Australian Natural Resources Atlas

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A Vegetation Information System Management Application: Queensland Brigalow Belt Case Study

Final Report
Paul Sattler
2001

Key Findings and Recommendations

This application demonstrates the use of comprehensively mapped vegetation data to determine potential areas of high nature conservation value for regional vegetation management planning in Queensland. The application has identified a number of key issues both in terms of the future development of the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) and of vegetation management planning in the State.

A) The National Vegetation Information System & Regional Vegetation Management Planning

  1. The development of a national vegetation management system is a priority for Australia for natural resource management and for the protection of biodiversity.
  2. Further work is needed to ensure that the NVIS is both comprehensive in terms of its mapped coverage of Australia and to ensure that it is of direct use for regional planning in addition to national planning purposes.
  3. The NVIS will be particularly useful for regional vegetation planning at a state and territory level when issues of equivalency and edge matching of vegetation units are resolved across state and territory borders. For example, this will inform regional planning through an appreciation of the conservation status of similar vegetation in adjoining jurisdictions.
  4. The NVIS units do not relate directly to regional ecosystem (REs) units in Queensland which are the legislative basis for vegetation planning in that state. This creates a major difficulty in using the NVIS data for regional planning in Queensland. This may be less of a problem in other jurisdictions where the NVIS units may be used directly for regional planning.
  5. If the method demonstrated in this management application is applied using the NVIS data, a number of prerequisites is needed for it to be suitable for regional vegetation planning in Queensland, viz.:
    1. The NVIS data should link directly to RE data;
    2. To assist in providing this link, standardized environmental descriptions should be accommodated in the NVIS database structure e.g. land zone or geomorphic unit, IBRA bioregion;
    3. The currency between the NVIS and RE updates is essential to avoid two dissimilar products being possible over the same management area;
    4. Data in the NVIS must easily be able to calculate and update the conservation status (% remaining in a natural condition) of a vegetation type within a bioregional context;
    5. A review of the NVIS database structure is needed to overcome the problem of the cumbersome number of unique polygons for mixed or heterogeneous mapped units and
    6. Equivalency and edge matching between mapped areas, particularly cross border, is needed to facilitate whole of bioregion analyses to be performed.
  6. Vegetation condition is an important attribute that has been included in this analysis because of the availability of another (qualitative) data set. There is a need for condition assessment to become a standardized part of vegetation mapping and of the NVIS. However, it is a major task that should be initiated separately with the agreement of all jurisdictions and funded specifically. It should not compete with the completion of the NVIS in terms of gap filling and streamlining of the database.

B) Regional Vegetation Planning - The Brigalow Belt Study

  1. This study has successfully trialed a number of conservation criteria for vegetation planning including:
    • the level of remnant vegetation at a subregional scale;
    • conservation status of regional ecosystems;
    • level of reservation of threatened and non threatened regional ecosystems;
    • identification of regional ecosystems of high ecological value; and
    • recognises that other values such as National Park proposals and regional and local corridors should be considered in identifying potential areas of high nature conservation value.
  2. Data are presented for the 34 subregions of the Brigalow Belt (North) and Brigalow Belt (South) IBRA bioregions as a future guide for regional vegetation planning in this part of Queensland. Maps interpreting this data are presented for four subregions in the Brigalow Belt.
  3. The application of these criteria should be regarded as minimum requirement for the development of regional vegetation management plans.
  4. This method provides a rapid assessment tool for identifying potential areas of high nature conservation value to meet the proposed development of 20 regional vegetation plans in Queensland over the next 2 years.
  5. The Brigalow Belt is undergoing the most rapid change of any part of Queensland with 59% of all clearing occurring in this area. In many subregions vegetation is extensively cleared and is well below a proposed minimum threshold of 30% of original vegetation.
  6. The Queensland Government policy of retaining 30% vegetation at a bioregional level must be interpreted at the subregional scale to ensure the preservation of biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems across the landscape. No further clearing should occur in subregions with less that 30% remnant vegetation.
  7. This analysis could be applied to other bioregions where clearing is occurring so as to flag potential areas of high nature conservation value, though different thresholds in terms of adequacy of representation in reserves may need to be tailored to particular bioregions.
  8. This analysis is of direct use for natural resource management planning for example in combination with the identification of areas of high degradation potential, salinity hazard and potential for greenhouse gas sequestration.
  9. There is a need to consider regrowth particularly in planning the recovery of highly fragmented landscapes and endangered regional ecosystems, and to increase the viability of protected areas.
  10. Further research is needed particularly: to identify the requirements of species in fragmented landscapes; to identify habitat requirements for rare and threatened species; and to understand ecosystem function to enable appropriate clearing thresholds and recovery actions to be identified for differing environments.

