Environment:
The natural landscape of the Yuku Baja Muliku area is extremely significant. There are 550 species recorded in the region.
Our country covers 22,500 hectares and the region in rich in cultural sites which are entwined with fringing coral reefs, beaches, rainforests, woodlands, mangroves, saltpans, and sea grass beds.
The rich biodiversity of the region includes turtles, dugongs, bennetts tree kangaroos, and striped possums.
Management of the region is important because it includes some of the most pristine fringing coral reefs in the tropics and it is the convergence zone between healthy and stable turtle and dugong populations of Cape York and declining populations to our south.
Highlights of the Archer Point area include:
- 31 Migratory Species
- 33 Migratory Species
- 83 Listed Marine Species
- 12 Whales & other Cetaceans
- 2 World Heritage Properties
- 4 World Heritage sites
- 1 Nationally important Wetland
- 4 Reserves & conservation Areas
A preliminary assessment of fauna in the Archer Point area was undertaken by the Yuku Baja Muliku Rangers, John Winter, Kath Shurcliff, David Houghton and Helen Myles and is available for download.
Threats to the environment:
Due to our removal and therefore absence from country our land has been degraded over the last 100 years through grazing, mining, uncontrolled tourism and neglect.
Our natural resources have become seriously degraded through:
- Inappropriate fire regimes which have resulted in a loss of biodiversity in some natural ecosystems;
- Over 15 invasive weeds that have spread and colonised disturbed areas, often outcompeting local native plants;
- Feral animals which have caused significant damage to our environment;
- Visitor pressures that have resulted in disturbance, particularly to fragile coastal ecosystems where erosion and loss of vegetation have increased;
- Illegal camping, dumping of rubbish and marine debris; and
- A toxic chemical dump from a legacy of cattle dipping.