Conservation Management Zones of Australia

South Eastern Australia Temperate Woodlands

Prepared by the Department of the Environment


Acknowledgements

This project and associated products are the result of a collaboration between the Biodiversity Conservation Division and the Environmental Resources Information Network (ERIN). Invaluable input, advice and support were provided by staff and leading researchers from across the Department of the Environment (DotE), Department of Agriculture (DoA), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and the academic community. We would particularly like to thank staff within the Wildlife, Heritage and Marine Division, Parks Australia and the Environment Assessment and Compliance Division of DotE, Nyree Stenekes andRobert Kancans (ABARES), Sue McIntyre (CSIRO), Richard Hobbs (University of Western Australia), Michael Hutchinson (ANU); David Lindenmayer and Emma Burns (ANU); and Gilly Llewellyn, Martin Taylor andotherstaff from the World Wildlife Fund for their generosity and advice.

Special thanks to CSIRO staff Kristen Williams and Simon Ferrier whose modelling of biodiversity patterns enabled identification of the Conservation Management Zones of Australia.

© Commonwealth of Australia, 2015.

The Conservation Management Zones of Australia profile is licensed by the Commonwealth of Australia for use under a Creative Commons By Attribution 3.0 Australia licence with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logo of the agency responsible for publishing the report, content supplied by thirdparties, and any images depicting people.

For licence conditions see here.

Contents

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners and Country

Introduction

Zone at a glance

Population characteristics

Employment, volunteering and incomes

Agriculture, Natural Resource Management practices and sources of NRM advice

Land tenure, land use, Native Title and Local Government Areas

Zone vegetation characteristics

Ramsar and Nationally Important Wetlands

World and National Heritage

Major National Reserve System properties

EPBC Act (1999)threatened ecological communities

EPBC Act (1999) threatened species

EPBC Act (1999) migratory species

Threatened endemic species

Invasive species

Vegetation profiles and management recommendations

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners and Country

The Australian Government acknowledges Australia’s Traditional Owners and pays respect to Elders past and present of our nation’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We honour the deep spiritual, cultural and customary connections of Traditional Owners to the Australian landscape, including Australia’s waterways, land and sea country.

Introduction

The 23 Conservation Management Zones of Australia are geographic areas, classified according to their ecological and threat characteristics. The zones are also aligned with the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia.

The Conservation Management Zones provide a way of understanding Australia’s natural environment that will assist in long-term conservation planning and help the Australian Government to better design, deliver and report on Natural Resource Management (NRM) investments, including ensuring alignment of national NRM priorities with local action.

The Conservation Management Zones also provide a filter through which to make national environmental and socio-economic data more accessible and comprehensible, and a framework for gathering on-ground knowledge and expertise about the environment. This will improve information flow to the Australian Government about regional NRM requirements, best practice management, emerging NRM issues and knowledge gaps.

The Conservation Management Zones do not represent any change to existing administrative boundaries or governance structures, but aim to support the NRM and wider community to cooperatively manage environmental assets across boundaries, where they share common threats, ecological characteristics and stakeholders.

Each Conservation Management Zone profile contains a standard suite of nationally available ecological and socio-economicinformation. We hope that this information will enable Australians of all ages and backgrounds to engage with, understand and appreciate Australian landscapes, and support all Australians to manage our natural resources more effectively.

The profile information provides an indicative, high-level stock-take of the environmental and socio-economic landscape and it is not intended to be comprehensive. It should also be noted that, at present, the profiles contain only limited information on aquatic ecosystems, coastal assets and Indigenous land management practices. In future, consultation and comprehensive literature reviews will enable us to provide more complete information.

