Known as the "End of the World" due to its geographical isolation from the mainland, Australia's Freycinet National Park is one of the top ten best beaches in the world with its beautiful scenery, pleasant climate and rich produce.
Keynote Speaker: Professor Zhu Yongjie of Beijing Forestry University
Freycigna National Park is a national park on the Australian island of Tasmania, also known as the "End of the World" due to its geographical isolation from the mainland, which has beautiful scenery, pleasant climate and rich products. Most of the park is undisturbed by human activities, the customs are simple, and nature still dominates everything on the island. The wide variety of rare and endemic species of flora and fauna that exist here has a unique natural landscape that is of particular importance in nature conservation and has been voted one of the top ten best beaches in the world by several tourism sectors.
Far from the end of the world on the continent
Tasmania is located in the south of mainland Australia. The Bass Strait of Tasmania separates it from mainland Australia, connecting the Tasman Sea to the east and the Indian Ocean to the southwest, 240 kilometres south of Melbourne. The island's climate is humid and stable, with hot and dry summers and mild and rainy winters, with a climate similar to the Mediterranean climate, with the rest of the year averaging 600 mm of rainfall and an average of more than 300 days of sunshine.
Tasmania is Australia's only island state and is Australia's smallest state. Isolated from mainland Australia, parts are still undeveloped virgin forests, untouched rivers and wet, cold canyons. Much of western Tasmania is home to virgin forests that are inaccessible to humans. 40% of the island is classified as a national park and nature reserve.
Located on Tasmania's east coast, 125 km northeast of Hobart, Freycinet National Park is Tasmania's oldest park. The park was built in 1916 and is named after the French navigator Louise Fischiner. The park occupies most of the Freycinet Peninsula, and the nearest town is Swan Sea, also known as the "Swan Sea". Along the rugged coastline is the beautiful Bay of Wayne Grasse, also known as the Grape Wine Glass Bay by the Chinese.
Due to its stable and pollution-free climate, Tasmania's coast is home to thousands of plankton that glow blue at night with the waves, and if fish or people stir the water, the blue fluorescence also illuminates the beach. These plankton groups move with the temperature of the seawater and can also move with the movement of the seawater.
This natural phenomenon is found in many parts of the world, from the south coast of Sweden in the north to the coast of Tasmania in Australia in the south. These blue fluorescent plankton stain people's hands and feet with the seawater, and will also emit blue fluorescence, which makes people have a fantastic feeling and seems to have a biological mutation. It is also a wonderful natural phenomenon that attracts tourists.
Unique biodiversity
More than 500 species of plants have been recorded in Freycina National Park and more than 80 species of orchids have been found. Much of the area is dominated by dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands, with coastal bushes on the west side of the lagoon consisting of long-leaved acacia trees, and eucalyptus and eucalyptus sloping in the east occupying arid woodlands. Banksberg, Peppermint, Streptomyces, Melaleuca and Calyx grow in the Lagoon area.
Freycinet National Park is home to 49 species endemic to Tasmania. Endemic mammals include broom-tailed possums, ring-tailed possums, honey kangaroos, eastern opossums, calenops, echidnas, wombats, New hollands, swamp rats, water rats, Geis kangaroos, and the long-nosed possum. Tasmanian Tasmanian Tasmanian Tasmanian Devils used to be common in parks, but their density has decreased significantly due to the effects of Tasmanian Devil's facial tumor disease. A large number of cetaceans live off the coast of Tasmania, such as southern right whales, humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins, all of which use the bay to feed, give birth or rest.
The red-necked kangaroo, also known as the Bennett wallaby, is one of the most common animals in Freycinet National Park. Visitors can see them grazing on low-lying vegetation such as meadows and are very friendly. They often gather around tourists in groups. Another common species is the Oriental Possum, a marsupial carnivore that has previously appeared on the Australian mainland but is now only found in Tasmania. Tasmanian wallabies are also extinct on the mainland, and they are still common in Freycinet National Park, generally coming out at night to feed. Echidnas can be seen during the day foraging in the litter of the forest, or looking for ants or other food sources in coastal vegetation. The eastern pygmy possum and the pygmy possum are listed as vulnerable species in several states across mainland Australia, but are not listed in Tasmania. They are easy to spot in the park. The New Holland pseudo-new rat is listed as an endangered species and is found only in Freycinet National Park.
