THE NATURAL GRASSLANDS OF CAPE-YORK PENINSULA, AUSTRALIA - DESCRIPTION, DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION STATUS

The grasslands of Cape York Peninsula in monsoonal north Queensland, A ustralia represent extensive examples of this formation that have been relatively undisturbed by agricultural development. Fourteen grasslan d units are mapped on the basis of their relationship to soils and lan dforms. Nine grassland communities were derived from a floristic analy sis of the site data, and are related to the mapping units. Half of th e grassland map units have less than 10% of their area protected in co nservation reserves. The annual forb sickle pod Senna obtusifolia is c onsidered to be the most serious exotic weed at present, because it do minates lar ge areas of unreserved Imperata cylindrica grassland, a co mmunity that does not occur extensively elsewhere in Australia. Wetlan d exotic grasses that are being actively promoted for agriculture pose a potential threat to the Oryza grasslands that occur over large area s of the seasonally flooded coastal plains. It is recommended that fur ther exotic pasture species should not be grown on Cape York Peninsula unless their containment can be assured. Same grasslands appear to be maintained by fire. Data are provided that demonstrate the conversion of some grassland types to woodlands in the last 30 years, and it see ms probable that the change is a result of altered fire regimes. Even if adequately reserved, appropriate fire management is required to mai ntain the grasslands of Cape York Peninsula. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.