Zone at a glance

Source:Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data

Major cities and towns / Population
Cobar / 3,827
Cobram / 5,417
Corowa – Wahgunyah / 6,327
Deniliquin / 7,494
Echuca – Moama / 16,820
Forbes / 6,795
Griffith / 17,630
Kerang / 3,564
Kyabram / 5,652
Leeton / 6,711
Mulwawa / 8,692
Namurkah / 3,840
Narrandera / 3,864
Parkes / 10,021
Seymour / 3,625
Shepparton – Mooroopna / 42,754
Swan Hill / 9,362
Tatura / 3,678
Temora / 3,874
Wangaratta / 17,388
Natural Resource Management (NRM) regions
Central West Local Land Services (LLS) / NSW
Murray LLS / NSW
Riverina LLS / NSW
Western LLS / NSW
Goulburn Broken Catchment ManagementAuthority (CMA) / VIC
North Central CMA / VIC
North East CMA / VIC
Top five agricultural commodities / Value (millions)
Cereals for grain / $2,189
Fruit / $749
Dairy / $747
Beef / $420
Wool / $389
Total value of agricultural commodities (including other commodities not listed here) / $6,168
Climate characteristics*
Mean annual temperature / 16.3 Celsius
Mean Maximum of the Hottest Month / 31.9 Celsius
Mean Minimum of the Coldest Month / 2.9 Celsius
Mean Annual Rainfall / 414.3 mm
Dominant rainfall season / Uniform (though Southern regions Winter dominant)

* The figures are interpolated 75-year means (1921 to 1995) representingthe period prior to the onset of rapid climatic warming. Cited in: Williams KJ, Belbin L, Austin MP, Stein J, Ferrier S (2012) Whichenvironmental variables should I usein mybiodiversity model? International Journal of GeographicInformation Sciences 26(11), 2009–2047. (DataderivedfromAustralian Climate surfaces version 2.1 fortheANUCLIM-BIOCLIM package).

For future climate projections please refer to:

Source:Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data

Native Title area

Although there have been no Native Title Determinations finalised within this Conservation Management Zone, it continues to represent important Indigenous heritage values and places that are of deep significance to Indigenous persons and their practices, observations, customs, beliefs and history.

Source:Based on data from the National Native Title Register; Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database (CAPAD); National Vegetation Information System (NVIS); Species’ Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT).

Population characteristics

Population

Source:Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data

Languages spoken at home
English / 89.31%
Other languages / 5.77%
Not stated / 4.85%

Source:Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data

Education

Source:Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data

Employment, volunteering and incomes

Employment

Source:Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data

Volunteering

Income

Source:Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data

Agriculture, Natural Resource Management practices and sources of NRM advice

Australian farmers manage over 60% of the Australian continent and shoulder much of the burden of responsibility for maintaining and protecting Australia’s natural resource wealth. The information contained in this profile aims to assist the wider community, non-governmental organisations and government agencies to support Australia’s key environmental custodians.

Agricultural commodity values

Source:Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data

Natural Resource Management practices and sources of NRM advice

* Data obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2012 Land Management Practices Survey (LaMPS) 2012. LaMPS collected land practices informationfrom approximately 50,000 farm businesses across Australia. The data has been aligned to Conservation Management Zones from ABS Statistical Area 2 units and Australian Agricultural Environment units. The % figures presented here are indicative only. For more information on LaMPS please refer to:

** The sample for the Drivers of Practice Change 2012 survey consisted of a random subsample of 1228 broadacre farm managers from the Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey (AAGIS) frame. The data has been aligned to Conservation Management Zones from ABS Statistical Area 2 units. Forthis reason, the figures presented here are indicative only.

^ This chart indicates the sources of advice utilised for native vegetation management from respondents who identified they sought advice.

For more information please refer to

Land tenure, land use, Native Title and Local Government Areas

Source:Land tenure data based on Environmental Resources Information Network (ERIN) categorisation of Public Sector Mapping Authority (PSMA) State Tenure 2012; Land use mapping based on Australian Collaborative Land Use and Management Program (ACLUMP) 2012. For more information on Australian land use and management information and classification please refer to:

Indigenous Land Councils
New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council:
Native Title Services Victoria:

Although there have been no Native Title Determinations finalised within this Conservation Management Zone, itcontinues to represent important Indigenous heritage values and places that are of deep significance to Indigenous persons and their practices, observations, customs, beliefs and history.

