WET TROPICS CONSERVATION STRATEGY (2004) The conservation, rehabilitation and transmission to future generations of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. ‘We shall never achieve harmony with land, any more than we shall achieve absolute justice or liberty for people. In these higher aspirations the important thing is not to achieve, but to strive’. Aldo Leopold ‘Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another’. Juvenal ISBN 0-9752202-0-9 The Conservation Strategy was written by Campbell Clarke © Wet Tropics Management Authority (August 2004) and Alicia Hill. Many thanks to the other staff of the PO Box 2050 Cairns QLD 4870 Wet Tropics Management Authority and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service for their generous assistance Phone: (07) 4052 0555 and support. Fax: (07) 4031 1364 Graphic design and layout by Shonart. This publication should be cited as Wet Tropics Management Authority (2004), Wet Tropics Conservation Strategy: the conservation, rehabilitation and transmission to future generations of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, WTMA, Cairns. This Wet Tropics Conservation Strategy does not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian and Queensland Governments. Maps are for planning purposes only. The Authority does not guarantee the accuracy or currency of data presented. For legal purposes, please refer to original sources. Cover photo: Cannabullen Falls: Doon McColl • Back Cover photo: Licuala palms: WTMA • Background Image: Society Flats: Campbell Clarke WET TROPICS CONSERVATION STRATEGY PREFACE The Wet Tropics World Heritage Area has a special place in the priorities inform the Wet Tropics Natural Resource hearts of our regional community, being central to our sense of Management Plan which governs the expenditure of NHT funds place and identity. Its spectacular scenery provides a backdrop and other investment in the region. Many of the Conservation for our urban andpreface rural lifestyles with many of us relishing Strategy’s actions will also be beneficial for the neighbouring opportunities to experience the beauty and grandeur of its Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. There are opportunities rainforests, mountains, rivers, waterfalls and wildlife. The Area to share resources and planning for the benefit of both World contains some of the richest biodiversity in Australia and a Heritage Areas. host of endemic plant and animal species. Over 26 Aboriginal tribal groups continue to live in and around the Area and The Conservation Strategy also complements existing Wet sustain their traditional cultural knowledge and connections to Tropics strategies and agreements. The Nature Based Tourism the country. Strategy and Walking Strategy provide a framework for the ecologically sustainable management of tourism and This Conservation Strategy outlines actions to achieve the recreation in and around the World Heritage Area. The conservation, rehabilitation and transmission to future forthcoming Wet Tropics Regional Agreement with Aboriginal generations of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The Wet groups will provide for Aboriginal representation and Tropics Management Plan 1998 provides legislative protection for participation in all aspects of conservation management. the Area but it has become increasingly apparent to the Authority that the Area must be managed as a core component The Wet Tropics Management Authority appreciates the of the whole Wet Tropics Bioregion. Issues such as climate contributions and support of the Queensland Parks and change, habitat fragmentation, fire management and the use of Wildlife Service in the development of this Conservation water transcend the Area’s boundaries and require a Strategy, as well as contributions from State and Australian coordinated response from the entire community. The long Government agencies, Rainforest Aboriginal people, research term integrity of the Area will depend on cooperative scientists, conservation groups, local government, primary management and the careful sharing of resources. The industry groups, the tourism industry, World Heritage willingness of local governments, landholders, Aboriginal landholders and neighbours and other interested members of Traditional Owners and the broader community to offer their the public. expertise and participate in conservation and rehabilitation measures will be vital to the Area’s survival for future This Conservation Strategy and a short summary are available generations. in book form and on the Authority’s website. It is the result of two years of research, listening, learning and negotiation by The Conservation Strategy will serve as an important the Authority. I wholeheartedly recommend this strategy to the educational tool which explains the values of the Area and the Wet Tropics community and trust that it will contribute to the benefits it provides to the regional community. The strategy growing community appreciation and support for the evaluates the major threats to the Area and how landholders, conservation of our unique and beautiful World Heritage Area. the community and the Authority can help address these threats. For those who wish to do further reading, a list of John Grey AC ~ Lieutenant General (Retired) additional information sources is supplied. Comprehensive and wide ranging, the strategy demonstrates the need for the better CHAIR, WET TROPICS MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY BOARD and more efficient use of existing resources and the Authority hopes that it can be used to help attract additional resources to conserve the Area. The Conservation Strategy will also contribute to other Wet Tropics conservation planning processes. The detailed WET TROPICS CONSERVATION STRATEGY i TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface ..........................................................i PART C - THREATS TO WORLD HERITAGE VALUES ......41 Contents........................................................ii 7 Underlying threats ................................41 Abbreviations ................................................ivcontents8 External fragmentation............................43 8.1 Protection of existing vegetation........................43 Animals and Plants ..........................................v 8.2 Rehabilitation ....................................................44 Executive Summary ..........................................vi 9Internal fragmentation and community infrastructure ......................................50 Major conservation priorities for the next ten years ..ix 9.1 Electricity infrastructure ....................................50 9.2 Roads ................................................................50 A vision to conserve the integrity of the WHA ..........1 9.3 Mines and quarries ............................................51 9.4 Reducing the impacts of internal fragmentation 51 PART A - INTRODUCTION ....................................2 10 Climate change ....................................55 1 Objectives and guiding principles ................2 11 Environmental pests ..............................58 1.1 Objectives ............................................................2 11.1 Weeds ................................................................58 1.2 Guiding principles ................................................3 11.2 Exotic and feral animals ....................................66 11.2.1 Feral animal pests ..............................................66 2 The context for a Conservation Strategy ........4 11.2.2 Fish stocking......................................................66 2.1 Community context..............................................4 11.2.3 Grazing ..............................................................67 2.2 Legislative framework ..........................................4 11.3 Pathogens ..........................................................71 2.3 Planning and policy processes ............................7 11.3.1 Forest dieback....................................................71 2.4 Funding processes ..............................................8 11.3.2 Frog chytrid fungus............................................72 PART B – WORLD HERITAGE VALUES ......................10 12 Altered fire regimes ..............................75 3 Natural heritage values ..........................10 13 Altered water quality, flow regimes and 3.1 World Heritage Criteria ......................................10 drainage patterns ..................................79 3.2 Biodiversity conservation ..................................11 3.3 Regional ecosystems ........................................12 3.4 Aquatic ecosystems ..........................................19 3.5 Rare and threatened species ..............................22 3.6 Scenic landscapes and aesthetic values ............26 3.7 The evolutionary record ....................................28 4 Cultural heritage values ..........................29 4.1 Aboriginal cultural heritage values ....................29 4.2 Historical values ................................................31 5 Socioeconomic values ............................32 6 Biodiversity values outside the Area ..........35 6.1 WHA Boundaries................................................35 6.2 Conservation on private lands outside the WHA..36 6.2.1 Conservation agreements and covenants ..........37 6.2.2 Voluntary acquisition of land..............................38 6.2.3 Ecotourism ........................................................38 6.2.4 Farm management ............................................38 6.2.5 Tradeable rights and financial