Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00002:front:0:p50
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00002
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 146082–148979

plant and animal species from changes in climate and sea level, and allowed for the persistence of many plant and animal species of extremely ancient lineages, such as the biogeographic relict northern brown pine Podocarpus grayae. The stone country has also provided refuge for species that cope poorly with fire. This capacity to provide refugia will become more important under changing climatic conditions.

Due to its large size and isolation from similar environments, the stone country also supports many endemic species (see figures 10 and 11). The rugged topography limits the capacity of some species, such as trigger plants Stylidium sp., to disperse easily, and there is a particularly high rate of endemism in this region of the park due to the isolation and protection that the terrain of the stone country provides. Consequently, the stone country is one of Australia's most important sites for the conservation of endemic species, and appropriate management is essential for their survival.

The stone country extends over approximately 25 per cent of the park area and contains sheer escarpments, deep narrow gorges, spectacular waterfalls, and the headwaters of some of the largest river systems in the Northern Territory. While it varies from vertical cliffs in the Jim Jim Falls area to stepped cliffs and isolated outliers in the north, including Ubirr and Burrungkuy (Nourlangie), the highest point is only about 400 metres above sea level. Bininj/Mungguy have a long history of camping in stone country, painting art in rock shelters, burning country and collecting plants and animals for food and medicinal purposes.

       Figure 10: Endemic plants in the Northern Territory

       Figure 11: Endemic vertebrates in the Northern Territory

Parts of the stone country are harsh, with exposed rock, little or no soil, and soils with low fertility. As a result, the plants and animals that live in this habitat have many adaptations to assist survival in such conditions. The stone country also provides an extraordinary diversity of landscapes and microclimates, at scales ranging from the shelter offered by boulders and cave systems to the steep-sided gorges and waterfalls that provide specialised environments for many moisture-loving plants, and in which tall rainforest has developed. Water seeping from rock walls and spreading shady trees provide an important micro-environment for plants and animals. Many animals rely on these areas for refuge during the drier months and, over a longer history, during periods of otherwise adverse climate. These conditions have all led to the stone country being an extremely important area for plant and animal endemism and diversity.

Values and condition

The stone country:

    * is extremely rich in endemic (restricted) plants and animals, and at least 160 plant species occur nowhere else in the world. Endemic animals