Climate Change, Sea Level Rise and Coastcare
Faced with concerning sea level rise predictions, Manning Coastcare is being proactive to help protect our littoral rainforest remnants.
Capacity building - LEP23_026_LLC
The issue
Manning Coastcare has been established and active for 30 years this year and the protection and regeneration of the “string of pearls” of littoral rainforest remnants along our coastline has been a big focus for the group from the start. Unfortunately, MidCoast Council has recently completed predicted sea level rise mapping for our coastline and it is clear that many areas of our already-threatened littoral rainforest are under at serious risk of being lost completely in the coming decades.
The solution
Manning Coastcare is determined to be proactive in the face of this existential threat to our littoral rainforest threatened ecosystem and not let the past 3 decades of hard work go to waste.
As some of the land currently supporting our existing areas of littoral rainforest may be lost to inundation and erosion, it is clear that, where possible, the rainforest must be allowed and supported to retreat inland, to higher ground, and/or to land with solid rock substrate. Areas where this is possible have been identified by Manning Coastcare, with the support of MidCoast Council and plans are being developed to make this possible. Work is already underway at a site in Wallabi Point to allow natural regeneration of rainforest species to take place, as well as supplemental planting.
Manning Coastcare is also working with MidCoast Council to help develop the Vegetation Management Plan coming out of their upcoming Coastal Management Plan. This will include items such as the planting of locally native rainforest species on public and private land to help support the genetic diversity and regenerative potential for littoral rainforest in the area.
The impact
This will undoubtedly be a decades-long process for Manning Coastcare, but many members feel very positive about being on the front foot and having a plan in place to manage these future threats.
Key facts
- Manning Coastcare is being proactive in the face of an existential threat to littoral rainforest.