The Yuwi Coastal Wetland Restoration Project responds to ecological decline within a tidal wetland in Cape Palmerston NP. A bund constructed in the 1960s for ponded pasture blocked tidal inflows, transforming the system into a freshwater wetland dominated by invasive Olive Hymenachne. This caused substantial loss of ecological function. For decades, Yuwi Traditional Custodians and QPWS have sought to heal this site, creating an opportunity to restore natural processes and rehabilitate blue carbon ecosystems that sequester carbon and may support future participation in emerging carbon credit markets.
Co‑designed by Greening Australia and Yuwi, the project integrated Traditional Knowledge with a multidisciplinary scientific program. Over 16 months, hydrodynamic modelling, ASS assessments, ecological surveys, cultural heritage investigations, and extensive on‑Country fieldwork informed restoration design. This collaborative process identified reinstatement of tidal flows as the most effective mechanism to control hymenachne and restore coastal wetland function.
The project delivered hydrological models, ecological and cultural datasets, mapped assessments, and a long‑term restoration plan. In November 2025, a seven‑metre breach was excavated in the bund. The first December high tide reintroduced saltwater, triggering hymenachne dieback and return of tidal processes. Six hectares are expected to transition back to mangrove and saltmarsh by 2057.
This work restores ecosystem function, diversifies habitat, strengthens Yuwi governance, supports Indigenous employment, and reinstates conditions for long‑term carbon sequestration. It provides a replicable model for First Nations–led catchment restoration across Australia.