Joining Forces At Kurrimine Beach To Restore A Critically Endangered Forest

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services’ Chris Roach (left) and Kim Gray (right) with Terrain NRM’s Deb Bass. Photo supplied

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One of Australia’s most threatened ecosystems is being restored in a project that’s bringing organisations together at Kurrimine Beach, south of Innisfail.  

Targeted conservation work in Kurrimine Beach National Park is safeguarding the largest remaining area of littoral rainforest in the Wet Tropics region.  

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Often described as “where the rainforest meets the reef”, littoral rainforest grows close to the sea — typically within two kilometres of the coast — along the east coast in areas ranging from headlands to sand and coral rubble. It’s listed nationally as critically endangered.  

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Terrain NRM has partnered with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Traditional Owners and other land managers to protect and restore littoral rainforest at Kurrimine Beach.

Terrain NRM Project Coordinator Tony O’Malley said weeds and feral pigs are the most immediate threats to the ecosystem.  

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“Invasive plants are a major issue, with many species washing ashore, particularly coconuts and Singapore daisy,’’ he said.  

“However, this national park is a rare stretch of coastline that remains largely free from coconut palms, which are dominating littoral rainforest in other areas.  

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“Feral pig trapping has also been a key focus. This coastline is an important sea turtle nesting area, and pigs pose a significant threat by digging up and consuming turtle eggs.  

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“Since it grows along the coast, littoral rainforest also faces significant development pressure, compounded by climate change, rising sea levels, storm surges and receding shorelines. It’s important that we work together to protect what remains and plan for future growth so the forest can thrive.”  

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Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service’s Resource Ranger Chris Roach said the littoral rainforest at Kurrimine Beach National Park is a high conservation priority.  

“This is the largest remaining area of this threatened ecosystem in the Wet Tropics, making its protection critically important,” he said.  

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“Terrain NRM’s Forest Resilience project has brought land managers and Traditional Owners together to reduce the impacts of weeds and feral pigs, while supporting actions under the National Littoral Rainforest Recovery Plan.”  

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Beyond on-ground works, the program is building community awareness about the importance of littoral rainforest.  

Terrain NRM has developed an online resource including a booklet and location-based factsheets for littoral rainforest hotspots, which can be found at terrain.org.au/littoral-rainforest  

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Locals can help to protect littoral rainforest by being responsible with garden waste (taking it to your nearest council transfer station), by being on the lookout for plants that might be weeds at the edges of forests and by supporting restoration efforts.  

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Terrain NRM’s Forest Resilience project is funded through the Australian Government’s Saving Native Species Program. The project applies a whole-of-ecosystem approach to improve the condition the Eastern Forests of Far North Queensland priority place identified in the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032.

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(Contributed with thanks by Terrain NRM)

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