Over time the sea eroded 90 per cent of the original volcano, leaving the islands that today comprise the Lord Howe Island Group. The central low-lying area provides a marked contrast to the adjacent mountains and northern hills. There are 241 different species of native plants, of which 105 are endemic to Lord Howe Island. Most of the island is dominated by rainforests and palm forest.
Grasslands occur on the more exposed areas of Lord Howe Island and on the offshore islands.
Most of the main island and all of the offshore islands are included in the Lord Howe Island Permanent Park Preserve. The islands support extensive colonies of nesting seabirds and at least 168 bird species have been recorded either living at, or visiting, the islands. A number of these are rare or endangered. The endangered woodhen is one of the world's rarest bird species. During this century the population of woodhens experienced a significant decline in numbers as a result of hunting by humans, habitat loss and disturbance by feral animals.