The park also embraces the Labillardiere Peninsula, named in honour of the French botanist Jacques Labillardière, author of the first general flora of Australia and a member of Bruni d'Entrecasteaux's expedition.

[3] South Bruny was declared a National Park in 1997, mostly for its coastal scenery, as well as Aboriginal and historic heritage and to protect a number of threatened species endemic to the area.

[6] Several other heath species are classified as rare and vulnerable including the juniper wattle (Acacia ulicifolia), variable smoke bush (Conospermum hookeri), and the yellow onion orchid (Microtis atrata).

[2] The eyebright is a small flowering perennial occurring in open woodland and is highly vulnerable to disturbance where it exists on vehicle tracks and grazing areas.

Spotted-tail quolls (Dasyurus maculates), Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii), and common wombats (Vombatus ursinus) have always been absent from the island.

[2] All twelve of Tasmania's endemic bird species are present, notably the forty-spotted pardalote (pardalotus quadragintus) for which the island is the main stronghold.

[3] The distribution of the species has declined over the last century with the bird thought to no longer occupy many parts of Tasmania where it was once prevalent; two populations are now known on Bruny Island.

There have been two national recovery plans with the main management objectives being to reestablish white gums, assess more areas for protection, increase knowledge of the species through monitoring, and to educate the community and visitors.

[10] The swift parrot (Lathamus discolor) is another key species protected by the park; a migratory bird which travels between southeast mainland Australia and Tasmania.

[13] Swift parrots nest in tree hollows, usually on upper slopes and ridges in dry eucalypt forest within 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of the coast, with the total population being estimated at approximately 1,000 pairs.

[14] Another threat to the swift parrot is predation by sugar gliders on the mainland, hence why it is so important for the birds to seek refuge on offshore islands where they can breed safely.

A high number[clarification needed] of vehicles travel along the Cloudy Bay beaches, which raises concerns for the success of breeding birds such as the hooded plover.

[6] Approximately 80% of the feral cats on Bruny Island carry toxoplasmosis (a parasite which infects and kills many animals when bitten), of which marsupials are particularly susceptible.

[20] Competition with other invasive species is also of concern, for example the endangered masked owl (Tyto novaehollandiae castanops) is forced to compete with feral honeybees and starlings for nest hollows.

Specific management actions have been outlined including erosion control and rehabilitation where vehicles access the beach at Cloudy Corner, as well as minimizing impacts of visitors in limiting numbers to those that are ecologically sustainable.

[14] The South Bruny National Park Management Plan implemented in 2000 aims to protect, maintain and monitor the natural flora and fauna diversity, particularly threatened species.

[2] Species such as the eyebright and several flowering orchids rely on the disturbance of vegetation[6] and thrive on regular burns which the park has been exposed to for thousands of years.