Black Jungle Conservation Reserve
The Black Jungle Conservation Reserve is a protected area in the Northern Territory of Australia near the territorial capital of Darwin. The rural area of Darwin and its development has a contrasting history to the more southern regions and their rural zones. The development of the rural area around Darwin occurred after 1950 as agricultural ventures were trialed. Prior to this the area was tropical savanna with pockets of monsoon rainforest and melaleuca swamps, unchanged for thousands of years, except by the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land who hunted and gathered and managed the landscape with fire. Black Jungle Conservation Reserve is a part of the Adelaide River Coastal Floodplain system which encompasses Black Jungle and Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserves, Fogg Dam, Leaning Tree Lagoon Nature Park, Melacca Swamp and Djukbinj National Park. These Reserves encompass a range of wetland types and form part of the internationally significant Adelaide River floodplain.
These wetland habitats are important due to their high conservation value, supporting a variety of rare and threatened species; large waterbird populations, monsoon rainforests, breeding grounds for the estuarine or Saltwater crocodile, and the highest global recorded biomass of predator and prey species. The wetland systems with its diverse landscapes include sites of ritual, mythological and spiritual significance to the traditional owners and have been a source of abundant traditional foods, medicine plants and other resources. Some of these areas also contain historical World War II sites.
Introduction
The Black Jungle and Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserves are joined by a narrow vegetated corridor approximately 3 km long through horticultural private land. These reserves adjoin the Fogg Dam Reserve forming part of the Adelaide River Coastal Floodplain area. The Black Jungle section contains spring fed monsoon rainforest patches which supports large numbers of wildlife, including populations of threatened species, and provides breeding habitats for wetland birds and saltwater crocodiles. Springs and permanent water sources maintain pockets of rainforest and provide a dry season refuge for waterbirds. The highest density breeding ground in the world for the magpie goose, Anseranus semipalmata, has been recorded near Black Jungle swamp; the conservation reserve being of particular importance in the wet season.Location
The Black Jungle Conservation Reserve is about southeast of Darwin, Northern Territory, located in the Hundred of Hutchison. The reserve has restricted access to the public except via permit for scientific purposes, i.e. research, collection of crocodile eggs.Climate
This region of the Northern Territory is in the dry tropics being distinctly seasonal, having a long dry season from April to November and a shorter wet season from December to March. High rainfall of approximately 1380 mm is recorded annually the most rainfall occurring in January and February. Average daily temperatures are relatively stable throughout the year ranging from 31.2 °C in July and 35.6 °C in October. Night time temperatures average 15 °C in July and 23.8 °C in January and February. Humidity builds from September and remains reasonably high throughout the wet season.Vegetation Structure
The area has been classified as open woodland savannah, with pockets of wet monsoon rainforest and melaleuca swamp and some areas dominated by grass and sedge communities. The over-storey in the woodland is co-dominated by Eucalyptus miniata and E. tetrodonata species. An important feature of wet monsoon rainforest is the availability of permanent moisture; in the form of permanent creeks and springs, dominated by evergreen trees and palms. Generally these patches have a canopy height of up to 30 m, overlying a dense understorey of smaller ground ferns and sedges.Tenure and Land Use
Black Jungle/Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve is situated within the Adelaide River Coastal Floodplain and is a large, seasonally-inundated freshwater system that is traversed by a major and permanent tidal river, comprising a mix of tidal and seasonal wetland habitats. Almost half of the Adelaide River floodplain is pastoral leasehold land, belonging to Woolner and Koolpinyah Station. Approximately 25% of the Adelaide River floodplain is managed for conservation, including Fogg Dam, Lambells Lagoon, Black Jungle, Malacca Swamp, Harrison Dam, Leaning Tree Lagoon and the Djukbinj National Park.History
Prior to European settlement, the region was managed traditionally by Aboriginals using fire-stick farming methods to ‘clear the land of vegetation’. The Aborigines were known for their affinity with the land and a commitment to looking after the country. The name ‘Black Jungle’ first appeared on a plan of the ‘Umpity Doo Homestead’ block, Agricultural Lease No 28 in 1910. ‘The Jungle’, as it was commonly referred to, was part of Koolpinyah Station granted to the Herbert brothers in 1907, by their father Government Resident Charles Edward Herbert; who was a senior member of parliament and judge in the Northern Territory between 1905 and 1910. Herbert had come to Darwin in 1884 and was keen to explore live cattle exports on the station, which at the time included Humpty Doo station. In 1907 Koolpinyah Station was one of the largest and most significant cattle stations in the Northern Territory; spanning a vast area between Howards Springs to the west and the Adelaide River to the east.Koolpinyah Station was created when Herbert applied for leases over the area in the names of his sons. The Koolpinyah Station lease was taken up by the Herbert brothers in 1908 for mixed farming. Resident Herbert was instrumental in adapting land regulations for the industry believing that small mixed farming had great potential for the Territory. The station lease was defined as a mixed farm of buffalo, goats, tropical fruit and cattle. The Herbert brothers established their homestead at a waterhole known by the local Aborigines as "Gulpinyah". They hunted and gathered wild cattle on the station according to seasonal conditions and market demand. Aboriginal elders were welcomed by the Herberts who shared food supplies and money with them, when it was available and the elders were also allowed to camp on the property. Botanist FAK Bleeser collected many palms in ‘The Jungle’ in the 1930s.
In 1983, the Territory Government prepared the 1983 Darwin Rural Area Plan. While agriculture was a defined use, there was no specific agricultural or rural zone. By 1990, the government had undertaken an investigation of lands suitable for horticulture with access to groundwater at Lambells Lagoon and Berry Springs. Lambells Lagoon and lots in Acacia Hills were exchanged as land swaps for the Malacca Swamp and Black Jungle, which became conservation reserves, excised from the Koolpinyah pastoral station. These land swaps occurred prior to the Native Title Act 1993 which came into operation in January 1994.
