findings by bioregion - Victorian Environmental Assessment Council

LOWAN MALLEEKEY FINDINGSDue to the unsuitability of the dry sandy soils foragriculture, more than half of the Lowan Mallee remainslargely-intact. Beyond this – in the fragmented landscape– 57% of native vegetation remains. A high proportion ofremnant native vegetation occurs on public land (43.5%),with good representation in the reserve system (28.2% ofthe total fragmented landscape). The proportion by areaof all patch size categories is slightly greater on privateland than public land, except the largest patches (1,000+ha) where the proportion by area is substantially greateron public land compared to private land. These patchescontribute to the high site condition and landscapecontext scores on public land in the bioregion.TOTAL BIOREGION 1,419,874 ha• Largely-intact landscape 907,039 ha – 63.9%• Fragmented landscape 512,835 ha – 36.1%28.2%42.8%Areas in the fragmented landscape cleared of vegetationoccur along the boundary of the bioregion where thesandy soils merge with the heavier, more fertile soils of theMurray Mallee and Wimmera bioregions. This is particularlyevident south of the Big Desert Wilderness Area wherenative vegetation has been cleared for agriculture.Although native vegetation here is fragmented, remnantsremain moderate in connectivity and site condition, andlinear roadsides feature strongly. Of the remnants thatoccur at least partly outside the largely-intact landscapes,Annuello, Wathe and Bronzewing Nature ConservationReserves are exceptionally signifi cant within the state interms of size, connectivity and vegetation quality.15.3%13.7%FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPE• Native vegetation extent 293,303 ha – 57.2%• On public land [total] 223,249 ha – 43.5%In conservation reserves 144,542 ha – 28.2%In other public land categories 78,707 ha – 15.3%• On private land 70,054 ha – 13.7%• Not native vegetation 219,532 ha – 42.8%90