findings by bioregion - Victorian Environmental Assessment Council

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HIGHLANDS – SOUTHERN FALLKEY FINDINGSOne third of the Highlands – Southern Fall bioregion isfragmented. Within the fragmented landscape extensiveareas of native vegetation remain (59.7%) of which almosthalf is on public land. A moderate proportion is withinconservation reserves (8.4% of the total fragmentedlandscape), many of which extend into the largelyintactlandscape. The largest parks and conservationreserves are Kinglake National Park, Yarra RangesNational Park, Bunyip State Park, Sweetwater CreekNature Conservation Reserve and Tyers Park. Thesereserves contribute to the overall higher site condition andlandscape context scores for public land compared toprivate land.TOTAL BIOREGION 1,196,155 ha• Largely-intact landscape 795,761 ha – 66.5%• Fragmented landscape 400,394 ha – 33.5%8.5%40.3%18.8%The majority of land clearing and human occupationwithin the bioregion is at elevations below 300 metres.On the gentle slopes and the fertile lowland valleys whereagricultural, timber and semi-rural developments occur,the native vegetation is increasingly fragmented. Areasthat have been signifi cantly cleared and modifi ed includethe Yarra and Tarago Valleys. Here, many thousands ofrelictual patches, less than one hectare occur. Outsidethese valleys a signifi cant proportion of the vegetationis a single patch (46% of the fragmented landscape)contiguous with the largely-intact landscape. Theproportion by area of all patch size classes is slightlygreater on private land compared to public land, with theexception of the 1,000+ ha class. Areas of public andprivate land that are variegated in landscape pattern andretain connectivity to the largely-intact landscape includethose bounded by: Mt Dandenong, Ferntree Gully and Belgrave Warrandyte, Eltham, Hurstbridge and Christmas Hillsand between Berwick and Beaconsfi eld.32.4%FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPE• Native vegetation extent 238,959 ha – 59.7%• On public land [total] 109,113 ha – 27.3%In conservation reserves 33,830 ha – 8.5%In other public land categories 75,283 ha – 18.8%• On private land 129,846 ha – 32.4 %• Not native vegetation 161,435 ha – 40.3%92
Distribution of site condition scoresArea (ha)• Public land12,000• Private land9,0006,0003,00000 20 40 60 80Site condition scoresPublic land median score – 50.1Private land median score – 40.2[Statewide median score – 36.8]Distribution of landscape context scoresArea (ha)• Public land50,000• Private land40,00030,00020,00010,00000 5 10 15 20Landscape context scoresPublic land median score – 15.8Private land median score – 14.2[Statewide median score – 14.9]BIOPHYSICAL BASISThe Victorian Highlands – Southern Fall is part of thesouthern slopes of the Great Dividing Range. Theseuplands have moderate to steep slopes, high plateauxand alluvial fl ats along the main valleys. The geologypredominantly consists of Palaeozoic sediments andminor volcanics. Brown and red porous earths occur in theupper reaches and yellow and red texture contrast soilsgraduate down the valleys.The Highlands – Southern Fall contains Victoria’s mostextensive areas of Cool Temperate Rainforest. Thedominant vegetation types are Shrubby Dry Forest andDamp Forest on the upper slopes. Wet Forest ecosystemsoccur in the valleys. Montane Dry Woodland, MontaneDamp Forest and Montane Wet Forest occur at higherelevations. The gullies and river valleys support a varietyof ecological vegetation classes including Riparian Forest,Riparian Thicket and Montane Riparian Thicket.Average annual rainfall across the bioregion: 700-1200 mmSnowfall is common above 900 m in winter.Daily mean temperature across the bioregion: 6-15˚CLAND USE HISTORYEarly European settlement was sparse and concentratedon the gently undulating areas on the fringes of thebioregion. The extensive Mountain Ash forests in thesouthern and western parts of the bioregion havesupported timber harvesting industries since the 19thCentury. The bioregion also contains signifi cant areas ofpine and eucalypt plantations. Other land-use activitiesinclude sheep and cattle grazing and dairying. Somepublic land areas are also used for grazing and apiculture.Tourism and recreation are signifi cant land uses in some ofthe more elevated parts of the bioregion.The highlands are signifi cant water catchment areassupplying the majority of water for Melbourne andirrigated agriculture and power generation in the adjoiningGippsland Plain bioregion. Major impoundments includethe Thomson Dam, Lake Glenmaggie, Blue Rock Lake,and the Upper Yarra and Maroondah reservoirs.93
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Page 12 and 13: MURRAY MALLEEKEY FINDINGSTOTAL BIOR
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Page 18 and 19: DUNDAS TABLELANDSKEY FINDINGSTOTAL
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Page 22 and 23: OTWAY PLAINTOTAL BIOREGION 237,190
Page 24 and 25: MURRAY FANSTOTAL BIOREGION 435,153
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Page 32 and 33: GOLDFIELDSKEY FINDINGSTOTAL BIOREGI
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Page 44 and 45: BRIDGEWATERKEY FINDINGSTOTAL BIOREG
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Page 56 and 57: MURRAY SCROLL BELTKEY FINDINGSTOTAL
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