In Freycina National Park, many reptiles and amphibians such as lizards, stone dragons and snakes are also found, and the beautiful stone dragon, Tasmanian tree stone dragon and female oak dragon are all endemic to Tasmania. Other species also found so far include the spotted blue-tongued lizard, the mountain dragon and the lowland copperhead snake. The Tasmanian frog is also endemic to Tasmania and can be found in several streams.
The park is home to many species of birds, with larger carnivorous birds including palm falcons and white-bellied sea eagles. The smaller birds are the ornate fairy wren and the flame mockingbird, as well as the black-browed albatross, the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, the white-fronted tern, the Australian fairy tern and the swift parrot.
Facing the threat of species invasion
Dead fungus at the top has been found in the forest of the park, and many plants in Freycigna National Park are vulnerable to its effects, while also putting rare and endangered species at risk of extinction. Tasmanian devil facial tumors are a contagious cancer that has become a serious threat to the Tasmanian Tasmanian devil population, causing a decline in the population of Tasmanian tasmanian devils. In 2008, the Tasmanian devil was listed as endangered. Studies have shown that the reproductive age of Tasmanian devils is declining, which also proves that there is uncertainty in the continued survival of the species, and most females now have only one chance to reproduce, compared with the previously usually 3 offspring per year after the age of two.
As recreational and tourist activities in natural areas become more popular, the survival of flora and fauna in the park is under increasing pressure. The construction and maintenance of roads, tracks, lookouts and various accommodation facilities can have many negative impacts. Species such as the Tasmanian Devil and the Eastern Tasmanian Mustela have been found to have been killed by cars on the road.
In addition, activities such as jungle trekking and horseback riding may also alter soil properties and spread disease, directly and indirectly posing a risk of damaging vegetation and habitats. Visitors to the park may also inadvertently bring weed seeds to clothing or equipment. The increasing number of alien organisms that tourists carry, which may include bacteria and viruses, may pose an incalculable and serious threat to Tasmania's biodiversity. A recent study showed that with the advent of feral cats, the observed Population of Geyschi Kangaroo has been at risk of declining. The study also found that some native Australian mammals are susceptible to toxoplasmosis carried by domestic cats.
Management program guidance and care
As directed by the National Parks and Wildlife Act of 1970, Freycigna National Park developed a park management plan in 2000. This plan outlines the park's goals and vision with a focus on protecting species diversity and ecosystems. In 2004, the plan was revised in response to the changing environment and updated again in 2015.
A number of conservation markers are used in Freycina National Park to make people aware that feeding native species not only makes animals more vulnerable to predators, but also leads to disease. One study showed that most people have seen information related to "protect wildlife" programs, and people are becoming increasingly aware of not feeding wild animals.
In particular, the conservation plan notes that the protected areas established in Tasmania are areas of poor land and are not suitable for agricultural farming. In the management plan of Freycinet National Park, it is clearly stated that the area is not suitable for agricultural cultivation or other economically beneficial activities, and it is explicitly prohibited to reclaim land and graze livestock in the park. 80%-90% of the native vegetation of Freycinet National Park is still intact.
Although flora and fauna still face risks to survival, the park's multifaceted management measures have increased the chances of survival for these species. Government agencies regularly monitor species' response to any threat. Freycinet wax flower is an endangered species in Australia, currently only found on the Freycina Peninsula, mainly distributed in the granite of Freycinet National Park, only 3 plants were originally recorded, after years of conservation efforts, more than 100 individuals have been found.
Freycinet National Park provides an important habitat for the protection of swift parrots. The species moves along the east coast of Tasmania, with eucalyptus tails being one of its main food sources. Swift parrots breed on ridges, eucalyptus groves and forest slopes 10 km from the coastline. Similarly, it is important for the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle and the white-bellied sea eagle to survive in the same habitat. Parks prevent plantations and environmentally altered urbanization construction projects, which help provide suitable habitat for both species.
The areas within the park are also of great cultural significance, and the sites of indigenous peoples and European immigrants have been protected, which have also become the cultural landscape of park tourism. Judging from the current situation, it is also necessary to investigate the human history, and more new information should be obtained on the situation of some watershed areas.