Dorrigo National Park in New South Wales is located east of the town of Dorrigo. Dorrigo National Park rainforests experiences a sub-tropical climate. Due to its beautiful climate this area is home to many native plants and animals. The Yellow-Bellied Glider and the Black Booyong are essential to maintain the biodiversity in Dorrigo National Park. But however there are many threats to this natural environment such as toxic runoff and tourism. So as to ensure the survival of the Dorrigo National Park and help native flora and fauna thrive in their national habitat citizens should find solutions to these human threats.
Dorrigo National Park is a national park an hour away from Coffs Harbour. Being one of the World Heritage Sites, Dorrigo National Park stretches over 119 kilometres square. Dorrigo National Park varies from warm to mild to cool, depending on the time of year you visit. The area has the highest amount of rainfall from January to May with March having the most rainfall. Coincidentally this is also the time it has higher temperature. The annual average temperature varies from 10 degrees Celsius in July to 25 degrees Celsius in January. The average rainfall for the area is 2,300 mm. Dorrigo National Park has sub-tropical climate rather than tropical due to its distance from the Equator. The closer the location to the Equator the warmer it would be and so the areas near the Equator receive high rainfall.
The Dorrigo National Park is the home to many species of fauna and flora. It is the home to 30 species of mammals, 128 species of birds, 44 species of amphibians/reptiles and some of these species are considered threatened. The Dorrigo National Park is the perfect habitat of the yellow-bellied glider, endemic to Australia. The yellow-belied glider is facing concern due to threats to its habitat and is thus listed as vulnerable. The yellow-bellied glider's diet consists of nectar, honeydew, insects, pollen and different types of tree sap, which it obtains by biting a 'V' shape wedge/notch into the bark of the tree also helping the flow of gum and sap. The yellow-bellied glider easily faces a fast decline once endangered as it is considered uncommon to rare and doesn’t produce young usually.
The Dorrigo National Park is also home to many native flora as it has small areas with dry, warm temperate and cool temperate climates. And to the black booyong which has a hollow, propped up trunk and rough, dark grey bark. It is often covered with the red-fruited pothos vine, and acts as a host for orchids and ferns allowing them to grow and flourish. It is also home for several plants and animals while providing shade. The black booyong is essential for the growth of many flora and fauna around it as it is habitat of many.
Toxic run-off is a huge threat the biodiversity of Dorrigo National Park. Due to mining companies polluting water with antimony and other contaminants, the water being used for fish, drinking, flora and fauna to live on was made toxic. The wastes and chemicals from mining when used by innocent animals and plants causes long-term environmental changes some of which are yet to be identified putting many species at risk.
Another huge threat addressed earlier on is the tourist visiting the national park. They cause erosion by short-cutting on tracks trampling various plant species carelessly, littering, feeding wildlife, disturbing animal habitat, damaging vegetation and indirectly introducing foreign plants, seeds, animals and diseases. These cause destruction and interfere with the peaceful atmosphere that the animals and vegetation of Dorrigo
