The Orara Valley Lowland Subtropical Rainforest and River Flat Eucalypt Forest, both Endangered Ecological Communities, are important habitat for several vulnerable and endangered species, including the Wompoo Fruit Dove, Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Bush Hen, and Eastern Freshwater Cod.
Healthy riparian vegetation helps maintain good habitat for aquatic animals, including insects and the fish that feed on them. Riparian vegetation provides important food sources including leaves, fruit and stems that fall into the stream.
The roots of vegetation provide essential habitat by protecting overhanging banks, while large branches or trunks that fall into the water also provide shelter from predators and a diversity of flow speeds.
Riverbank vegetation has an amazing capacity to regenerate once invasive weeds are managed resulting in light reaching the ground to trigger growth of seedlings from the dormant seed bank within the soil. Seed is also carried by birds, other animals, and the wind, to provide more viable seed to regeneration sites.
Even cleared or mown areas can sometimes regenerate if the original soil profile is intact.
The project aims to gradually manage weeds to allow natural regeneration. If natural regeneration does not occur on its own, then planting of locally indigenous plant species is carried out. Plant stock for the project is propagated from local seed sources to maintain the genetic diversity and the integrity of Orara Valley vegetation. The project works on sites that reinforce native vegetation remnants and vegetation corridors throughout the catchment.