This project started in June 2003 and is jointly funded by Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation, Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation and the Cape York Natural Heritage Trust (CYNHT) Rehabilitation and Revegetation Programme for Natural and Cultural Resource Management of Aboriginal Lands on Cape York Peninsula.
The project involves the establishment of a native plant nursery at Chuulangun for the purpose of revegetating and stabilising degraded areas on the upper Wenlock River. It is anticipated that revegetation along the river banks will help control soil erosion problems, which are currently causing damage to the downstream fluvial ecosystem. Fencing will be erected at revegetated points along the river to prevent people, stock and feral animals from entering vulnerable erosion areas.
PestInfo pest management software will be used to plan for areas to be revegetated, especially areas that are currently infested with weeds. This revegetation and protection project is linked with weed control work, i.e. once weeds are removed from degraded areas revegetation will be a very important part of the rehabilitation work. This software will also be very useful for the broader management of areas of the Wenlock River infested with weeds and feral animals.
Stage one of the project is complete with the construction of a 6x13 metre VP Structure at Chuulangun. Kaanju traditional owners erected the prefabricated 'Habitat' nursery structure over four days in July with the assistance of Don Duggan and Nick Smith from Balkanu.
Establishing a nursery at Chuula will not only allow regeneration of critical lengths of the riverbank, but also permit Kaanju people at Chuula to continue with revegetation efforts into the future. This project is only a part of the broader plan for the protection and management of Kaanju homelands on the Wenlock River.