Conservation
There are large areas of land set aside for the protection of conservation and biodiversity in the Top End of the Northern Territory; including Black Jungle, Malacca Swamp and the mangroves lining the Litchfield waterways. There are also large parcels of land set aside to protect the water catchments. Salmon suggests that conservation of these areas did not emerge from a desire to protect the landscape; but from the need to protect the aquifers. Groundwater extraction in horticultural areas on the margin of the floodplain, impacts on freshwater springs and rainforest patches such as those around Black Jungle Swamp. Conservation management of Black Jungle was established in 1986 and is controlled by the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission. Public access is strictly by permit only which is usually only granted for scientific research and crocodile egg harvesting. It has been recorded that the reserve is sometimes illegally entered, usually by hunters in vehicles, or by ‘recreational’ vehicle users who damage fences and gates to gain entry to the reserve.Joint Management
The Register of Indigenous Land Use Agreements describes the area as ‘the parcel of land near Black Jungle in the Hundred of Hutchison, Northern Territory of Australia, containing an area of 2006 hectares more or less being Section 8 more particularly delineated on Survey Plan S83/230A lodged with the Surveyor General, Darwin’. Joint management between Northern Territory Government Parks and Wildlife Commission, and traditional Aboriginal owners has been operating in the Territory since 1981 to manage parks within the NT. The ILUA area falls within the Yilli Rreung Regional Council ATSIC area and the Litchfield Shire Council. In 2003, the Parks and Reserves Act was passed so that outstanding land and native title claims affecting twenty-seven parks and reserves could be settled. In 2005 the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act was amended, setting out the principles and objectives for joint management for 27 'framework' parks.Significant rare species
Black Jungle Reserve, Black Jungle Palm Site and the Black Jungle Orchid Site are included on the Register of the National Estate, for their natural values. Four conservation dependent species, including two which are listed in the IUCN Red List, are also found within the reserve and are listed below:''Luisia trsitis'', Hook.f., orchid
This species is listed as Vulnerable by IUCN as less than 1000 mature individuals occupy an area of less than 20 km2. This epiphytic orchid species grows in straggly clumps and has wiry, erect or semi-pendulous slender stems up to 30 cm long. The roots are thick and cord-like, approx. 5 mm wide. The inflorescence raceme is up to 15 cm long with groups of 1 to 3 flowers of green or yellow-green, and a dark red to burgundy centre, approximately 1 cm wide. Flowering occurs from November to December, but has also been recorded in February. L. tristis is found on the margins of monsoon vine forest and rainforest in areas of relatively bright light and is associated with other epiphytes. This orchid has been recorded in Bankers Jungle and Black Creek, within the Black Jungle Conservation Reserve, Koolpinyah Station and Melville Island. These are the only known mainland records of this species. Both Bankers Jungle and Black Creek are spring-fed monsoon rainforest patches on the margin of the Adelaide River Floodplain.''Ptychosperma bleeseri'' Burret, Darwin palm
Not yet assessed by the IUCN.The species is listed as endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and specially protected under sections 45 and 47 of the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1993.
The palm is found in only eight small rainforest patches southeast of Darwin, within the Adelaide and Howard River catchments. Palm habitats occur in an area 30 km long by 20 km wide forming a total area of 40 ha. Three of the eight patches occur within the Black Jungle Conservation Reserve: Black Creek, portions of rainforest at Crocodile Creek and BJ3 and are listed in the Register of the National Estate under the Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975. The remaining patches occur on freehold or pastoral lease land. P. bleeseri, commonly known as the Darwin Palm, has a slender growth habit with a height of up to 12 m. The multiple green trunks are 3 – 6 cm wide and the feathery fronds have leaflets that grow up to 1.5 m long. Flowering spikes are produced in the dry season, April to August, with the main fruiting period occurring between August and December. Threats to the species include invasion by weeds, habitat degradation caused by feral animals including grazing of seedling by pigs and changes in water quantity and quality due to changing land use in the catchment. Intense fires can also threaten regeneration by eliminating adult plants and preventing seedling establishment.
''Typhonium johnsonianum'' A. Hay and S.M. Taylor
Family: Aracea Order: AralesRed List Category and criteria: Vulnerable D1 and 2
T. johnsonianum is known only by 2 specimens collected in 1993 and 1994, both within the Black Jungle Reserve in the Northern Territory, Australia. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy for the species have been estimated as less than 100 and 10 km2 respectively. This species is known exclusively from the reserve, surrounding threats such as expanding agriculture, overgrazing and mining are not likely to affect this species. Although T. johnsonianum was found in wet monsoon forest with a high water table during the wet season, conditions are much different in the dry season and fires, therefore, could be a serious threat, considering the restricted area and number of individuals currently known. T. johnsonianum is therefore listed as Vulnerable under D1 and D2. The species is found in open grassy clearings between Acacia auriculiformis and Melaleuca forest with Lophostemon lactifluus near the flood plain edge, in sandy well drained soil with seasonal inundation.
''Nososticta koolpinyah'', (Order: Odonata) Koolpinyah threadtail dragonfly
Watson and Theischinger 1984.Data Deficient ver 3.1
The species is endemic to Australia and the range includes Black Jungle, Koolpinyah Station and Melville Island in the Northern Territory and is considered as a rare to scarce species which frequents freshwater streams and terrestrial habitats. Threats to this dragonfly include farming, agro-industry and mining which is believed to negatively impact on the habitat of this species.