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From top: Strangler
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Reserver Overseer Siggy Heise-Pavlov. PHOTOS:
SIGGY HEISE-PAVLOV |
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In 1993 Bush Heritage purchased an outstanding
8.2 hectare block of fan palm forest in the lowland rainforests
of the Daintree. Lowland rainforest is one of the most diverse
habitat types on earth. It is also one of the most depleted.
In the Daintree more than half of the lowland rainforest on
private land has been cleared, resulting in the loss of wildlife
and plant species.
Fan Palm Reserve protects rare mesophyll vine forest dominated
by the spectacular fan palm Licuala ramsayi. At least
20 plant species of conservation significance also occur on
the reserve. The nationally endangered southern cassowary uses
the reserve and plays a critical role in the regeneration of
the forest. Cassowaries are the only birds capable of swallowing
the large seeds of some rainforest trees, such as the cassowary
plum Cerbera floribunda. On their travels, the birds
then pass these seeds in their droppings and thus disperse the
rainforest species.
Feral pigs and weeds are the main issues faced by Reserve Overseer
Siggy Heise-Pavlov. Her husband, pig expert Peter Heise-Pavlov,
regularly traps pigs and removes them from the reserve. Siggy
has also been controlling weeds, revegetating the margins of
the reserve and conducting research on the impact of pigs on
the rainforest.
Siggy will lead the first field trip for supporters to the
Fan Palm Reserve in October 2006. If you are interested in visiting
this beautiful tropical rainforest, please watch for dates in
the next issue of Bush Heritage News. |
