Standard Presentation Australian Marine Sciences Association Annual Meeting 2023

Restoring Lady Elliot Island  - from a degraded mine site to an ecological and ecotourism exemplar through innovative techniques, partnerships, and commitment. (#343)

Joy Brushe 1 , Jim Buck 2 , John Olds 3 , Peter Gash 2 , Bridget Armstrong 4 , Mark Read 5
  1. Botanist Consultant, Gladstone, Qld, Australia
  2. Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, Southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Qld, Australia
  3. Ecological Assessment Unit, Technical Services, Park Services, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service & Partnerships, Department of Environment and Science, Gympie, Qld, Australia
  4. Technical Support (Fire, Pests, Natural Values), Northern Region, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service & Partnerships, Department of Environment and Science, Cairns, Qld , Australia
  5. Field Management Strategy, Joint Field Management Program, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Townsville, Qld, Australia

Lady Elliot Island (LEI), on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR), was mined for guano between 1863-1898, stripping the island of all vegetation and surface material. The subsequent introduction of goats and pest species from lighthouse keepers kept the Island devoid of native vegetation. By 2018, only 8% was natural vegetation with weeds dominating the landscape. Despite this, LEI and its surrounding waters have outstanding natural values, are a sanctuary for over 1,200 species of marine life, and has the second highest diversity of seabirds of any island on the GBR.

 

In 2018, the Reef Islands Initiative private-public partnership began funding Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort to accelerate the existing small-scale revegetation program and implement the 10-year Ecosystem Resilience Plan - with a focus on the removal of weeds and planting native species across four vegetation communities to create habitat for nesting seabirds and turtles.

 

To date, over 50% (15 ha) of the Island’s natural areas have been restored with over 10,000 native species planted. The program has established an on-island nursery, propagating 31 native species, and a successful volunteer program. Innovative, economical techniques have been developed for native establishment and weed removal which is predominantly chemical free.