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In this section you will find detailed information, including national overviews and state and regional level assessments, from the 2000-2002 National Land and Water Resources Audit theme assessments.
Biodiversity and Vegetation - South East Coastal Plain
South East Coastal Plain
The bioregion consists of undulating Tertiary and Quaternary coastal plains and hinterlands that occur in several distinct segments (Warrnambool Plain, Otway Plain and Gippsland Plain subregions) rising up to 200 metres in altitude. The bioregion extends from Tyrendarra in the west to Lakes Entrance in the east, and includes Geelong, eastern Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. The area has a temperate climate with rainfall varying from about 500 to 1100 mm, typically with higher rainfall in winter. Adjacent areas of higher altitude (eg. the Otway and Strzelecki Ranges) produce rainshadow effects in some parts of the area. The Warrnambool Plain subregion is dominated by nutrient deficient soils over low calcareous dune formations and the distinctive cliffed coastline. Much of the limestone has been overlayed by more recent sediments, and between the limestone dunes areas of swamplands are characterised by highly fertile peats and seasonal inundation. The area east of Warrnambool is characterised by deeper soils of volcanic origins overlying limestone, which are dissected by streams. The Otway Plain subregion includes coastal plains, river valleys and foothills from the Bellarine Peninsula west to Princetown. A small isolated component at Werribee, on the western shore of Port Phillip Bay, is included. The Gippsland Plain includes lowland coastal and alluvial plains characterised by generally flat to gently undulating terrain. The coastline is varied and includes sandy beaches backed by dunes and cliffs, and shallow inlets with extensive mud and sand flats.
The vegetation includes lowland forests, open forests with shrubby or heathy understoreys, grasslands and grassy woodlands, heathlands, shrublands, freshwater and coastal wetlands, mangrove scrubs, saltmarshes, dune scrubs and coastal tussock grasslands. Very little native vegetation remains in this area, most having been cleared for agriculture, both historically through pastoral development and more recently through cropping.
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
What was the area of major vegetation groups in prior to European settlement?
| Major Vegetation Group | Area (ha) | % total extent |
|---|---|---|
| Rainforest and vine thickets | 128 | 0 |
| Eucalyptus tall open forests | 61,028 | 3.6 |
| Eucalyptus open forest | 410,152 | 24.2 |
| Eucalyptus low open forest | 1,244 | .1 |
| Eucalyptus woodlands | 696,900 | 41.1 |
| Acacia forest and woodlands | 18,888 | 1.1 |
| Melaleuca forest and woodlands | 4,552 | .3 |
| Other forests and woodlands | 49,940 | 2.9 |
| Eucalyptus open woodlands | 4,348 | .3 |
| Low closed forest and closed shrublands | 167,516 | 9.9 |
| Acacia shrublands | 2,932 | .2 |
| Other Shrublands | 21,256 | 1.3 |
| Heath | 11,604 | .7 |
| Tussock grasslands | 44,188 | 2.6 |
| Other grasslands, herblands, sedgelands and rushlands | 73,616 | 4.3 |
| Chenopod shrub, samphire shrub and forblands | 39,596 | 2.3 |
| Mangroves, tidal mudflat, samphire and bare areas, claypan, sand, rock, salt lakes, lagoons, lakes | 29,376 | 1.7 |
What major vegetation groups occur in (circa 1997)?
Map: Dynamic Map of major vegetation groups (circa 1997) 1km
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
What is the area of major vegetation groups in (circa 1997)?
| Major Vegetation Group | Area (ha) | % total extent |
|---|---|---|
| Cleared / modified native vegetation | 1,339,960 | 79 |
| Rainforest and vine thickets | 8 | 0 |
| Eucalyptus tall open forests | 14,864 | .9 |
| Eucalyptus open forest | 109,444 | 6.4 |
| Eucalyptus low open forest | 928 | .1 |
| Eucalyptus woodlands | 65,112 | 3.8 |
| Acacia forest and woodlands | 1,008 | .1 |
| Melaleuca forest and woodlands | 548 | 0 |
| Other forests and woodlands | 35,464 | 2.1 |
| Eucalyptus open woodlands | 1,056 | .1 |
| Low closed forest and closed shrublands | 19,736 | 1.2 |
| Acacia shrublands | 928 | .1 |
| Other Shrublands | 9,336 | .6 |
| Heath | 9,248 | .5 |
| Tussock grasslands | 1,028 | .1 |
| Other grasslands, herblands, sedgelands and rushlands | 22,156 | 1.3 |
| Chenopod shrub, samphire shrub and forblands | 37,200 | 2.2 |
| Mangroves, tidal mudflat, samphire and bare areas, claypan, sand, rock, salt lakes, lagoons, lakes | 29,012 | 1.7 |
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): 357,076 ha
Percent remaining native vegetation: 21%
Percent cleared/modified native vegetation: 79%
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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