findings by bioregion - Victorian Environmental Assessment Council

OTWAY RANGESKEY FINDINGSTOTAL BIOREGION 149,755 ha• Largely-intact landscape 47,199 ha – 31.5%• Fragmented landscape 102,556 ha – 68.5%The Otway Ranges bioregion retains most of its originalnative vegetation. About one third of native vegetationwithin this bioregion occurs within largely-intactlandscapes and a signifi cant proportion in the fragmentedlandscape (76.1%) remains. About half of the remnantnative vegetation is on public land (54.3%). A largeproportion is represented in the conservation reservesystem (33%) and is part of, and contiguous with, thelargely-intact landscape of the Great Otway National Parkthat makes up most of the northeast of the bioregion.The remainder of the landscape is generally variegated.Remnant native vegetation in these areas is of moderateto good condition suggesting that the structural integrityand/or understorey of the vegetation is intact despitethe fragmentation. In the Beech Forest area, nativevegetation has been extensively cleared for agricultureand plantations. By area, public land accounts for a largemajority of the largest (1,000+ ha) patches, while in otherpatch size classes private land dominates by area.23.9%33%21.8%21.3%FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPE• Native vegetation extent 78,064 ha – 76.1%• On public land [total] 55,699 ha – 54.3%In conservation reserves 33,874 ha – 33%In other public land categories 21,825 ha – 21.3%• On private land 22,365 ha – 21.8%• Not native vegetation 24,493 ha – 23.9%104