Noosa is a world biosphere site. Noosa
Council has found 626 native vertebrate species within
Noosa Shire including 30 amphibians, 75 reptiles,
304 birds, 63 mammals, 33 primarily fresh water
fish and 121 marine fish species. The same study
found 79 butterflies and 9 freshwater crustaceans.
This is considered to be a high level of fauna
diversity and due to the extensive natural vegetation
and broad range of habitats.
Most of the rain falls into either the Noosa River
Catchment which covers 62% of the Shire or Mary
River Catchment covering 36% of the Shire. The
Noosa River flows south from behind the coastal
dunes of the Cooloola National Park and enters
the sea just north of the main beach. Most of
the upper river is protected as National park
or Conservation Reserve and this has helped in
the river receiving an ‘A’ rating
from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Vegetation types consists of Eucalypt Forest
at 53%; Melaleuca Communities 16%; Rainforest
12%; Plantations 8%; Heathlands 7%; Dunes and
Foreshores 3% and Mangroves 2%
In the early days mining was the main threat
to Noosa's environment. In the mid 70's sand mining
in Noosa Shire had ceased saving the valuable
beaches, sand islands and san patches that make
up the north shore area of Noosa. |
