Threatened Species

Plants

The Bluegrass (Dicanthium spp.) are classified as Endangered.  Poplar box Eucalyptus populnea woodland on Cainozoic medium to coarse-grained sedimentary rocks is unreserved in Queensland.  Both Regional Ecosystems are typically subject to intense agricultural use that impacts all aspects of their ecology.  They were the key reason for the acquisition of the property.  The legacy of past impacts of grazing and agriculture and the ongoing impacts of introduced herbivores may have serious negative long-term impacts (weed infestation, erosion, sub-optimal recovery of soil and fauna assemblage) if not given active management to control introduced species and establish native pastures.

There are only 781ha of vine thicket on the reserve, mostly confined to steep rocky areas with heavy soils in the eastern third of the reserve.  This includes semi-evergreen vine thicket on steep hillsides and semi-evergreen vine thicket on Cainozoic fine-grained sediments. All vine thicket ecosystems are endangered, as a result of clearing for agriculture.  Regionally there has been a drastic reduction in the cover of vine thicket with the loss of the forests to the north of Carnarvon National Park.  In this context it is desirable to achieve and maintain the greatest possible area on the Reserve in the best possible condition.

The 132.5 ha of Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata open forest is in small, narrow strips on the mid to lower slopes of the upper Channin creek valley and a few of the major tributaries.  Some lowerslopes and the Fig Tree Gap area have been pulled and buffel grass is well established in these disturbed sites.  The Reserve only reserves a small area or this endangered Regional Ecosystem.  The size and context of the remnants renders them vulnerable to wildfire intrusion.  They provide shelter for a variety of fauna in otherwise very open country.

Three significant native flora species found to date are: Haloragis exaltata and Stemmacantha australis, which are listed as Vulnerable; and Discaria pubescens, which is listed as Rare.