Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Biodiversity and Vegetation - Victorian Volcanic Plain

Victorian Volcanic Plain

Location Map

Victorian Volcanic Plain is an extensive basaltic plain with numerous volcanic cones and eruption points. Vegetation formerly consisted of damp sclerophyll forests, woodlands and grasslands, now mostly long cleared. The Victorian Volcanic Plain has two subregions (Victorian Volcanic Plain in Victoria [VVP1] and Mount Gambier in South Australia [VVP2]).

VVP 1 - Victorian Volcanic Plain province dominated by Cainozoic volcanic deposits. These formed an extensive flat to undulating basaltic plain with stony rises, old lava flows, numerous volcanic cones and old eruption points and is dotted with shallow lakes both saline/brackish and freshwater.

The soils are variable. Red texture contrast soils (Kurosols and Ferosols) on the higher fertile plain and scoraceous material originally supported Plains Grassy Woodland and Plains Grassland ecosystems. Calcareous sodic texture contrast soils grading to yellow acidic earths (Calcarosols, Sodosols and Dermosols) on the intermediate plain, and grey cracking clays (Vertosols) on the low plains, supported Stony Knoll Shrubland, Plains Grassy Woodland and Plains Grassy Wetland ecosystems. On the stony rises (volcanic outcropping) the stony earths (Dermosols) supported Stony Rises Herb-rich Woodland, Basalt Shrubby Woodland and Herb-rich Foothill Forest ecosystems. Very little native vegetation remains in this area, most having been cleared for agriculture, both historically through pastoral development and more recently through cropping.

VVP2 - Mount Gambier province is a gently sloping ash plain with steep ash cones rising abruptly. The craters of some of these cones contain lakes (including the well-known landmark Blue Lake). Most native vegetation has been replaced with pine plantation, pastures and crops. Dairy and beef cattle are grazed and vegetables cultivated on smallholdings. Rural land merges with the urban fringe of Mount Gambier (Laut et al. 1977). Very little native vegetation remains in this area, most having been cleared for agriculture. Native species recorded in this area include Eucalyptus ovata, Acacia melanoxylon and A. mearnsii (D'arcy et al. 1984).

Major vegetation types were probably Gahnia trifida and G. filum sedgelands, Banksia marginata low woodland and Leptospermum lanigerum tall closed shrubland on lower lying areas; Melaleuca lanceolata plus Allocasuarina verticillata low woodland on terra rossa soils and minor occurrences of Themeda triandra tussock grassland, Eucalyptus obliqua open forest and E. ovata woodland.

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
Eucalyptus tall open forests 13,396 .6
Eucalyptus open forest 64,216 3
Eucalyptus low open forest 120 0
Eucalyptus woodlands 803,924 37.2
Acacia forest and woodlands 1,496 .1
Melaleuca forest and woodlands 76 0
Other forests and woodlands 11,968 .6
Eucalyptus open woodlands 267,280 12.4
Mallee woodlands and shrublands 2,896 .1
Low closed forest and closed shrublands 39,292 1.8
Acacia shrublands 16 0
Other Shrublands 64,060 3
Heath 88 0
Tussock grasslands 763,612 35.3
Other grasslands, herblands, sedgelands and rushlands 45,860 2.1
Chenopod shrub, samphire shrub and forblands 10,240 .5
Mangroves, tidal mudflat, samphire and bare areas, claypan, sand, rock, salt lakes, lagoons, lakes 54,748 2.5

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 1,998,844 92.4
Eucalyptus tall open forests 656 0
Eucalyptus open forest 34,392 1.6
Eucalyptus low open forest 40 0
Eucalyptus woodlands 49,616 2.3
Acacia forest and woodlands 180 0
Melaleuca forest and woodlands 4 0
Other forests and woodlands 708 0
Eucalyptus open woodlands 1,020 0
Mallee woodlands and shrublands 1,932 .1
Low closed forest and closed shrublands 4,484 .2
Other Shrublands 852 0
Heath 36 0
Tussock grasslands 4,512 .2
Other grasslands, herblands, sedgelands and rushlands 872 0
Chenopod shrub, samphire shrub and forblands 9,320 .4
Mangroves, tidal mudflat, samphire and bare areas, claypan, sand, rock, salt lakes, lagoons, lakes 54,724 2.5

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): 163,348 ha

Percent remaining native vegetation: 7.6%

Percent cleared/modified native vegetation: 92.4%

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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