Welcome to Norfolk Island Naturally, a website hosted by the Norfolk Island Flora & Fauna Society to provide a focal point for information about the island’s natural assets, their status, their place in the Island’s history and the threats to their survival.
The natural environment is the source of sustenance, provides the backdrop to the daily life of the Island’s residents and underpins the tourist industry. It is a vital component of the great global web of life.
Emeritus Professor Angela Arthington visited the Island in 2025. Prof Arthington consulted widely with residents and experts including CSIRO about the freshwater resources of the Island and coordinated the preparation of a scientific paper which was published in February 2026 in the prestigious international journal Frontiers in Environmental Science. The full citation is:
Arthington A.H., Christian M., Coyne P., Edwards G., Greenwood D., Mills K., Petheram C., Prior S. and Vanderzalm J.L. (2026). “Norfolk Island’s freshwater ecosystems: a case history and exemplar of freshwater biodiversity inventory, threat assessments, ecological recovery and conservation planning.” Front. Environ. Sci., 19 February 2026 Sec. Freshwater Science Volume 13 – 2025.
The paper is available free of charge online (open access) from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1688368. Click here for an abstract/summary.
A marvellous collection of photos of fungi has been digitised by Society Life Member Mark Hallam, assisted by member Jude Andersen and Queensland Mycology Society member Dr Diana Leemon. Click on this link to access the gallery, in four parts.
Two projects to map the nearshore marine habitats around Norfolk Island have been completed. Fishermen and tour operators especially will find this marine mapping useful: Click on the link to the landing page for the two projects, including an interactive map, a Lidar map of seabed bathymetry with marine mapping survey points and two technical reports. There is also a promotional video.
In 2019 scientist Flossy Sperring commenced a project about the Norfolk Island Morepork. This 1h video file (678 MB) is a recording of Flossy’s public talk in January 2024:
On 26 November 2023 members of the Society and the Norfolk Island Historical Society and family members travelled to Phillip Island to erect a commemorative sign at Owen’s Hut. Thanks to NIHS President Mark Hallam for leading the expedition.
Norfolk Island’s largest native land snail Advena campbellii is one of the three Critically Endangered species.
Land snails play essential roles in recycling nutrients in soils and as food for many animals. Around 60 unique land snail species call Norfolk and Phillip Islands home. They face threats from predators like rats and flatworms, and habitat loss. Two species have become extinct while three are Critically Endangered. Following Australian Museum researchers, Junn Kitt Foon of Western Sydney University is undertaking a three-year project. See his summary for further information.
The Society was privileged to host Maxime Paradis (L) and Thaïs Bardisbanian from May 2022 to March 2023. The program brought together knowledge around rodent control, both at Norfolk Island and in other places where controls have been undertaken. Reports of this work will appear on a dedicated page – bookmark that now for future reference. Thaïs and Maxime created a questionnaire about how Islanders manage rodent control. The results will appear in their final report, which is now (February 2026) being edited for publication. They go with our blessings.
The Australian Museum mounted a substantial expedition in 2022-2024. More details on our dedicated page or the Museum’s own website.
Website last updated 22 February 2026