Local Government Areas
Berrigan Shire Council / NSW
Bland Shire Council / NSW
Bogan Shire Council / NSW
Bourke Shire Council / NSW
Brewarrina Shire Council / NSW
Cabonne Shire Council / NSW
Carrathool Shire Council / NSW
Central Darling Shire Council / NSW
Cobar Shire Council / NSW
Conargo Shire Council / NSW
Coolamon Shire Council / NSW
Cootamundra Shire Council / NSW
Corowa Shire Council / NSW
Cowra Shire Council / NSW
Deniliquin Council / NSW
Forbes Shire Council / NSW
Greater Hume Shire Council / NSW
Griffith City Council / NSW
Hay Shire Council / NSW
Jerilderie Shire Council / NSW
Junee Shire Council / NSW
Lachlan Shire Council / NSW
Leeton Shire Council / NSW
Lockhart Shire Council / NSW
Murray Shire Council / NSW
Murrumbidgee Shire Council / NSW
Narrandera Shire Council / NSW
Narromine Shire Council / NSW
Parkes Shire Council / NSW
Temora Shire Council / NSW
The Council Of The Shire Of Wakool / NSW
Urana Shire Council / NSW
Wagga Wagga City Council / NSW
Weddin Shire Council / NSW
Wentworth Shire Council / NSW
Young Shire Council / NSW
Alpine Shire / VIC
Benalla Rural City / VIC
Buloke Shire / VIC
Campaspe Shire / VIC
Central Goldfields Shire / VIC
Gannawarra Shire / VIC
Greater Bendigo City / VIC
Greater Shepparton City / VIC
Indigo Shire / VIC
Loddon Shire / VIC
Mildura Rural City / VIC
Mitchell Shire / VIC
Moira Shire / VIC
Mount Alexander Shire / VIC
Strathbogie Shire / VIC
Swan Hill Rural City / VIC
Towong Shire / VIC
Wangaratta Rural City / VIC
Wodonga City / VIC

Zone vegetation characteristics

The National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) framework is a nationally consistent vegetation classification system based on vegetation data collected by states and territories. It provides information on the extent and distribution of vegetation types across the Australian landscape.

Two products are used to provide the Zone Vegetation Characteristics graph. A modelled pre-European vegetation distribution (pre-1750), and extant (current extent) vegetation, which is based on contemporary vegetation mapping. The information presented here relates to Major Vegetation Subgroups (MVSs). There are 85 MVS types across Australia, describing the structure and floristic composition of dominant and secondary vegetation stratums (e.g.canopy and mid-storey species). Major Vegetation Subgroups only reflect the dominant vegetation type occurringin an area from a mix of vegetation types. Less-dominant vegetation groups which may also be present aretherefore not represented.

It is important to note that the vegetation information is indicative only, as state and territory mapping in Australia is of variable resolution and scale. However, this data is the best available nationally consistent information on vegetation, and the dataset continues to evolve and increase in accuracy.

Analysing this information at Conservation Management Zone, rather than national level provides greater discrimination for decision makers, as clearance levels of vegetation types are not uniform across Australia. Forexample, eucalypt woodlands with a tussock grass understory is a vegetation type found across Australia. IntheBrigalow Woodlands Conservation Management Zone, eucalypt open woodlands with a tussock grass understory originally covered approximately 36% of the zone, but today it only covers only 14.5 % of the zone (58.7%of this vegetation community has been cleared in the Brigalow). In the Northern Australia Tropical Savannah zone, thisvegetation type originally occupied 19.6% of the zone. Today, it occupies approximately 19.4% of the zone (only2.3% of this vegetation type has been cleared). It should be noted that this data only provides an indication ofchange in extent, and not vegetation condition.

