Coocumbac Island Nature Reserve
New South Wales
The Coocumbac Island Nature Reserve (Birrpayi: Gukangbang or Gukangbak)[2] is a protected nature reserve located in the mid–north coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The 6-hectare (15-acre) reserve, situated on the Manning River near Taree, is a rare example of a subtropical lowland rainforest.[3]
Much of Australia's lowland sub tropical rainforest was cleared for housing and agriculture, leaving only small patches remaining, such as at Coocumbac Island. The soils are derived from the Manning River. These alluvial soils are enriched from basaltic deposits upstream at Barrington Tops and the Comboyne and Bulga plateaux. The average annual rainfall in nearby Taree is 1,176 millimetres (46.3 in).
Features
Fauna
The most obvious mammal species on the island is the grey-headed flying fox, whose numbers may reach 5,000 at certain times of the year. Noteworthy birds occurring here include the osprey and wompoo fruit-dove.[4]
Flora
The ecological community on the island is known as the large fig - giant stinger tree association.[5] The genus ficus is well represented, with several strangler fig species present. Particularly prominent are the large Moreton Bay figs. Other figs are deciduous fig, small leaf fig and watery fig. The town of Taree, takes its name from another of the local figs, the sandpaper fig.
Other tree species include stinging tree and the native olive. The native elm grows on the island, here at its southernmost point of natural distribution. A large native hackberry occurs on the island, 30 metres (98 ft) tall and with a trunk diameter of 1.2 metres (3 ft 11 in). Less common trees include white walnut and the Australian rose mahogany.
Rainforest regeneration programs have been put in place to encourage local rainforest species and suppress the problem of invasive weeds.[5]
Mangroves
Surrounding the island is an impressive community of two species of mangroves; grey mangrove and river mangrove.
Etymology
Coocumbac means "meeting place" in the local indigenous Biripi language.[4] Australian indigenous people regularly visited the rainforest for the collection of food, medicinal purposes, the collection of fibres for making bags and nets and social gatherings. The rainforest has spiritual significance to the traditional indigenous custodians.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Coocumbac Island Nature Reserve". Office of Environment and Heritage. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
- ^ "FirstVoices".
- ^ "Lowland rainforest on floodplain in the NSW North Coast Bioregion - endangered ecological community listing". Office of Environment and Heritage. Government of New South Wales. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
- ^ a b Coocumbac Island Nature Reserve: Plan of Management (PDF) (PDF). Government of New South Wales. September 2003. ISBN 0-7313-6573-9. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ a b Floyd, A. G. Australian Rainforests of New South Wales. Vol. 2. p. 18. ISBN 0-949324-32-9.
- v
- t
- e
- Abercrombie Caves
- Arakoola
- Avisford
- Barton
- Binnaway
- Boomi
- Boomi West
- Borenore Caves
- Boronga
- Brigalow Park
- Budelah
- Careunga
- Coolbaggie
- Copperhannia
- Dapper
- Donnybrook
- Dural
- Eugowra
- Freemantle
- Gamilaroi
- Girralang
- Jenolan Caves
- Kemps Creek
- Kirramingly
- Koorawatha
- Kuma
- Macquarie Marshes
- Midkin
- Mugii Murum-ban
- Munghorn Gap
- Narran Lake
- Pilliga
- Planchonella
- The Rock
- Tollingo
- Turallo
- Wambool
- Weetalibah
- Winburndale
- Woggoon
- Wongarbon
- Yaegl
- Yarringully
Mid North Coast
- Awabakal
- Baalijin
- Back River
- Bagul Waajaarr
- Bandicoot Island
- Bird Island
- Bollanolla
- Boonanghi
- Boondelbah
- Boorganna
- Bowraville
- Bretti
- Brimbin
- Bugan
- Burning Mountain
- Bushy Island
- Camels Hump
- Camerons Gorge
- Cedar Brush
- Coocumbac Island
- Coolongolook
- Cooperabung Creek
- Coramba
- Corrie Island
- Coxcomb
- Darawank
- Fifes Knob
- Fishermans Bend
- Gads Sugarloaf
- Ganay
- Garby
- Goonook
- Hexham Swamp
- Jaaningga
- Jagun
- Jasper
- John Gould
- Juugawaarri
- Karuah
- Kattang
- Khappinghat
- Khatambuhl
- Killabakh
- Killarney
- Kooragang
- Koorebang
- Kororo
- Lake Innes
- Limeburners Creek
- Little Broughton Island
