Coocumbac Island Nature Reserve

The Coocumbac Island Nature Reserve is a protected nature reserve located in the midnorth coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The 6ha reserve, situated on the Manning River near, is a rare example of a subtropical lowland rainforest.Much of Australia's lowland sub tropical rainforest was cleared for housing and agriculture, leaving only small patches remaining, such as at Coocumbac Island. The soils are derived from the Manning River. These alluvial soils are enriched from basaltic deposits upstream at Barrington Tops and the Comboyne and Bulga plateaux. The average annual rainfall in nearby Taree is.FeaturesFaunaThe most obvious mammal species on the island is the grey-headed flying fox, whose numbers may reach five thousand at certain times of the year. Noteworthy birds occurring here include the osprey and wompoo fruit-dove.FloraThe ecological community on the island is known as the ‘large fig - giant stinger tree association. The genus ficus is well represented, with all the strangler figs of this latitude present. Particularly prominent are the large Moreton Bay figs. Other figs are deciduous fig, strangler fig, small leaf fig and watery fig. The town of Taree, takes its name from another of the local figs, the sandpaper fig.