Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation Discussion Paper

CONTENTS
Foreword 1
Executive Summary 4
1 INTRODUCTION 9
1.1 Background to the investigation 10
1.2 The Victorian Environment Assessment Council 11
1.3 Terms of reference for the investigation 12
1.4 Scope of the investigation 12
1.5 The structure of this discussion paper 13
1.6 The investigation process 14
1.6.1 Committees 14
1.7 Policy context 15
1.7.1 State government policies and strategies 15
1.7.2 National and state assessments of
Victoria’s native vegetation 15
1.8 Community views 16
1.8.1 Overview of consultation to date 16
1.8.2 Issues and proposals 16
2 LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY AND
LANDSCAPE CHANGE 19
2.1 Landscape patterns and processes 21
2.1.1 Fragmentation, patches and the matrix 21
2.1.2 Effects of landscape change
on species and populations 22
2.1.3 Dispersal, landscape connectivity
and corridors 23
2.2 Habitat restoration 25
2.3 Climate change 26
2.3.1 Magnitude 26
2.3.2 The impact on biodiversity 26
2.3.3 Connectivity 27
2.3.4 Management challenges 27
3 STATEWIDE MODELLING
OF NATIVE VEGETATION 29
3.1 Vegetation modelling 31
3.1.1 Vegetation extent 31
3.1.2 Vegetation condition 31
3.1.3 Habitat hectares 31
3.1.4 Landscape context 32
3.2 Public land mapping 32
3.3 Statistical analysis of GIS modelling 35
3.4 Connectivity modelling 37
4 CHARACTERISATION OF VICTORIA’S
REMNANT NATIVE VEGETATION 43
4.1 Statewide overview 44
4.2 Comparison of bioregions 46
4.2.1 Extent of remnant native vegetation 46
4.2.2 New extent mapping 48
4.2.3 Land tenure 48
4.2.4 Conservation reserves 48
4.2.5 Vegetation on road reserves 49
4.2.6 Site condition 50
4.2.7 Landscape context 51
4.2.8 Numbers of patches 52
4.2.9 More complex and detailed analyses 53
4.2.10 Summary characterisation
of Victoria’s bioregions 53
5 FINDINGS BY BIOREGION 57
5.1 Native vegetation statistics 59
5.2 Site condition and landscape context scores 60
5.3 Conservation reserves 60
5.4 Land use 61
5.4.1 Aboriginal land use 61
5.4.2 European land use 61
5.5 Bioregional summaries 61
Victorian Volcanic Plain 62
Wimmera 64
Warrnambool Plain 66
Murray Mallee 68
Victorian Riverina 70
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