Safeguarding Lord Howe Island world heritage area

Key information

This project in the Lord Howe Island world heritage area will:

• deliver weed control work to support conservation of the Little Mountain Palm population on Lord Howe Island.
• improve community understanding and practices around biosecurity and weed threats to protect the unique flora and fauna of this world heritage area.

Project background

The Safeguarding Lord Howe Island world heritage area project builds on previous successes, such as the eradication of rodents and African big-headed ants, as well as myrtle rust control and 20 years of weed management.

The results from the combined effort of the Lord Howe Island Board, the NSW Government's Saving Our Species (SOS) program, NSW Environmental Trust, North Coast Local Land Services, the  Lord Howe Island community and, now, the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust, demonstrate the value of partnership in biodiversity and biosecurity management.

• There are 28 islands in the Lord Howe Island Group world heritage area.
• The island group covers 1455 ha, 75% of which is protected as part of the Permanent Park Preserve.
• The critically endangered Little Mountain Palm (Lepidorrhachis mooreana), which is set to benefit from the work, is found only on the summit of Mt Gower on Lord Howe Island.
• About half of all species on Lord Howe Island are endemic to the island.

Key threats to this world heritage area include:

• invasive species, including weeds
• biosecurity breaches
• climate change.

Project objectives 

Removing invasive weeds from natural areas to help protect Lord Howe Island's unique plants and animals. This will ensure they can thrive and prevent further environmental decline.  

Assist with the recovery and resilience of priority species and natural assets in the Lord Howe Island world heritage area.

The work helps to preserve a range of species. This includes the critically endangered Little Mountain Palm that is only found in Australia at the summit of Mt Gower.

Project delivery

Work is being delivered at 9 sites across the island group and includes:

• targeted removal of ecosystem-damaging, invasive weeds across the island
• strategies for remote area weed management
• installation of a climate sensor network to record climate related threats to the Little Mountain Palm and identify potential habitat areas on the island
• assisting the community and visitors to Lord Howe Island to understand the importance of biosecurity for protecting the island's unique plants and animals. 

Project timeline

2024: 

• contractor engagement
• work activity planning
• initial weed control works. 

2025–28:

• initial and follow-up weed control works
• community education workshops and skills and knowledge surveys
• establishing and monitoring climate sensor network
• project close (30 June 2028) and outcomes reporting. 

Work underway

Contracts have been signed and delivery of weed control works and baseline data monitoring is underway with the Lord Howe Island Board. 

How to get involved 

Opportunities for interest groups and the broader community to engage with the work will be promoted through our social media sites, e-newsletters and local media as they become available. 

Partnerships and funding

Key delivery partners working alongside Local Land Services are:

• the Lord Howe Island Board
• government partner agencies including NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water–Biodiversity, Conservation and Science Group. 

This project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by North Coast Local Land Services, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.