OVER the last three years through a $100,000 project funded under the Queensland Government’s Everyone’s Environment Grant program, Barron Catchment Care (BCC) has been targeting Turbina corymbosa an introduced species from Tropical America.
Turbina forms vine towers over native vegetation, smothering it and disabling natural recruitment below.
In recent times, the damaging effects of Cyclones Larry and Yasi have contributed to the proliferation of turbina in rainforest margins and riverbanks on the Atherton Tablelands.
The remnants of critically endangered Mabi forest in the area have particularly been hit hard, with some sections completely blanketed by the weed.
Mabi forest, listed as critically endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, is important habitat for a range of rare, endangered and endemic species including the Lumholtz’s Tree-Kangaroo (after which it is named).
Barron Catchment Care has coordinated an aerial and ground survey of key areas of the catchment to identify the extent of the vine.
Chair of BCC, Brian Down said the survey revealed that the species has a strong presence in Mabi remnants and is present along almost the entire length of the Barron River.
“Control of this destructive weed, particularly in Mabi remnants, has been the key focus of the program,” Mr Down said.
Based on the survey results a Turbina management plan was developed which was used to determine where weed control would be most effective.
BCC then used the services of North Queensland Land Management Services to undertake on-ground weed management of Turbina in over 45 hectares of critically endangered Mabi rainforest to bring the vine under control.
Coordinator of BCC, Margaret Barker, said it is thought that without intervention, the destructive blanketing effect of Turbina would have continued unabated throughout Mabi remnants.
“BCC’s turbina project winds up mid-year, but the group is continuing to work with other stakeholders in the region to ensure work on this destructive and persistent vine continues,” Ms Barker said.