Since about 2008 on the singularly beautiful island paradise of K’gari, the pandanus palm (Pandanus tectorius) has been plagued by the pandanus leaf hopper (Jamella australiae).

Infestations of this sap-sucking insect occur most prominently on the east coast of the island, with death tolls of the plants estimated to be around 50,000 as of 2019, and steadily rising.

With the 2020 Duling bushfires destroying over 70,000 hectares of the island, the pandanus palm population took another drastic hit. In collaboration with and funded directly by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) of the Great Sandy National Park region, the Watch Dog of K’gari, FIDO (Fraser Island Defenders Organisation) have taken up the challenge of revegetating the pandanus palm along the east coast, focusing our efforts primarily between Eurong and Red Canyon.

Beginning in March of 2023, Isaac Neisler has now led four groups of dedicated volunteers onto the island to begin the restoration of the Pandanus palms. Across these four trips, the teams have planted out 691 Pandanus plants over 19 different sites, collected and laid 3,314 Pandanus seeds in the nursery at the QPWS Eurong Station and so far, cultivated a stock of 474 young Pandanus plants ready to go in the ground soon.

There is still a lot of meaningful work to be done to help protect this integral part of the K’gari ecosystem, and with three more trips planned this financial year, FIDO is going to give our everything to get it done.

Article contributed by Isaac Neisler, FIDO – Watch Dog for K’gari