findings by bioregion - Victorian Environmental Assessment Council

OTWAY PLAINTOTAL BIOREGION 237,190 ha• Largely-intact landscape 9,529 ha – 4%• Fragmented landscape 227,661 ha – 96%67.5%10.3%10.0%KEY FINDINGSThe Otway Plain is a highly cleared bioregion. Within thefragmented landscape, one-third of the original extentof native vegetation remains. Of this, almost two-thirdsis public land, half of which is within the conservationreserve system. The median site condition and landscapecontext scores are signifi cantly higher for public land thanfor private land. With the exception of the three patch sizeclasses of 250 ha or greater, in all patch size classes thetotal area of private land is greater than that of public land.Around Werribee and Greater Geelong, native vegetationhas been heavily cleared and modifi ed, and what remainsis associated with road reserves and waterways. On theBellarine Peninsula, remnants are largely fragmented andin poor condition. More extensive remnants occur withinmarsh and estuarine ecosystems.Signifi cant patches of moderate to large size are foundfurther west, adjacent to the Otway Ranges bioregion.Southwest of Barongarook, a number of conservationreserves (e.g. Great Otway National Park) and thesurrounding native vegetation form an extensive networkof connected remnants in good to very good condition.12.2%FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPE• Native vegetation extent 73,910 ha – 32.5%• On public land [total] 46,189 ha – 20.3%In conservation reserves 23,442 ha – 10.3%In other public land categories 22,747 ha – 10.0%• On private land 27,721 ha – 12.2%• Not native vegetation 153,751 ha – 67.5%78