Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Biodiversity and Vegetation - Cape York Peninsula

Cape York Peninsula

Location Map

The Cape York Peninsula bioregion consists of a complex geology dominated by the Torres Strait Volcanics in the north. The metamorphic rocks and acid intrusive rocks of various ages of the Coen-Yambo Inlier run north- south along the eastern margin of the region and encompass the high-altitude/high-rainfall areas of Iron Range and McIlwraith Range. The deeply dissected sandstone plateaus and ranges of the Battle Camp Sandstones lie in the south of the region adjacent to the undulating Laura Lowlands composed of residual weathered sands and flat plains of colluvial and alluvial clays, silts and sands. The west of the region is dominated in the south by the extensive Tertiary sand sheets dissected by the intricate drainage systems of the Holroyd Plain, the Tertiary laterite of the undulating Weipa Plateau and the low rises of Mesozoic sandstones. The northern extension of the Weipa Plateau and extensive coastal plains adjoin the Gulf of Carpentaria. Extensive aeolian dunefields lie in the east associated with Cape Bedford/Cape Flattery in the south and the Olive and Jardine Rivers.

The most extensive vegetation types are predominantly Eucalyptus tetrodonta woodlands, usually in association with bloodwoods Corymbia nesophila, C. hylandii or C. clarksoniana, and Melaleuca viridiflora low open-woodlands. Other extensive vegetation types include Corymbia clarksoniana, Eucalyptus chlorophylla and E. cullenii woodlands, grasslands and grassy open-woodlands, heathlands, and sedgelands, and notophyll vine forests, with semi-deciduous mesophyll vine forests on the eastern ranges and deciduous vine thickets on drier western slopes. Extensive mangrove forests are found in Kennedy Inlet in the north east of the region and estuaries on both the west and east coasts. The bioregion has a tropical humid/maritime climate, with rainfall varying from 1000 mm to 1600 mm.

There are 9 subregions within the Cape York Peninsular Bioregion.

What major vegetation groups occurred in prior to European settlement?

Map: Pre-European Major Vegetation Groups in


Source:

Major vegetation groups V1.0 (1km), National Land and Water Resources Audit 2001. Data used are assumed to be correct from suppliers.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2001

The summary maps provide information on Australia's native vegetation collated within the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) at July 2001 and with additional mapped information. The NVIS will be updated as vegetation mapping becomes available.

The map is a compilation of data collected at different scales by different organisations. Major Vegetation Groups were compiled by Environment Australia based on data collated by the Bureau of Rural Sciences and provided by Environment ACT, Department of Urban Services; NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service; NSW Royal Botanic Gardens; NSW State Forests; NT Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment; Queensland Herbarium, Environmental Protection Agency; SA Department for Environment and Heritage; Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment; Flora Section, Department of Natural Resources and Environment; Agriculture Western Australia; Western Australia Department of Conservation and Land Management and Geoscience Australia, National Mapping Division.

Map: Extent of the National Vegetation Information System data

Extent of the National Vegetation Information System data

What was the area of major vegetation groups in prior to European settlement?

Table 1: Area of vegetation groups in prior to European settlement
Major Vegetation Group Area (ha) % total extent
Rainforest and vine thickets 390,536 3.2
Eucalyptus open forest 200,464 1.7
Eucalyptus low open forest 11,092 .1
Eucalyptus woodlands 6,677,724 55.1
Acacia forest and woodlands 84,772 .7
Casuarina forest and woodlands 492 0
Melaleuca forest and woodlands 1,547,732 12.8
Other forests and woodlands 288,396 2.4
Eucalyptus open woodlands 263,012 2.2
Tropical Eucalyptus woodland/grasslands 1,385,280 11.4
Acacia open woodlands 168 0
Other Shrublands 381,684 3.2
Heath 12 0
Tussock grasslands 527,412 4.4
Other grasslands, herblands, sedgelands and rushlands 75,648 .6
Chenopod shrub, samphire shrub and forblands 20,620 .2
Mangroves, tidal mudflat, samphire and bare areas, claypan, sand, rock, salt lakes, lagoons, lakes 259,604 2.1

What major vegetation groups occur in (circa 1997)?

