Kurrimine Beach Conservation Park - QLD

Kurrimine Beach was once densely forested but now only small patches of remnant forest remain, the rest having been cleared for agriculture and housing. Although the sandy soils have a low nutrient content, dense forest has been able to grow here; fallen leaves, branches and dead trees quickly break down in the tropical climate to provide nutrients and minerals for the next generation of plants.

Before cyclone Larry hit this part of the coast in March 2006 the forest in the conservation park featured some tall trees, such as native nutmeg (Myristica insipida) and milky pine (Alstonia scholaris). A few of these remain, but most have lost lateral branches; it will take many years for these to regrow and the canopy to reform. Buttressed roots may have helped some of these trees to withstand the force of the wind.

Hardy pandanus trees and rare arenga palms (Arenga australasica) remain at a lower level. The arenga palm is an endemic species considered vulnerable to extinction; it grows only in coastal areas and adjacent islands in this part of Queensland and in the Northern Territory. It produces clumps of slender trunks, up to 20m in height, each of which dies after flowering and fruiting.