- Macquarie
- Mernot
- Mills Island
- Moffats Swamp
- Monkerai
- Monkeycot
- Moon Island
- Moonee Beach
- Mount Seaview
- Muttonbird Island
- Ngambaa
- North Rock
- One Tree Island
- Pambalong
- Pee Dee
- Pulbah Island
- Queens Lake
- Rawdon Creek
- Regatta Island
- Running Creek
- Seaham Swamp
- Seal Rocks
- Skillion
- Snapper Island
- Stormpetrel
- Talawahl
- The Castles
- The Glen
- Tilligerry
- Tingira Heights
- Tomalla
- Towibakh
- Valla
- Wallabadah
- Wallamba
- Wallaroo
- Wallis Island
- Weelah
- Willi Willi Caves
- Wingen Maid
- Wingham Brush
- Worimi
- Yahoo Island
- Yarravel
- Yessabah
- Aberbaldie
- Ashford Caves
- Bluff River
- Bolivia Hill
- Booroolong
- Burnt-Down Scrub
- Deer Vale
- Demon
- Duval
- Georges Creek
- Gibraltar
- Guy Fawkes River
- Imbota
- Ironbark
- Jobs Mountain
- Linton
- Little Llangothlin
- Mann River
- Melville Range
- Mother Of Ducks Lagoon
- Mount Hyland
- Mount Mackenzie
- Mount Yarrowyck
- Muldiva
- Ngulin
- Serpentine
- Severn River
- Stony Batter Creek
- The Basin
- Tuggolo Creek
- Watsons Creek
- Yina
- Andrew Johnston Big Scrub
- Ballina
- Banyabba
- Billinudgel
- Boatharbour
- Broken Head
- Brunswick Heads
- Bungabbee
- Byrnes Scrub
- Captains Creek
- Chambigne
- Chapmans Peak
- Clarence Estuary
- Cook Island
- Couchy Creek
- Cudgen
- Cumbebin Swamp
- Davis Scrub
- Flaggy Creek
- Hattons Bluff
- Hayters Hill
- Hogarth Range
- Hortons Creek
- Iluka
- Inner Pocket
- Julian Rocks
- Koukandowie
- Limpinwood
- Little Pimlico Island
- Marshalls Creek
- Moore Park
- Mororo Creek
- Mount Neville
- Mount Nullum
- Muckleewee Mountain
- Munro Island
- North-West Solitary Island
- North Obelisk
- North Solitary Island
- Numinbah
- Richmond River
- Sherwood
- Snows Gully
- South West Solitary Island
- Split Solitary Island
- Stotts Island
- Susan Island
- Tabbimoble Swamp
- Tallawudjah
- Tuckean
- Tucki Tucki
- Tweed Estuary
- Tyagarah
- Ukerebagh
- Uralba
- Victoria Park
- Waragai Creek
- Wilson
- Wilsons Peak
- Woodford Island
- Wooyung
- Big Bush
- Boginderra Hills
- Buddigower
- Cocopara
- Goonawarra
- Gubbata
- Ingalba
- Jerilderie
- Kajuligah
- Kemendok
- Lake Urana
- Langtree
- Ledknapper
- Loughnan
- Morrisons Lake
- Mutawintji
- Narrandera
- Nearie Lake
- Nocoleche
- Nombinnie
- Pucawan
- Pulletop
- Quanda
- Round Hill
- Tarawi
- The Charcoal Tank
- Yanga
- Yathong
Highlands
- Araluen
- Badja Swamps
- Bamarang
- Barren Grounds
- Barrengarry
- Bees Nest
- Bell Bird Creek
- Belowla Island
- Bermaguee
- Bimberi
- Binjura
- Black Andrew
- Black Ash
- Bobundara
- Bogandyera
- Bondi Gulf
- Bournda
- Broulee Island
- Brundee Swamp
- Brush Island
- Burnt School
- Burra Creek
- Burrinjuck
- Cambewarra Range
- Cecil Hoskins
- Clarkes Hill
- Comerong Island
- Coolumbooka
- Coornartha
- Courabyra
- Cullendulla Creek
- Cuumbeun
- Dananbilla
- Dangelong
- Devils Glen
- Downfall
- Eagles Claw
- Egan Peaks
- Ellerslie
- Five Islands
- Flagstaff Memorial
- Good Good
- Goorooyarroo
- Gungewalla
- Hattons Corner
- Illawong
- Illunie
- Ironmungy
- Jerralong
- Jingellic
- Joadja
- Kangaroo River
- Kybeyan
- Meringo
- Merriangaah
- Montague Island
- Mount Clifford
- Mount Dowling
- Mudjarn
- Mullengandra
- Mundoonen
- Myalla
- Nadgee
- Nadgigomar
- Narrawallee Creek
- Nest Hill
- Ngadang
- Nimmo
- Numeralla
- Oak Creek
- Parma Creek
- Paupong
- Queanbeyan
- Quidong
- Razorback
- Robertson
- Rodway
- Saltwater Swamp
- Scabby Range
- Scott
- Stony Creek
- Strike-a-Light
- Tabletop
- Tapitallee
- Tinderry
- Tollgate Islands
- Triplarina
- Ulandra
- Undoo
- Wadjan
- Wanna Wanna
- Wee Jasper
- Wiesners Swamp
- Wogamia
- Wollondilly River
- Woollamia
- Worrigee
- Wullwye
- Yanununbeyan
- Yaouk
- Yatteyattah
- Agnes Banks
- Bents Basin
- Berkeley
- Bird Island
- Castlereagh
- Central Gardens
- Brenan Park
- Chipping Norton Lake
- Cockle Bay
- Dalrymple-Hay
- Dharawal
- Evans Crown
- Fairfield Park Precinct
- Gulguer
- Grey Box Reserve
- Lion Island
- Lake Parramatta
- Long Island
- Lower Prospect Canal Reserve
- Manobalai
- Mulgoa
- Muogamarra
- Newington
- Pelican Island
- Pitt Town
- Prospect Nature Reserve
- Prospect Hill
- Rileys Island
- Rosford Street Reserve
- Spectacle Island
- Towra Point
- Wallumatta Nature Reserve
- Wamberal Lagoon
- Wambina
- Western Sydney Regional Park
- Wetherill Park
- Windsor Downs