Flora and Fauna

The Scenic Rim is one of Australia’s most biologically diverse regions, with around one-fifth of Queensland’s plant species found within its landscapes. The region’s mountains, forests, woodlands and waterways support an extraordinary variety of native plants and animals, many of which are threatened or found only in south-east Queensland.

The Scenic Rim is also home to parts of the internationally recognised Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, including the rainforests of Lamington National Park and Mount Barney National Park. These ancient rainforests are among the oldest surviving subtropical rainforests in the world and provide important habitat for species such as Albert’s lyrebirds, powerful owls and several threatened frog species, alongside unique subtropical rainforest flora including ancient Antarctic beech communities, giant stinging trees and native orchids.

Across the region, a diverse range of landscapes support equally diverse ecosystems. Dry eucalypt forests and open woodlands provide habitat for koalas, glossy black-cockatoos and greater gliders, as well as iconic plant species such as blue gums, ironbarks, spotted gums and grass tree communities. Wetlands, creeks and riparian corridors support turtles, platypus, waterbirds and native fish species, together with river oaks, melaleucas and riparian vine forests. The Scenic Rim’s rugged volcanic peaks, rocky escarpments and cliff environments provide refuge for brush-tailed rock-wallabies and other specialised wildlife adapted to steep, sheltered terrain, alongside hardy flora including hoop pines, cycads and lithophytic plant species that thrive in shallow rocky soils.

While many important natural areas are protected within national parks and reserves, much of the region’s native vegetation and wildlife habitat occurs on private land. Local landholders therefore play an essential role in protecting and restoring the Scenic Rim’s unique environment.

Council works cooperatively with landowners, community groups and other partners to help conserve native vegetation, improve habitat connectivity and support the long-term health of the region’s biodiversity. Find out more about flora and fauna of the region below.

Eucalypts

Eucalypts are symbolic of the Australian landscape. Importantly, many animals rely on them for food and shelter, including threatened species like koalas and greater gliders.

Eucalypts can be difficult to identify for both amateur and professional botanists. Find out more about the 49 known species that occur in the region in our Eucalypts of the Scenic Rim booklet.

Learn more(PDF, 19MB)

Koalas

Koalas are an Australian icon, and also one of our most beloved animals.

Unfortunately, koalas are endangered in Queensland, NSW and the ACT. Helping to maintain koala habitats across the Scenic Rim is crucial to their survival.

Use this page to learn more about koalas and how you can help them.

Koalas

Koalas

Flying-foxes

Flying-foxes are large flying mammals that feed on fruit, flowers, pollen and nectar. They are important to the environment through their essential role in the reproduction, regeneration and dispersal of plants across the landscape.

Four species of flying-foxes are native to mainland Australia. Three of these occur within the Scenic Rim.

  • Black flying-fox (Pteropus alecto)
  • Little red flying-fox (Pteropus scapulatus)
  • Grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)

All species of flying-foxes are protected under the Nature Conservation act 1994.The grey-headed flying-fox is also listed as “vulnerable” under the Commonwealth Environment and Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Flying foxes

Black flying-fox Pteropus alecto (Photo: Judy Leitch)

Flying-Fox Management Strategy

The occurrence of a flying-fox roost can result in many different impacts on the local community. To manage these impacts, Scenic Rim Regional Council has developed a whole-of-shire strategy for the management of flying-foxes. The SRRC Flying-fox Management Strategy outlines Council's management intent for Flying-foxes in the Scenic Rim Region.

DOWNLOAD STRATEGY(PDF, 17MB)

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