LAND CLEARANCE AND CONSERVATION OF INLAND DRY RAIN-FOREST IN NORTH QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

About 28.2% of the area of inland dry rainforest patches has been clea ved between latitudes 17 degrees S and 23 degrees 26.5'S in north Quee nsland. Most of the clearance has occurred in the southern half of thi s study area. A greater proportion of large patches have been cleaved than small patches. Dry rainforest on unconsolidated sediments and sha le has been vastly reduced in area relative to dry rainforest on other substrates. National Parks secure some important remnants, including dry rainforest on alluvium in the south. However, dry rainforest is no t adequately reserved across its geomorphic range of habitats and two out of eight broad floristic groups and seven out of 16 subgroups are not represented in reserves in the study area. Lantana Lantana camara L. and rubber vine Cryptostegia grandiflora Roxb. ex R. Br. are the mo st serious exotic species affecting dry rainforest in the study area. Lantana, at least, can increase the flammability of fire-sensitive dry rainforest vegetation. Provided that further land clearance is restri cted, it is suggested that dry rainforest conservation is compatible w ith cattle grazing given appropriate active management. However, the p reservation of dry rainforest will require management of the broader l andscape, and small reserves that do not contain extensive areas of su rrounding habitat may not be secure in the long term.