Map: Dynamic Map of major vegetation groups (circa 1997) 1km


legend

Source:

Major vegetation groups V1.0 (1km), National Land and Water Resources Audit 2001. Data used are assumed to be correct from suppliers.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2001

The summary maps provide information on Australia's native vegetation collated within the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) at July 2001 and with additional mapped information. The NVIS will be updated as vegetation mapping becomes available.

The map is a compilation of data collected at different scales by different organisations. Major Vegetation Groups were compiled by Environment Australia based on data collated by the Bureau of Rural Sciences and provided by Environment ACT, Department of Urban Services; NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service; NSW Royal Botanic Gardens; NSW State Forests; NT Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment; Queensland Herbarium, Environmental Protection Agency; SA Department for Environment and Heritage; Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment; Flora Section, Department of Natural Resources and Environment; Agriculture Western Australia; Western Australia Department of Conservation and Land Management and Geoscience Australia, National Mapping Division.

Map: Extent of the National Vegetation Information System data

Extent of the National Vegetation Information System data

What is the area of major vegetation groups in (circa 1997)?

Table 2: Area of present vegetation groups in (circa 1997)
Major Vegetation Group Area (ha) % total extent
Cleared / modified native vegetation 49,960 .4
Rainforest and vine thickets 387,064 3.2
Eucalyptus open forest 199,092 1.6
Eucalyptus low open forest 11,088 .1
Eucalyptus woodlands 6,650,812 54.9
Acacia forest and woodlands 84,676 .7
Casuarina forest and woodlands 492 0
Melaleuca forest and woodlands 1,544,684 12.7
Other forests and woodlands 287,712 2.4
Eucalyptus open woodlands 262,424 2.2
Tropical Eucalyptus woodland/grasslands 1,382,816 11.4
Acacia open woodlands 168 0
Other Shrublands 378,244 3.1
Tussock grasslands 526,072 4.3
Other grasslands, herblands, sedgelands and rushlands 74,872 .6
Chenopod shrub, samphire shrub and forblands 20,572 .2
Mangroves, tidal mudflat, samphire and bare areas, claypan, sand, rock, salt lakes, lagoons, lakes 256,072 2.1

What is the extent of native vegetation in (circa 1997)?

Map: Dynamic Map of extent of native vegetation 1km by bioregion


Area of native vegetation remaining (ha): 12,066,860 ha

Percent remaining native vegetation: 99.6%

Percent cleared/modified native vegetation: 0.4%

What sources of information were used?

View the sources of information used to compile an Australian-wide map of pre-European and present native vegetation from the National Vegetation Information System and additional mapped data and the guidelines for the interpretation of vegetation mapping products.

Knowledge, data and information gaps

The compilation of native vegetation information has highlighted a number of gaps in our knowledge, the data and information about Australia's native vegetation.

References

View the references used in the Australian Native Vegetation Assessment 2001.

Partnerships

Australian Native Vegetation Assessment 2001 was facilitated and coordinated by the National Land and Water Resources Audit and prepared in partnership with State, Territory and Commonwealth agencies:

Australian Capital Territory

Department of Urban Services
www.urbanservices.act.gov.au

New South Wales

Department of Land and Water Conservation
www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
www.npws.nsw.gov.au

NSW Botanic Gardens
www.rbgsyd.gov.au

Northern Territory

Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts
www.nt.gov.au/nreta

Queensland

Environment Protection Agency
www.epa.qld.gov.au

South Australia

Planning SA
www.planning.sa.gov.au

Tasmania

Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment
www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au

Victoria

Department of Sustainability and Environment
www.dse.vic.gov.au

Western Australia

Department of Conservation and Land Management
www.calm.wa.gov.au

Agriculture WA
www.agric.wa.gov.au

Commonwealth

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia
www.daff.gov.au

Australian Greenhouse Office
www.greenhouse.gov.au

Australian Department of Environment and Heritage
www.environment.gov.au

Further information

View the Australian Native Vegetation Assessment 2001 report.

The National Vegetation Information System Framework framework.

View Landscape Health in Australia 2001 report.

View the Australian Catchment, River and Estuary Assessment 2002.

View the Australian Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment 2002.

View all Theme Reports from the National Land and Water Resources Audit.

Link to Atlas on-line mapping for maps of major vegetation groups and other natural resource data.

Link to data available for down load.

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