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Rainforest, woodland or swampland? Integrating time, space and culture to manage an endangered ecosystem complex in the Australian Wet Tropics

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Abstract

Context

Transdisciplinary research is important where information from multiple fields is required to develop ecologically and culturally appropriate environmental planning that protects local conservation and socio-cultural values.

Objectives

Here, we describe research to inform ecosystem restoration and conservation of Chumbrumba Swamp within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Australia. Many such open wetlands in the region have been degraded through agriculture and pastoral production, but there has been little research into their status, history and conservation needs.

Methods

The recent to pre-European settlement history of the site was explored, along with spatial variation of vegetation communities at the site, and these data integrated with historical and ethnographical information on the site and its cultural values.

Results

The botanical and palaeoecological analyses showed that Chumbrumba Swamp comprises a unique and highly sensitive ecosystem mosaic with high biodiversity. An endangered ecosystem complex, 82 vascular plant species, several disjunct or endemic taxa, and species at new northern range limits were recorded within its 20 ha area. The site comprises a stable swamp site with fringing woodland and rainforest that has persisted for around 5000 years. European settlement overlaid changes in the vegetation from disturbance (e.g. fire, clearing, grazing). However, fire also affected the swamp site during pre-European times.

Conclusions

Historical and ethnographic information contextualised the biophysical data and confirmed the cultural importance of the site and the dynamic interactions between ‘people and nature’. These results have been used to inform environmental restoration and validate the importance of a transdisciplinary and precautionary approach to planning wetland restoration and conservation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge a University of Ballarat-Deakin University grant (to AJJL and Nick Porch (Deakin University)) that partially funded fieldwork and pollen analyses, ANU funding (to SGH) for dating, and AINSE for 210Pb dating (completed at ANSTO by AZ) with samples prepared by Jack Goralewski and LS, and ARC funding (to ÅF) for the historical map**. The Australian Government’s National Environmental Research Program supported botanical fieldwork (AJF and DJM). We thank Ngadjon-ji Elder Ernie Raymont for sharing his knowledge of Aboriginal rainforest culture and society, and the Eacham Historical Society for assistance and information. We also thank Shinya Sugita for assistance with surface collection of samples for the spatial analysis of pollen, and students participating in the 2012 International (IARU-ANU1) field course in Canberra and North Queensland, Australia for assistance with fieldwork. CORVEG survey data of Wet Tropics swamps from Queensland Herbarium were kindly supplied by Mark Newton and Eda Addicott.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molonglo Conservation Group, Fyshwick, ACT, 2609, Australia

    A. J. J. Lynch

  2. Centre for Environmental Management, Federation University, Ballarat, VIC, 3353, Australia

    A. J. J. Lynch

  3. Department of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia

    Å. Ferrier

  4. CSIRO Land and Water, CSIRO Tropical Forest Research Centre, Atherton, QLD, 4883, Australia

    A. J. Ford

  5. Archaeology and Natural History, School of Culture, History and Language, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

    S. G. Haberle, S. Rule & L. Schneider

  6. ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

    S. G. Haberle, S. Rule & L. Schneider

  7. Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia

    A. Zawadzki

  8. CSIRO Land and Water, EcoScience Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia

    D. J. Metcalfe

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Lynch, A.J.J., Ferrier, Å., Ford, A.J. et al. Rainforest, woodland or swampland? Integrating time, space and culture to manage an endangered ecosystem complex in the Australian Wet Tropics. Landscape Ecol 35, 83–99 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-019-00931-7

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