After two extreme cyclones crossing the region in the space of five years, Terrain NRM and the Wet Tropics community are very familiar with the need to build resilience in the landscape. A broad range of land management responses arise in the recovery effort, however endangered cassowary has been a feature due to it being hard-hit by the natural disasters.

Photo courtesy Liz Gallie

Cyclone Larry in 2006 taught the region about the impact on habitat quality, quantity and connectivity along with the birds’ change in behaviour. Lessons also included associated threats such as significant food shortages for the birds along with the increased incidents of vehicle strike and dog attack.

‘Terrain’s role in harnessing community messages and supporting Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service’s response efforts have proven valuable so far in the wake of ‘Yasi’. Coordination of community meetings and bulletins has been key to ensuring effective communications as well as enhancing effective and efficient on-ground action. 40% of habitat at Mission Beach occurs on private property so we work with habitat owners as a priority ’.

Since ‘Larry’, limited funds have supported identification of cassowary habitat corridors for priority areas to offer conservation incentives. The FNQ2031 regional plan has reduced urban sprawl into cassowary habitat however there is still critical habitat subject to development pressure.

Further efforts now need to be concentrated around managing vehicle corridors and domestic animals, particularly dogs.

The Mission Beach Habitat Network Action Plan is being implemented by partners to the best of their ability given limited resources and the big task at hand. The Action Plan has been an essential tool in building consensus whilst prioritising the most effective management actions for the natural and cultural values of Mission Beach. It is a fantastic blueprint that may be adapted and applied for other parts of the region and broader.

It will be a significant amount of time before habitat is restored of both Cassowaries and another endangered species in the region, the Mahogany Glider. Cyclone Yasi also decimated large tracts of critically endangered Littoral Rainforest along the Cassowary Coast, with some areas simply washed out to sea. In the meantime, risk of further wildlife fatalities looms due to starvation, disease, road incidents and dog attacks. The community, with support from Terrain and partners such as QPWS, will endeavour to continue to roll out efforts to protect this most treasured national asset, the cassowary.

For further information go to Terrain’s website or call 4043 8000.