Biotropica staff recently completed Environmental Management Plans for all Ergon Energy power lines in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.  This involved detailed ‘span by span’ surveys of over 200kms of electricity lines in a diverse range of ecosystems from the lowlands of Mission Beach to the top of the Mc Dowell Range on the CREB Track north of Daintree.

Lines traversing the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area are often in remote areas where access is just as challenging as the area’s remarkable flora and fauna. Using Trimble GEO-XM’s™, coupled with custom designed software and ArcView,  Biotropica has produced detailed and accurate plans to assist Ergon Energy staff and contractors to protect and preserve World Heritage values to the greatest possible extent.  EMP’s provide staff and contractors with plans that are easily interpreted in the field and include a locality specific photographic library of rare and threatened plants, weeds, and low-growing species for retention.

During the course of our surveys, Biotropica staff recorded 37 species of rare, vulnerable and endangered plants, and 54 species of weeds including numbers of Class 1 and Class 2 Declared plants.  Surveys also extended the known range of some plants. Biotropica principal Nigel Tucker described the project as ‘technically and physically challenging’, noting that without Biotropica’s initial investment in GIS data structure design and custom software, maintaining data integrity and final product quality would have been much more difficult.

Nigel Tucker, Director of BIOTROPICA AUSTRALIA recently travelled to Brisbane to conduct a 3 day biodiversity training package to environmental staff at Powerlink Qld.  The course involved a day and a half theoretical classroom training where participants studied the concept of biodiversity and current trends in biodiversity nationwide and globally.

Other key concepts addressed were current threats to biodiversity associated with powerline infrastructure and ways to monitor and mitigate biodiversity impacts.

Dr Scott Burnett, well-known South-east Queensland conservation biologist gave an extensive presentation on the biodiversity of South-east Queensland. Scott also assisted Nigel with the field component of the course which gave participants hands-on experience in a range of wildlife monitoring techniques including spotlighting and live animal trapping.

Hydromulching road cuttings is an effective way of reducing erosion and providing soil coverage to bind the soil surface and retain organic matter and moisture. Organic matter, fertiliser and soil ameliorants are combined with water, glue and seed and then mechanically sprayed onto the bare soil surface.

The results of previous hydromulch trials on the Gillies Highway in 2004, indicated the importance of addressing soil deficiencies and increasing native species in the seed mixes.

BIOTROPICA AUSTRALIA coordinated the application of hydromulch works on the Gillies, Cook and Kuranda highways in the 2005 wet season, comparing different fertilizer types and the soil ameliorants, lime and Minplus™. In addition, trials were established to examine plantings of fishbone fern (Nephrolesis cordifolia) into rock gabion structures on the Kuranda Range in early 2005.

Monitoring after the 2005 wet season, indicated a good ground cover response, however sites were still very young and susceptible to weed invasion. Monitoring at the beginning of the 2006 wet season, indicated native grass establishment was well underway.

By autumn 2006, there were no discernible responses of sites to fertilizer and soil ameliorant treatment. Further monitoring after the 2005/2006 wet season, soil analysis and biomass production will aim to provide solid baseline data and reflect treatment differences.

Small hydromulch works on slippage sites on the Kuranda Range in the 2005 wet season, provide an example of research culminating in very successful hydromulch application. After 12 months, there is a 100% soil cover with contributions from all species present in the hydromulch mix. This cover result provides evidence that initial rehabilitation of road cuttings can be highly successful.

Biotropica Australia’s research into hydromulching techniques provides valuable information for clients wishing to rehabilitate large disturbed areas.

As part of cleanup works associated with severe Tropical Cyclone Larry, Biotropica Australia’s scientists provided professional services to Ergon Energy during the re-opening of high transmission powerline access tracks within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA).

This work included the supervision of earthworks machinery and specialised tree climbing personnel. This was required to help maintain Ergon Energy’s very high level of environmental responsibility when working within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

Australia provided daily site specific information including the identification of:

• Rare and localised endemic flora and fauna,
• Declared plants, to avoid contamination and subsequent spread and,
• Threats to personal safety, environment and machinery

On 28th April, 2006, Kerry O’Brien along with staff from Powerlink Queensland conducted a helicopter flyover to access the extent of cyclone damage along those high voltage powerlines which traverse the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

The flyover began from the Mareeba Airstrip and continued south along the western side of the Herberton Ranges to the top of the Herbert River Gorge, tracking north along the lowland foothills to the Kareeya Power station. The majority of damage observed occurred from Tully, north to Cairns along the Tully-Kareeya, Innisfail-Kareeya and Innisfail-Cairns powerlines. Emergency clean up works had been carried out to clear access tracks and marginal trees along these corridors.

The most notable observations made were the patterning of canopy loss on the south-eastern ridge slopes, retention of epiphytes in the canopy, the reshooting and flowering of stems, and intact stands of Feather Palm and Fan Palm forests.  At the time of the flyover, Golden Penda was in full bloom, highlighting the many tributaries which snake down the coastal escarpment.

The flyover enabled BIOTROPICA AUSTRALIA and Powerlink Queensland to determine the extent of cyclone damage experienced along these powerline corridors and estimate works still required.

