Norfolk Island is now home to an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT) Showcase, which was launched on June 16, 2006. The showcase, located on portion 142b Norfolk Island, is an 11ha property on the western side of the Island and is a hands-on, community based project.
The flora and fauna of Norfolk Island has undergone massive change since human settlement has occurred, with most of the native forests being cleared. This means that the unique, mixed species sub-tropical rainforest that was previously a widespread eco-system has all but been wiped out outside the national parks. The Mission road catchment, where this project is located has been heavily cleared for agricultural purposes, particularly grazing and crop farming. As well as impacts on flora and fauna, impacts on hydrology have also been noted, including the disappearance of natural wetlands, which also serve as a source of local aquifer recharge.
The primary goal of this project is to restore the site’s native subtropical rainforest vegetation and natural wetlands to increase biodiversity and fauna habitat as well as improve ground water reserves in the area. The project will utilise methods in-line with the ‘best practice’ methodology for sustainable and organic land management, including natural sequence farming and also incorporating sustainable technology such as solar.
The approach of the project is being promoted by the local Environment Officer as one of the guiding principles for natural resource management on the island, as the scarcity of financial, technological and human resources in isolated communities will always be an issue. Therefore, by encouraging and supporting the community in these endeavours and having a ‘showcase’ demonstration project such as this, skills and knowledge are transferred between individuals at a practical level. The owner of portion 142b has always been passionate about caring for Norfolk Island’s environment and sees this project as an opportunity of sharing this with the community and introducing sustainable land management to Norfolk Island on a broader basis.
Partially funded by the Commonwealth of Australia Envirofund, the EPCOT showcase will provide research to Governments, policy makers and individuals at all levels. It will become an Educational Research Centre for international organisations in the Pacific and will lead the way for further experiments in the region.
> Stage One of EPCOT is underway! Click here to find out more!
> EPCOT Goals Click here to read the goals of EPCOT
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