January 20th, 2012
Kimberley partnership protects remnants of ancient rainforest
Science Network WA
Geoff Vivian
ECOLOGISTS are working with Indigenous rangers to develop assessment protocols for the health of monsoon vine thickets.
Project coordinator and Environs Kimberley’s Louise Beames says the thickets, which are a type of dry rainforest that once covered much of Northern and Central Australia, are under threat.
“Monsoon vine thicket plants depend on frugivorous (fruit-eating) birds and bats moving from one patch to the other to eat fruits and spread the seeds,” she says.