The wet tropics NRM plan region contains extremely high biodiversity values and boasts two internationally recognised World Heritage Areas – most of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and Marine Park. As well as wet tropical rainforest the region contains wet sclerophyll forests, woodlands, wetlands, mangroves and other ecosystems occurring in the Wet Tropics Bioregion and parts of the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion.

Despite covering less than 0.1% of the Australian continent, the Wet Tropics is rich in biodiversity, containing significant concentrations of Australia’s plant and animal species including:

• 36% of mammal species
• 40% of bird species
• 37% of Australia’s freshwater fish species
• 58% or 230 species of butterfly
• 65% of Australia’s fern species

Many of these species are ‘endemic’ (i.e. found nowhere else on earth) while others mark important evolutionary links. The region features more plant and animal species with primitive characteristics than any other area on Earth. Not surprisingly, the region is considered to be a biodiversity ‘hotspot’ of global significance.

These unique values are threatened and suffering decline through loss of habitat and loss of landscape connectivity, weed and pest impacts, altered fire regimes and increasing impacts of urban and rural development. Many species and ecosystems of the Wet Tropics have become threatened including the Southern Cassowary, the Mahogany Glider and the critically endangered ecosystems of Mabi Forest and Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Vine Thickets of Eastern Australia.

Terrestrial Biodiversity Program Overview

Projects within the Biodiversity Program aim to work with regional partners to address key threats to the biodiversity of the wet tropics through:

• Fostering partnerships to support the incorporation of biodiversity priorities into planning and policy processes
• Providing support for local government to integrate biodiversity NRM activities into their corporate, land use and operational plans and structures
• Supporting local communities to build resilient landscapes and habitat corridors for cassowaries, mahogany gliders, tree kangaroos and other species

For more information contact Rowena Grace, Program Leader Biodiversity on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 0438130125.