Caring for Country — The Otways and You - Parks Victoria

Strategies for natural values conservationOf the 1388 plant species recorded in theparks, 97 are rare or threatened in the nationalpark, 25 are rare or threatened in the forestpark including 21 which also occur in thenational park (appendix 3). The parks areparticularly important for protecting WrinkledButtons, Anglesea Grevillea, Slender Treefern,Leafy Greenhood and Spiral Sun-orchid.This EVC and flora information is being madepublically available as biodiversity interactivemaps at the DSE website, www.dse.vic.gov.au.Data sources include Parks Victoria’sEnvironmental Information System (EIS)which contributes to DSE’s statewide FloraInformation System (FIS). Modelling andmapping of this biodiversity data were used indeveloping the conservation zone in thenational park (section 3.3).Otway Ranges bioregionThe Otway Ranges extend north-eastwardsfrom Moonlight Head to Forrest and fromthere southwards to the coast. Most of theparks are in the Otway Ranges bioregion. Mostof the bioregion remains uncleared (81%) and97 773 ha (65%) is within the parks.Moist Foothill Forest Complexes are the mostwidespread EVCs in the parks, extendingacross the higher-rainfall inland ranges fromLavers Hill to Lorne. They contain tall standsof Mountain Ash, Messmate and MountainGrey Gum and a diverse understorey of shrubs,ferns and grasses that characterise the Otwaysand the bioregion. Widespread EVCs includeShrubby Wet Forest and Wet Forest,interspersed with Cool Temperate Rainforest.Although not widespread, Riparian ForestComplexes, including Riparian Forest, occurthroughout both parks along valleys andwatercourses. Dry Foothill Forest Complexes,typified by Shrubby Dry Forest, occur in GreatOtway National Park along the coastal rangesbetween Cape Otway and Aireys Inlet and onthe northern slopes of the Otway Ranges,particularly in Otway Forest Park. HeathComplexes occur along the coast.Otway Plain bioregionThe Otway Plain encompasses the plains andfoothills surrounding the Otway Ranges, fromthe Bellarine Peninsula west towards Colacand Princetown and coastal areas betweenCape Otway and Glenaire. Much of thebioregion has been cleared for agriculture orforestry plantations and 38 560 ha (17%) iswithin the parks.Within this bioregion, 24 EVCs occur in GreatOtway National Park including 13 which alsooccur in Otway Forest Park. However, thevegetation consists mostly of HeathyWoodland and Lowland Forest EVCs. HeathyWoodlands and Lowland Forests areparticularly important for biodiversityconservation because they are among the mostdiverse communities in Australia.Warrnambool Plain bioregionThe Warrnambool Plain lies to the east ofWarrnambool, between Princetown and Colac.Most of the bioregion has been cleared foragriculture. Only 5905 ha (5%) is in the parks.EVCs in the bioregion include Lowland Forest,Shrubby Foothill Forest and Herb-rich FoothillForest, and are partially isolated from moreintact parts of the parks by cleared land.Vegetation conservationOver many years various threatening processeshave reduced vegetation extent and qualitywithin the parks. Areas that have been subjectto past timber harvesting are regenerated toapproximate the original forest composition(DSE 2007b). Many parts of the parks abutcleared land and are close to population centresand the Great Ocean Road. Fragmentation as aresult of vegetation clearance, including theconstruction of roads and tracks has increasedthe spread of pest plants and diseases such asPhytophthora dieback in some areas.Large areas of the wet forests and rainforestsare in good condition but are threatened by thespread of pest plants, particularly around areasof disturbance such as roads, tracks and parkboundaries. Riparian vegetation communitiesin large intact areas are in relatively goodcondition, but areas in smaller blocks arealready in poor condition and susceptible tofurther pest plant invasion (section 4.8).Many of the dry forests that occur closer to theGreat Ocean Road, townships and clearedfarmland are in poor condition because ofvisitor pressures (sections 6.3 to 6.11), rabbitsand pest plants and diseases (section 4.8) andaltered fire regimes (section 4.7). Additionally,an extensive interface with agricultural land inthe Warrnambool Plain bioregion means thathabitat fragmentation, pest plants and pest24 Great Otway National Park and Otway Forest Park Management Plan