findings by bioregion - Victorian Environmental Assessment Council

MURRAY SCROLL BELTKEY FINDINGSTOTAL BIOREGION 116,144 ha• Largely-intact landscape Nil• Fragmented landscape 116,144 ha – 100%The Murray Scroll Belt, along with Murray Fans andRobinvale Plains form part of native vegetation corridoralong the Murray River. Due to the unsuitability of thefl oodplains for agriculture, much of the native vegetation ofthe Murray Scroll Belt is retained (90.1%) and comprisesof moderate to good condition vegetation. An exceptionis vegetation along the major water courses, fl oodplainsand billabongs which are of poor quality. Greatly reducedfl oodplain inundation, weed invasion, reduced canopycover and recruitment of trees has adversely impactedon the quality of the vegetation, but not the level ofconnectedness. Fifty percent of the native vegetationis on public land where nearly all is within conservationreserves (44.7%). Clearing of land has been fragmentedand restricted to the non-fl ood prone areas suitable forstock grazing. The Murray Scroll Belt is exceptional in thatsite condition scores are higher on private land than publicland. The proportion by area of patch sizes smaller than250 ha is greater on private land compared to public landand is slightly greater on public land for patches largerthan 1,000 ha.9.1%40.9% 44.8%5.2%FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPE• Native vegetation extent 105,551 ha – 90.9%• On public land [total] 58,040 ha – 50.0%In conservation reserves 51,963 ha – 44.8%In other public land categories 6,077 ha – 5.2%• On private land 47,511 ha – 40.9%• Not native vegetation 10,593 ha – 9.1%112