Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The Wet Tropic lowlands IBA is situated along the tropical east coast of northern Queensland. The boundary follows the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area which includes areas that are used by the defence department, are aboriginal freehold, unallocated state land and small reserves. It encompasses cassowary habitat including the Mission Beach area, which is considered by some to be the most significant area of cassowary habitat in the Wet Tropics. The climate is monsoonal with a pronounced wet season and a dry season moderated by moist trade winds. Lowland areas within the IBA encompass small areas of un-modified forested floodplain, while the majority of the IBA is made up of low hills and ranges. Native vegetation is predominantly tropical rainforest, with smaller areas of open eucalypt and paperbark forests, wetlands and mangroves.
The Coastal Wet Tropics IBA contains a wide range of lowland rainforest bird species, including the rare subspecies Rufous Owl subspecies queenslandica. Other habitats include extensive remote beaches, which support Beach Stone-curlew, and some small but well-populated freshwater wetlands, such as at Eubenangee National Park. The rainforest avifauna is complemented by a range of species, such as the near threatened Bush Stone-curlew and biome-restricted Yellow Honeyeater, that occur only in the mosaic of eucalypt and meleleuca woodlands which are present in patches with poorer soil or drainage or where there has been a history of fire.
Non-bird biodiversity: The Coastal Wet Tropics IBA contains populations of two species of endangered frog, Common Mistfrog and Lace-eyed Tree Frog, while the southern extent of the IBA encompasses a significant area of habitat for the Mahogany Glider. The area also contains a number of threatened plant species and Regional Ecosystems. Given its location in the Wet Tropics, and the relative paucity of survey information available for many of the forested areas, other significant fauna and flora values are almost certainly present within the IBA.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Monitor infrastructure plans, natural systems and invasive species. The long-term impacts of climate change maybe significant on low-lying parts of the IBA; however, the exact nature of this impact and hence the management implications have yet to be ascertained.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Comprehensive mapping of the regional ecosytems in the area has just been completed by the Wet Tropics Management Authority. The area has been important for research on cassowary ecology and management. CSIRO is currently carrying out research on frugivory in birds and bats within the area.
Numerous - see separate listing.
Queensland State Government - Parks and Wildlife, Aboriginal land and the Department of Defence.
Thanks to Alastair Freeman for compiling the nomination.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Coastal Wet Tropics (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/coastal-wet-tropics-iba-australia on 22/12/2024.