For more information on the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) please refer to:

Ramsar and Nationally Important Wetlands

Ramsar wetlands / Jurisdiction / Hectares
NSW Central Murray State Forests – Koondrook Forest Group / NSW / 84,001
Barmah Forest / VIC / 29,305
Gunbower Forest / VIC / 20,218
Kerang Wetlands – Fosters Swamp / VIC / 9,777
Hattah-Kulkyne Lakes – Lake Kramen / VIC / 977
Fivebough and Tuckerbil Swamps – Fivebough Swamp / NSW / 620

For more information on Ramsar please refer to:

Nationally Important Wetlands / Jurisdiction / Hectares / Criteria
Avoca Floodway (Tutchewop Plains) / VIC / 477.99 / 1, 2, 3
Barmah-Millewa Forest / VIC / 27,068.50 / 1, 2, 3, 5
Belsar Island / VIC / 2,520.85 / 2
Beveridge Island / VIC / 513.74 / 2, 3
Black Swamp / VIC / 174.41 / 1, 3
Black Swamp and Coopers Swamp / NSW / 329.51 / 1, 3, 5
Booligal Wetlands / NSW / 67.27 / 1, 2, 3
Broken Creek / VIC / 2,466.68 / 1, 2, 3
Bunguluke Wetlands, Tyrrell Creek &LalbertCreek Floodplain / VIC / 3,520.24 / 1, 2
Cemetery Swamp / VIC / 110.85 / 1, 2
Cuba Dam / NSW / 71.62 / 1, 3, 4
Doodle Corner Swamp / NSW / 1,657.46 / 1
First Marsh (The Marsh) / VIC / 777.93 / 2, 3
Fivebough Swamp / NSW / 201.16 / 4
Fosters Swamp / VIC / 319.06 / 2, 3
Great Cumbungi Swamp / NSW / 13,775.35 / 1, 2, 3, 4
Gunbower Island / VIC / 10,482.05 / 1, 2, 3
Hattah Lakes / VIC / 1,599.98 / 1, 2, 3, 6
Heywoods Lake / VIC / 172.48 / 6
Hird’s Swamp / VIC / 345.22 / 1, 2, 3
Johnson’s Swamp / VIC / 411.02 / 1, 2, 3
Kanyapella Basin / VIC / 2,424.26 / 1, 2, 3
Kings Billabong Wetlands / VIC / 525.97 / 1, 6
Koondrook and Perricoota Forests / NSW / 70,742.19 / 1, 2
Kow Swamp / VIC / 2,719.61 / 1, 2, 3, 6
Lachlan Swamp (Part of mid Lachlan Wetlands) / NSW / 30,095.84 / 1, 2, 3
Lake Bael Bael / VIC / 640.39 / 1, 2, 3
Lake Brewster / NSW / 6,314.25 / 1, 3, 5
Lake Charm / VIC / 526.01 / 2, 3
Lake Cowal/Wilbertroy Wetlands / NSW / 23,502.43 / 1, 2, 3
Lake Cullen / VIC / 629.07 / 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Lake Hume / VIC / 9,378.57 / 1, 2, 6
Lake Kelly & Stevensons Swamp / VIC / 318.96 / 1, 3, 4
Lake Merrimajeel/Murrumbidgil Swamp / NSW / 223.76 / 1, 3, 6
Lake William / VIC / 95.70 / 3, 4
Little Lake Charm, Kangaroo Lake & Racecourse Lake / VIC / 1,329.94 / 2, 3
Lowbidgee Floodplain / NSW / 1,096.11 / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Lower Broken River / VIC / 362.51 / 3, 6
Lower Goulburn River Floodplain / VIC / 3,626.75 / 1, 2
Lower Mirrool Creek Floodplain / NSW / 143.66 / 1, 2, 3, 5
Major Mitchell Lagoon / VIC / 8.87 / 6
Merrowie Creek (Cuba Dam to Chillichil Swamp) / NSW / 5,170.74 / 1, 2, 3
Mid Murrumbidgee Wetlands / NSW / 14.78 / 1, 2, 3, 5
Millewa Forest / NSW / 47,148.01 / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Muckatah Depression / VIC / 1,294.85 / 1, 2
Ovens River / VIC / 3,910.81 / 3, 4, 6
Ryan’s Lagoon / VIC / 60.28 / 1, 6
Second Marsh (Middle Marsh) / VIC / 240.04 / 2, 3
Tang Tang Swamp / VIC / 102.67 / 1, 2, 3, 6
Third Marsh (Top Marsh) / VIC / 1,237.12 / 1, 2, 3
Third, Middle and Reedy Lakes / VIC / 626.44 / 1, 2, 3
Town Swamp / VIC / 88.51 / 1, 2
Tragowel Swamp (McPhails Swamp) / VIC / 249.44 / 3
Tuckerbil Swamp / NSW / 12.86 / 4, 5, 6
Wakool-Tullakool Evaporation Basins / NSW / 64.74 / 1, 3
Walla Walla Swamp (Gum Swamp) / NSW / 340.88 / 1, 3
Wallenjoe Wetlands / VIC / 1,700.07 / 1, 2, 3
Werai Forest / NSW / 36,707.03 / 1, 2, 5
Woolshed Swamp / VIC / 351.64 / 1, 3
Yarran Swamp / NSW / 0.10 / 1, 2

