Established May 1982 (1982-05) Nearest town or city Grafton | Area 23 ha | |
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Managing authorities Website Susan Island Nature Reserve See also Protected areas of
New South Wales Management National Parks and Wildlife Service Similar Iluka Nature Reserve, Gumbaynggirr State Conserva, Bird Island Nature Reserve, Davis Scrub Nature R, Yatteyattah Nature Reserve | ||
The Susan Island Nature Reserve is a protected nature reserve containing Susan Island, a river island, that is located in the mouth of the Clarence River, in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales in eastern Australia. The 23-hectare (57-acre) reserve is situated near Grafton. The island and reserve is a rare 16.5-hectare (41-acre) example of sub tropical lowland rainforest.
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FeaturesEdit
Much of Australia's lowland sub tropical rainforest was cleared for housing and agriculture, leaving only small patches remaining, such as at Susan Island. The soils are alluvial, derived from the Clarence River. The average annual rainfall is a modest 1,065 millimetres (41.9 in), which is marginal for this type of vegetation community.
FaunaEdit
Currently there are eleven reptile species and fifteen mammal species on the island. However, this is far less than older reports from colonial times. At certain times, the numbers of the three species of flying foxes are in excess of 100,000. The numbers of the grey-headed flying foxes appears to be increasing in recent years. Noteworthy birds occurring here are the osprey and the noisy pitta.
FloraEdit
57 species of rainforest tree are known to grow on the island. Significant tree species include stinging tree, Moreton Bay fig, white walnut, shiny-leaved stinging tree, tulipwood and lacebark tree. The largest known yellow kamala grows up to 30 metres (98 ft) tall with a trunk diameter of 80 centimetres (31 in). And the widespread tropical Asian species white bean grows on the island at its southern most limit of natural distribution. Australian red cedar was logged from the island, and there is no regeneration. Rainforest regeneration programs have been put in place to encourage local rainforest species and suppress the problem of invasive weeds.
Indigenous AustraliansEdit
It is likely that Indigenous Australians regularly visited the rainforest on the island for varying purposes. Such as the collection of food, medicinal purposes, and the collection of fibres for making bags and nets. The island has spiritual significance to local Indigenous Australians.