BIOTROPICA AUSTRALIA's botanists were engaged to survey potential powerline footprints for the proposed relocation of the Tully to Innisfail powerline. This involved intensive flora surveys to determine the presence of any rare, vulnerable or endangered species and communities. This powerline is intended to replace the existing powerline which traverses the Palmerston section of Wooroonooroon National Park.

Surveys revealed only the third Australian record of the rare plant Hollrungia aurantioides. This plant has previously only been recorded from Deeral and Mount Bellenden Ker, North Queensland.

In recognition of the plant's rarity, Powerlink Queensland has moved the location of the tower footprint and access track. The endangered plant, Carronia pedicellata was also located during these surveys and may have been disrupted by construction. Because of the potential to harm this individual, the access track to this tower was also moved.

Other recommendations included restoration works, weed monitoring and management and specific recommendations relating to endangered species management.

In 1999, the Qld Parks and Wildlife Service re-established three vegetation linkages across the Powerlink Queensland easement, through which the 132kV line runs from Kareeya Power Station to Innisfail.

A very limited range of rain forest species (4) were replanted, in row formation, to facilitate rapid and cost-effective revegetation, and provide a linkage across the easement. The linkages are located within the Palmerston section of Wooroonooran National Park, adjacent to the Palmerston ranger station.

Powerlink maintains a number of assets within easements that traverse environmentally sensitive areas, creating barriers to the movement of animals and some birds across the easement. This linear barrier effect is especially powerful in the tropics where several studies have identified and documented the effect.

The objective of this project is to evaluate the usefulness of restored linkages to mammals crossing the (cleared) easement. Cage traps and Elliot (box) traps were established at six sites to assess the composition of small mammal communities in grassland, linkage and intact forest environments, and to determine the extent to which these linkages are used by rainforest mammals.

All relevant permits were obtained from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Animal Ethics Approval from James Cook University. Trapping events are conducted every two months beginning in November 2005 for twelve months (six trapping rounds).

Forested sites are typically dominated by forest-dependent species, Bush Rat (Rattus sp. fuscipes/leucopus) and Fawn-footed Melomys (Melomys cervinipes), and to a lesser extent White-tailed Rat (Uromys caudimaculatus). Grass dependent species such as the Canefield Rat (Rattus sordidus), House Mouse (Mus musculus) and Burton’s Climbing Rat (Melomys burtoni) are confined to this habitat.

The largest percentage of animals for which movement was recorded were scrotal males. This ready movement is typically by the Bush Rat, an encouraging indicator of successional change in the corridor. Further movement analysis will commence once the twelve month data set is complete.

This study provides important information of the dynamics of the linear barrier effect of corridors and guidance for restoration strategies across powerline easements.

Nigel Tucker returned from a ten day trip to Papua New Guinea to assess restoration options for a proposed National Infrastructure project from PNG to Australia.

Nigel travelled by helicopter and hiked on foot to inaccessible areas to ground truth points where restoration will be required. The terrain is highly erodible with limestone karst and volcanic soils at altitudes up to 2500m in very high rainfall areas.

Restoration will involve working extensively with the local community and our client to provide recipes for the restoration of disturbed sites.

BIOTROPICA AUSTRALIA recently completed a report for the Australian Rainforest Foundation focusing on assessing existing and potential habitat linkages for the Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii) along the coastal lowlands between Cairns and Cardwell.

A focal component of the framework is the close focus on the Mission Beach area, as it provides a vital source population of birds.  The overall aim was to identify habitat linkages and detail restoration opportunities to improve and enhance habitat linkages.

The report is accompanied by a series of maps which will provide local governments, conservation departments and state departments with a vital tool for strategic planning and conservation outcomes.

Recently BIOTROPICA AUSTRALIA's botanist, Rigel Jensen travelled to Cape York for seventeen days as part of a feasibility study team for a proposed National infrastructure project from PNG to Australia.

The survey area extended from the Kennedy Highway, west of Mt Garnet to Coen. The study involved liaising with engineers and surveyors to determine the most suitable route options so that the project can be costed.

Particular attention was paid to river crossings, Endangered and Of Concern Regional Ecosystems and any Rare and Threatened Species. A large component of the work was conducted from a helicopter as the areas are quite inaccessible from the ground.

Nigel's botanical and ecological skills proved invaluable in this exercise and his extensive knowledge of Cape York flora was certainly put to good use.

BIOTROPICA AUSTRALIA is part of the Queensland Department of Main Roads (QDMR)/ Rainforest CRC Strategic Alliance, working to advance the Restoration Design and Management for the proposed Kuranda Range Road Upgrade.

Biotropica Australia’s specific tasks have involved:

• A review of the current rehabilitation strategy
• A review of existing rock gabion structures and field experiments to evaluate these techniques
• Reviewing of surface, canopy and riparian vegetation connectivity around existing bridge structures
• Development of a propagation materials procurement strategy
• Producing a Preliminary Restoration Design for the proposed Kuranda Range Road Upgrade
• This has been a twelve month project with the Preliminary Restoration Design now under review.
  Some of the field and nursery experimental components are still underway, including the Green Terramesh Trial along the Kennedy Highway, near Kuranda.

Biotropica Australia’s research efforts will provide much required information for clients wishing to carry out wide-scale rehabilitation after major road building activities.