Nationally important wetlands are defined according to the following criteria:

  1. It is a good example of a wetland type occurring within a biogeographic region in Australia.
  2. It is a wetland which plays an important ecological or hydrological role in the natural functioning of a major wetland system/complex.
  3. It is a wetland which is important as the habitat for animal taxa at a vulnerable stage in their life cycles, or provides a refuge when adverse conditions such as drought prevail.
  4. The wetland supports 1% or more of the national populations of any native plant or animal taxa.
  5. The wetland supports native plant or animal taxa or communities which are considered endangered or vulnerable at the national level.
  6. The wetland is of outstanding historical or cultural significance.

Please note, the above are a subset of all the Nationally Important Wetlands found within the Zone. For more information on Nationally Important Wetlands please see:

World and National Heritage

Heritage values / World or National / Heritage type / Jurisdiction / Hectares / % of zone
Bonegilla Migrant Camp – Block 19 / National / Historic / VIC / 14.46 / 0.00008
Echuca Wharf / National / Historic / VIC / 0.32 / 0.000002

Please refer to the Australian Heritage Database for detailed information on listing criteria for these heritage values:

For more information on Australia’s world and national heritage please refer to:

Major National Reserve System properties

Major National Reserve System properties
Name / Property type / IUCN category / Jurisdiction / Hectares / % of zone
Murrumbidgee Valley / National Park / II / NSW / 45,677 / 0.24
Gundabooka / National Park / II / NSW / 42,143 / 0.22
Murray Valley / National Park / II / NSW / 39,578 / 0.21
Murrumbidgee Valley / State Conservation Area / II / NSW / 34,347 / 0.18
Lachlan Valley / State Conservation Area / II / NSW / 33,796 / 0.18
Barmah / National Park / II / VIC / 28,427 / 0.15
Hattah – Kulkyne / National Park / II / VIC / 25,235 / 0.13
Oolambeyan / National Park / II / NSW / 22,200 / 0.12
Thelangerin / NRS Addition – Gazettal in Progress / II / NSW / 20,164 / 0.11
Willandra / National Park / II / NSW / 18,855 / 0.10
River Murray Reserve / Natural Features Reserve / VI / VIC / 11,213 / 0.06
Lachlan Valley / National Park / II / NSW / 10,954 / 0.06
Murray Valley / Regional Park / V / NSW / 10,469 / 0.06
South West Woodland / Nature Reserve / IA / NSW / 10,146 / 0.05
Kemendok / National Park / II / NSW / 9,374 / 0.05
Lower Goulburn / National Park / II / VIC / 9,295 / 0.05
Gunbower / National Park / II / VIC / 9,232 / 0.05
Weddin Mountains / National Park / II / NSW / 8,718 / 0.05
Cocoparra / National Park / II / NSW / 8,384 / 0.04
Nombinnie / State Conservation Area / II / NSW / 7,604 / 0.04
Goulburn River H.R. / Heritage River / VI / VIC / 6,968 / 0.04
The IUCN categories are as follows:
Ia Strict Nature Reserve / IUCN protected area management categories classify protected areas according to their management objectives. The categories are recognised by international bodies such as the United Nations and are utilised by many national governments, including the Australian Government, as the global standard for definingand recording protected areas.
Ib Wilderness Area
II National Park
III Natural Monument or Feature
IV Habitat/Species Management Area
V Protected Landscape/ Seascape
VI Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources

Please refer to the IUCN website for further explanation: