Norfolk Island Vegetation Mapping Project 2020
This historic project will deliver the first ever island-wide vegetation maps of Norfolk Island. We are road testing our online maps page here.
The aim of this project is to improve access to funding for Norfolk landholders who want to restore their land, and to prioritise areas for conservation. Vegetation maps are available for many parts of mainland Australia, and these can assist landholders to obtain environmental funding. It is hoped that Norfolk Island landholders will be better able to access funding using the Norfolk Island Vegetation Maps.
Norfolk Island’s vegetation communities include not only the Rainforests in the National Park; but the Pine/Oak forest at Hundred Acres Reserve; the Wetlands along the creeks and drains; the Moo-oo along the cliffs - and everything in between.
We are using aerial imagery, existing maps and extensive fieldwork to map the current native plant communities on Norfolk Island. We have also produced a 1750 vegetation map, informed by historical records, oral history and field observations of factors that determine where each native vegetation community might originally have been found. A Background Report on the Project is available here.
We commenced surveying vegetation in November 2018, and fieldwork continued through until January 2020. Some important vegetation is on private land, and many private landholders allowed us access to their land. To all of the landholders, we say a heartfelt thank you. More news following soon – so watch this space!
This project is funded by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation through the Eldon and Anne Foote Trust and is facilitated by the Invasive Species Council together with Tierra Mar. The Norfolk Island Regional Council, Parks Australia (Norfolk Island Office) and kind volunteers have offered support too – thank you all so much.
