Appendix 2 - Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems

Saibai Island grasslands and other examples identified on Torres Strait Islands are in very good
condition. Weed infestations generally associated with grazing pressure, high populations of feral
pigs, and agricultural development on Cape York Peninsula are absent from the island
environments. The exceptions are the grassland formations on the basaltic islands, where a
discussion on the role of fire is provided in previous sections (Sections 5.2.58 and 5.2.59). On
Erub and to a lesser extent on Mer, the implications of large-scale Lantana infestations in terms of
its influence on fire behavior on rainforest margins are significant. Lantana’s ability to suppress
cool fires yet burn fiercely under severe conditions, promotes serious damage to rainforest
margins, and leads to a permanent loss of habitat by its ability to then invade damaged areas
(Stanton and Fell 2005).
9.0 Recommendations
9.1 Additional Survey Requirements
The recommendations offered below refer to future survey and analysis that will significant
benefit the understanding of the vegetation on the islands. Due to constraints placed on field
verification, the vegetation on Badu Island remains as significant knowledge gap and relatively
low confidence is applicable to vegetation mapping over the majority of the island. Completion
of field survey on the island is likely to reveal a number of undescribed and unique vegetation
communities. A number of vegetation communities, remain poorly characterised as a result of
time and budget restrictions and are listed below for future consideration.
• Badu Island;
• Gebar Island and Naghir Island where steep gully vine forests remain poorly
characterised;
• Floristic assessment of vine forests and thickets of Waier and Dauar (Mer Group) would
benefit characterisation on vine forests in the region;
• Ugar Island was not visited in the survey due to time/budgetary constraints and would
benefit from further structural and floristic assesment;
• Deliverance Island, the most westerly island in the Torres Strait, was not visited during
the field survey due to time/budgetary constraints. Further assessment would increase the
understanding of ecology on this remote and potentially unique isle;
• A large number of small, vegetated island atolls and cays have limited field survey
coverage and remain poorly described. Vegetation on the coral cay islands is poorly
sampled in relation to the larger continental islands; and
• Mt Adolphus Island remains enigmatic, with a number of potentially unique forest types
requiring description. Negotiation with traditonal landowners will be required prior to
future access.
9.2 Future Opportunities
In addition to the above, a number of the possible initiatives identified in Section 4 of the Land
and Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait are supported. The majority relate to landscapes,
biodiversity and species management and build on the extensive data set developed as part of the
RE mapping project.
1. Undertake surveys involving local island parataxonomists and botanists/ecologists,
etnotaxonomists/anthropologists to document traditional and contemporary ecological
knowledge including plant names, plant use and land management practises. Using the
3d Environmental – Torres Strait Regional Ecosystem Mapping Project – August 2008
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