The project seeks to improve understanding of practices that can underpin co-management arrangements for conservation areas, including the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA). A co-research team of CSIRO scientists, Rainforest Aboriginal peoples, protected area managers and other key partners will investigate the potential of Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs), and other collaborative models and tools, to engage Indigenous values and world views. The team will focus on the conditions under which these arrangements lead to effective joint management. The overall goal of the project is to identify the means for effective engagement of Indigenous knowledge and co-management for biodiversity and cultural protection in the region; and for joint management of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area between governments and Rainforest Aboriginal peoples, in partnership with communities. The project will deliver tested mechanisms for co-governance and collaboration between Traditional Owners, government managers, and other key partners, for biodiversity and Indigenous cultural conservation in the Wet Tropics region. This project is now complete.

This project will implement monitoring programs for the endangered southern cassowary, Casuarisus casuarius, and the vulnerable spectacled flying-fox, Pteropus conspicillatus. Cassowary monitoring will be based on regular surveys to collect dung. DNA fingerprinting of the bird dung will provide data on cassowary abundance and distribution, the influence of habitat type and the structure and phylogeography of cassowary populations across the region. For spectacled flying-fox monthly surveys of all known spectacled flying-fox camps in the Wet Tropics Region will be conducted. Resulting data will be used to describe population distribution, population size and trends to build upon the long term database already established.

This dataset shows the projected current and future (2070) climatic suitability for the invasive plant species Clidemia hirta, Hiptage benghalensis, Miconia calvescen, Miconia nervosa, Miconia racemose, Stevia ovata,and Turbina corymbosa across North Queensland. Modelled using CLIMEX. Method: CLIMEX (Sutherst & Maywald 1985; Sutherst et al. 2007) is a modelling package that enables users to model the climatic potential distribution of organisms based primarily on their current distribution, through taking into consideration climate response information from other knowledge domains if this is available. CLIMEX is a dynamic model that integrates the weekly responses of a population to climate using a series of annual indices. CLIMEX uses an annual growth index (GIA) to describe the potential for population growth as a function of soil moisture and temperature during favourable conditions, and up to eight stress indices (cold, wet, hot, dry, cold-wet, cold-dry, hot-wet and hot-dry) to determine the probability that the population can survive unfavourable conditions. The growth and stress indices are calculated weekly and are then combined into an overall annual index of climatic suitability, the Ecoclimatic Index (EI), which gives an overall measure of the potential of a given location to support a permanent population of the species. The Ecoclimatic Index (EI), ranges from 0 for locations at which the species is not able to persist to 100 for locations that are optimal for the species year round. CLIMEX is a bioclimatic model, relying on a database of climatic variables of long-term monthly precipitation totals, averages of minimum and maximum temperatures, and averages of relative humidity at 09:00 and 15:00 hours. The historical climate dataset used for these analyses was the CliMond dataset (www.climond.org), with a spatial resolution of 10’, using station records centred on 1975 (Kriticos et al. 2012). The impacts of climate change on the potential for each species to grow or pose an invasion risk were explored using a climate scenario model for 2070 taken from the CliMond dataset (Kriticos et al. 2012). The selected climate datasets were developed using the A1B emission scenario applied to the CSIRO Mk 3.0 global climate model. For each species, we used parameter sets that were either published or which we have developed. The CLIMEX parameters used in the model for Clidemia hirta are published in: Breadon R. C., Brooks S. J. & Murphy H. T. (2012) Biology of Australian Weeds: Clidemia hirta L.D.Don. Plant Protection Quarterly 27, 3-18. The CLIMEX parameters used in the model for Hiptage benghalensis, Miconia calvescens, Miconia nervosa, Miconia racemose, Stevia ovata and Turbina corymbosa can be obtained by contacting the author. Other references: Kriticos, D. J., B. L. Webber, A. Leriche, N. Ota, J. Bathols, I. Macadam, and J. K. Scott. 2012. CliMond: global high resolution historical and future scenario climate surfaces for bioclimatic modelling. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 3:53-64. doi: 10.1111/j.2041-210X.2011.00134.x Sutherst, R. W., G. F. Maywald, and D. J. Kriticos. 2007. CLIMEX Version 3: User's Guide. Hearne Scientific Software Pty Ltd, www.Hearne.com.au. Sutherst, R. W., G. F. Maywald, T. Yonow, and P. M. Stevens. 1999. CLIMEX. Predicting the Effects of Climate on Plants and Animals. User Guide. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, Australia. Format: 14 shapefiles in polygon format using the spatial reference of GCS_WGS_1984. For each of the invasive species investigated there are 2 shapefiles, one for its projected climate suitability as at 1975 and another for its projected climate suitability in 2070. The shapefiles are: • C_hirta_1975.* • C_hirta_2070.* • H_benghal_1975.* • H_benghal_2070.* • M_calvescens_1975.* • M_calvescens_2070.* • M_nervosa_1975.* • M_nervosa_2070.* • M_racemosa_1975.* • M_racemosa_2070.* • S_ovata_1975.* • S_ovata_2070.* • T_corymbosa_1975.* • T_corymbosa_2070.* Data Dictionary: Each shapefile has the same attributes. - Longitude: - Latitude: - GI: unknown - EI: range (0-100), Ecoclimatic Index, gives an overall measure of the potential of a given location to support a permanent population of the species. Data Location: This dataset is filed in the eAtlas enduring data repository at: data\NERP-TE\7.2_Invasive-species

This project focuses on understanding the current and future risks and responses of invasive species in the Wet Tropics. The aim is to develop a strategic approach to pest management that considers the complexity of ecological processes involved with establishment and spread and takes account of the values and assets in the region. The project will contribute to the management of invasive plants and animals by providing prioritisation tools that align with existing regional pest management frameworks. Outcomes include: Identifying geographic areas and natural assets particularly at risk from invasive species, networks of weed and pest animal spread throughout the Wet Tropics, emerging weed threats in the Wet Tropics as a result of climate change (using climate matching methods with CLIMEX).

Little is known about the impacts of fire on rainforest vegetation or the animals which depend on it. This project will investigate the positive and negative impacts of fire on rainforest vegetation and wildlife. In collaboration with NPRSR rangers, and where possible with local NGOs and Indigenous Rangers, we propose to establish vegetation and faunal monitoring sites across the rainforest/woodland boundaries and associated vegetation types in key areas of the Mission Beach, Tully lowlands and Hinchinbrook Channel areas to assess faunal and floral status and trends. This project will produce maps and assess the impact of fire in of areas of greatest concern, including littoral rainforest and coastal vine thickets and riparian forest. We will assess the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Yasi on mahogany glider habitat, levels of rainforest invasion, and impacts of fire on new vegetation.