Story: Some plants on the island
Episode: 2
Presenter: Simon Holloway
Air Date: 15 March 2025

Simon explores Palm Island, a tropical haven with diverse forests, rich soil, and culturally vital flora, protected by local rangers.

• Palm Island in Far North Queensland boasts a lush, tropical environment, acting as a vast open-air arboretum with consistent rainfall and refreshing sea breezes.
• Despite its small size, Palm Island has nine distinct forest types, including four types of rainforest and five other forests: eucalypt, mangrove, acacia, melaleuca, and casuarina.
• Unlike many islands with poor soil, Palm Island has volcanic soil, supporting a wide variety of plant life, making it exceptionally rich in biodiversity.
• Known as the “tree of life,” the coconut tree provides shade, food, drink, oil, fuel, tools, and materials for shelter, demonstrating its deep significance to Indigenous communities for thousands of years.
• Found only in Far North Queensland, this striking tree is essential to Indigenous culture, with its long, spiky leaves traditionally used for weaving mats, bags, and fish traps.
• Local rangers actively manage invasive species like guinea grass and lantana to protect native flora, ensuring a sustainable balance between nature and community life.

For more information, head to:
www.palmcouncil.qld.gov.au/