In your rush to get down to the glittering ocean waters of Tasmania's Friendly Beaches Reserve you'd be forgiven for overlooking what lies further back behind the beach's squeaky clean sand dunes.
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The forests of Friendly Beaches Reserve, with Saltwater Lagoon in the foreground. Photo: Wayne Lawler/Ecopix. |
But a more leisurely exploration of this reserve, which is a natural extension of its famous neighbour, Freycinet National Park, would turn up coastal heath overlooking a large saltwater lagoon, and beyond that black gum forest.
The coastal heath here is particularly precious, being one of the most diverse plant communities found in Tasmania.
Its flowers, which can burst into life at any time of the year, produce a profusion of nectar that draws honeyeaters, such as the eastern spinebill and New Holland honeyeater from far and wide. The coastal heathlands on this stretch of coast are among the largest remaining in Tasmania.
Farther in lies black gum forest, which loves the wet drainage lines spiralling out from Saltwater Lagoon. Since European settlement more than 90 per cent of these forests have been destroyed, and black gum forest is now endangered in Tasmania.
All this has been protected thanks to the generosity of our supporters.
What this reserve protects
 Tasmanian devil. Photo: Matthew Newton.
 Tasmanian blue gum. Photo: Wayne Lawler/Ecopix.
 Scarlet robin. Photo: Wayne Lawler/Ecopix. |
Friendly Beaches Reserve helps protect one of the few ‘natural' beach systems remaining on the east coast of Tasmania.
The coastal heath and the forests are known habitat for the nationally endangered Tasmanian devil.
Friendly Beaches Reserve also protects these significant species and communities:
Animals |
- Spotted-tail quoll (nationally vulnerable)
- Scarlet robin
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- White-bellied sea-eagle (vulnerable in Tasmania)
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Plants |
- Sand grasstree (nationally vulnerable)
- Southern grasstree
Warty paperbark (rare)
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- Tasmanian blue gum
- Juniper wattle (rare)
- Slender honey myrtle
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Vegetation communities |
- Black gum forest and woodland (endangered)
- Silver peppermint forest and woodland (vulnerable)
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- Coastal heathland
- Black peppermint coastal forest and woodland
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Coastal heath landscapes like this would be under threat if Phytophthora gains a foothold. Photo: Wayne Lawler/Ecopix. |
What we’re doing on the property
If the plant-killing disease Phytophthora ever gets a solid foothold in this reserve it could change forever the make-up of Friendly Beaches' coastal heathlands.
In particular, it could kill off its banksias, grasstrees and hakeas, as well as a wide range of other heath plants.
Phytophthora spores can spread on the soil, and be carried by vehicles, tools and boots. To stop it advancing into the reserve we insist all gear is washed down and that anyone entering the site follows strict hygiene procedures.
Monitoring of the incidence of Phytophthora in the heathland is ongoing. To help prevent the spread of this disease we discourage visitors.
Life on the edge
Lurking behind the beautiful detail of Friendly Beaches Reserve lie two threats that call for constant vigilance.
The first is the ever-present danger of the mould Phytophthora cinnamomi, also known as 'dieback', which attacks root systems and cuts off a plant's ability to take in nutrients and survive.
Bush Heritage ecologist Matt Appleby describes the approach of this disease as coming in a wave.
If Phytophthora hit these heathlands, the invasion front would show green, healthy banksia leaves turning a rusty orange, and behind them would lie a field of dead banksias and grasstrees drained of colour and life.
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| Tasmanian devils are facing a serious threat in the form of devil facial tumour disease. Photo: Matthew Newton. |
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The other threat is also a disease, and menaces the Tasmanian devils that wander in and out of this reserve as they hunt for food.
Called devil facial tumour disease, this terrible cancer first surfaced in 1996 among Tasmania's north-east devil population, and since then devil sightings have declined by more than 80 per cent. Ongoing research into this terrible disease is critical to the future survival of the Tassie devil.
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Page Last Updated: Wednesday 27 April 2011