shown in Table 4 (next page).

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Comments are sought on how strongly each Regional Ecosystem in the following table is associated with the ecological community, as defined in Section 2.

Table 4: Regional Ecosystems (Queensland Herbarium, 2019) that may be components of the Lowland tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion ecological community (adapted from Metcalfe & Lawson, 2015). Vegetation Management Act class and Biodiversity status definitions are given at: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/plants/ecosystems/biodiversity-status/

Regional substrate Vegetation Biodiversity Ecosystem ID Regional Ecosystem short description type Management Act class status Mesophyll vine forest with Archontophoenix alexandrae on poorly drained alluvial 7.3.3 plains alluvium of concern endangered Mesophyll vine forest with Licuala ramsayi on poorly drained alluvial plains and 7.3.4 alluvial areas of uplands alluvium of concern endangered Simple-complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forest on moderately to poorly-drained 7.3.10 alluvial plains of moderate fertility alluvium of concern endangered 7.3.17 Complex mesophyll vine forest, on well-drained alluvium of high fertility alluvium endangered endangered 7.3.20g: Simple notophyll vine forest with Corymbia torelliana, Eucalyptus tereticornis, C. intermedia, E. pellita, Acacia celsa, A. cincinnata and A. polystachya emergents and co-dominants. Alluvial fans of the moist rainfall zone, 7.3.20 of the foothills and lowlands. alluvium of concern of concern Simple-complex semi-deciduous notophyll to mesophyll vine forest on lowland 7.3.23 alluvium, predominantly riverine levees alluvium endangered endangered 7.3.25c: Riverine wetland or fringing riverine wetland. Closed forest of Tristaniopsis exiliflora and Xanthostemon chrysanthus. Stream banks, on well 7.3.25 drained alluvium adjacent to Pleistocene sand dunes alluvium of concern of concern Acacia mangium and/or A. celsa and/or A. polystachya closed forest on alluvial 7.3.35 plains alluvium endangered endangered 7.3.38 Complex notophyll vine forest with emergent Agathis robusta on alluvial fans alluvium of concern of concern 7.3.49 Notophyll vine forest on rubble terraces of streams alluvium of concern of concern

Regional substrate Vegetation Biodiversity Ecosystem ID Regional Ecosystem short description type Management Act class status

7.3.50b: Riverine wetland or fringing riverine wetland. Low notophyll vine thicket 7.3.50 with emergent Melaleuca fluviatilis. Coarse gravel beds in fast flowing streams. alluvium of concern endangered Complex mesophyll to mesophyll vine forest on well-drained basalt lowlands and 7.8.1 foothills basalt least concern endangered

Complex mesophyll vine forest of high rainfall, cloudy uplands on basalt, including 7.8.2 small areas of wind-sheared notophyll vine forest on ridgelines basalt least concern of concern Closed vineland of wind-disturbed vine forest on basalt foothills and coastal 7.8.11 ranges basalt of concern of concern Complex notophyll vine forest dominated by Backhousia bancroftii, on basaltic 7.8.12 terraces and scree slopes of the North Johnstone River basalt of concern endangered 7.8.14 Complex notophyll vine forest with emergent Agathis robusta, on basalt basalt of concern endangered Simple-complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forest on moderately to poorly drained metamorphics (excluding amphibolites) of moderate fertility of the moist and wet metamorphic no concern at 7.11.1 lowlands, foothills and uplands s least concern present Notophyll or mesophyll vine forest with Archontophoenix alexandrae or Licuala metamorphic 7.11.2 ramsayi on metamorphics s of concern of concern metamorphic 7.11.3 Semi-deciduous mesophyll vine forest on moist to dry metamorphic foothills s of concern of concern Complex notophyll vine forest with Agathis robusta emergents on foothills and metamorphic no concern at 7.11.7 uplands on metamorphics s least concern present Acacia polystachya woodland to closed forest, or Acacia mangium and Acacia metamorphic 7.11.8 celsa open forest to closed forest, on metamorphics s of concern of concern metamorphic 7.11.10 Acacia celsa open forest to closed forest on metamorphics s of concern of concern Simple notophyll vine forest of moist to very wet metamorphic uplands and metamorphic no concern at 7.11.12 highlands s least concern present Complex mesophyll vine forest on fertile, well-drained metamorphics of very wet metamorphic 7.11.23 and wet footslopes s of concern of concern

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Regional substrate Vegetation Biodiversity Ecosystem ID Regional Ecosystem short description type Management Act class status Closed vineland of wind-disturbed vine forest of metamorphic slopes, often steep metamorphic 7.11.24 and exposed s of concern of concern Simple-complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forest on amphibolites of the very wet 7.11.25 lowlands and foothills amphibolites of concern of concern Wind-sheared notophyll vine forest of exposed metamorphic ridge crests and metamorphic 7.11.28 steep slopes s of concern of concern metamorphic 7.11.30 Simple notophyll vine forest of Blepharocarya involucrigera on metamorphics s of concern of concern Simple-complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forest of moderately to poorly-drained granites and rhyolites of moderate fertility of the moist and wet lowlands, foothills no concern at 7.12.1 and uplands granites least concern present Notophyll or mesophyll vine forest with Archontophoenix alexandrae or Licuala 7.12.2 ramsayi, on granites and rhyolites granites of concern of concern Semi-deciduous mesophyll vine forest on granites and rhyolites of the moist and 7.12.6 dry lowlands and foothills granites of concern of concern

Simple to complex microphyll to notophyll vine forest, often with Agathis robusta or no concern at 7.12.7 A. microstachya, on granites and rhyolites of moist foothills and uplands granites least concern present 7.12.9 Acacia celsa open forest to closed forest, on granites and rhyolites granites of concern of concern

Simple to complex notophyll vine forest and semi-evergreen notophyll vine forest 7.12.11 of rocky areas and talus, on moist foothills and uplands on granite and rhyolite granites least concern of concern Acacia mangium and A. celsa open forest to closed forest or A. polystachya 7.12.12 woodland to closed forest of granite and rhyolite foothills granites of concern of concern

Simple to complex notophyll vine forest, including small areas of Araucaria no concern at 7.12.16 bidwillii, of cloudy wet and moist uplands and highlands on granites and rhyolites granites least concern present Deciduous microphyll vine forest and/or blue-green algae-covered granite and 7.12.38 rhyolite boulderfields granites of concern endangered Complex mesophyll vine forest on fertile, well-drained granites and rhyolites of 7.12.39 very wet and wet lowlands, foothills and uplands granites of concern of concern 7.12.40 Closed vineland of wind-disturbed vine forest on granites and rhyolites granites of concern of concern

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Regional substrate Vegetation Biodiversity Ecosystem ID Regional Ecosystem short description type Management Act class status

Podocarpus grayae, Callitris endlicheri and Acacia celsa heathland/shrubland on 7.12.41 steep rocky granite slopes of the Hinchinbrook Island uplands and highlands granites of concern of concern Notophyll vine forest with Flindersia brayleyana and Argyrodendron polyandrum 7.12.42 on granite uplands of Great Palm Island granites of concern endangered 7.12.44 Simple notophyll vine forest dominated by Blepharocarya involucrigera on granite granites of concern of concern Microphyll vine forest with Gossia bidwillii +/- Araucaria cunninghamii, on steep 7.12.46 granite talus and boulder slopes of the Palm Islands granites of concern of concern Wind-sheared notophyll vine forest on exposed granite and rhyolite ridge crests 7.12.48 and steep slopes granites of concern of concern Notophyll vine forest and thicket with Planchonella euphlebia and Podocarpus 7.12.49 grayae on granite granites of concern of concern

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