Introduction

The National Land and Water Resources Audit (Audit) is developing an integrated National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) with the co-operation of all State and Territory governments, Environment Australia and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia. For the first time this will provide a comprehensive picture of Australia's vegetation at varying map scales. It will be a valuable tool for national and regional planning by providing nationwide information on emerging land management and biodiversity issues and enable informed regional planning within a wider context.

To demonstrate the potential use of a vegetation information system for regional planning and its usefulness in identifying issues for state and national policy development, a detailed case study has been carried out across the Brigalow Belt North and Brigalow Belt South bioregions in Queensland.

To ensure that this case study can be directly used for the proposed development of regional vegetation management plans in Queensland and to demonstrate the application of consistently mapped vegetation data, these analyses have been performed on Queensland's regional ecosystem (RE) data rather than on the NVIS unit data. Whilst many NVIS units correspond directly to regional ecosystems, there are some differences that have occurred in achieving nationwide uniformity. A look-up table (Table 1) is provided to enable a cross-reference between regional ecosystems and NVIS units and also describes the vegetation based on the NVIS Information Hierarchy (NLWRA 2000). Table 2 provides a summary description of the regional ecosystems across the brigalow belt.

When equivalency and edge matching between the various vegetation data sets entered into the NVIS is complete, similar regional studies can be undertaken using the NVIS vegetation units. In addition, the NVIS will enable the conservation status of vegetation types that occur across State and Territory borders to be determined. This will help inform regional planning at the State and Territory level, e.g. the status of threatened coolibah Eucalytpus coolabah woodlands on alluvial soils which extend across the Qld-NSW border within the Darling-Riverine Plain bioregion will be able to be established.

The Brigalow Belt South and North bioregions have been chosen for this case study to demonstrate a practical application of a vegetation management information system. These regions are under rapid and continuing development, many regional ecosystems have a poor conservation status and the biodiversity have a very low level of formal protection.

The Brigalow Belt of Queensland

Description

The brigalow belt in Queensland is divided into the Brigalow Belt North (BBN) and Brigalow Belt South (BBS) bioregions. It is described by Young et al. (1999) as a large and complex area, covering 36 million ha in Queensland and encompasses much of the 500-750 mm per annum rainfall country from the Queensland-New South Wales border to Townsville, (Map 1). Similar landscapes extend southwards to Narrabri in New South Wales (Morgan and Terrey 1992). The two bioregions are characterised by the leguminous tree Acacia harpophylla (brigalow) which forms forest and woodland on clay soils. Brigalow communities are estimated to have covered between 4.7 and 6 million hectares (Isbell 1962; Johnson 1980) prior to European settlement. However, brigalow ecosystems are not predominant through the entire region and large areas are characterised by a range of ecosystems including eucalypt forest and woodland, grassland, dry rainforest, cypress pine woodland and riparian communities.

Since World War II the Brigalow Belt bioregions have become a major agricultural and pastoral area. Broadscale clearing of brigalow occurred as part of extensive land development schemes in the 1960s. Coal mining is a significant industry in the Bowen Basin in the BBN bioregion and cypress pine and native hardwoods are harvested from sandstone landscapes in the BBS bioregion. Important regional centres include Goodiwindi, Dalby, Roma, Biloela, Emerald, Rockhampton and Ayr. Townsville, Queensland's second largest city, is in the extreme north-east of BBN. Land use in the brigalow belt is shown on Map 2 and land tenures associated with these uses are shown on Map 3.

The two Brigalow Belt bioregions have been further divided into 20 subregions in BBS and 14 subregions in BBN (IBRA version 4 - note 27 subregions are identified in BBS in IBRA version 5.1 in recognition of adjoining NSW subregions (Environment Australia 2000)).

Threats to biodiversity

In the early part of this century much of the brigalow belt was subject to invasion by prickly pear. This period in history is spectacular because of the rapidity and extent to which prickly pear invaded the landscape, and also because of the outstanding success of a biological control agent, the cactoblastis moth.

Many regional ecosystems in the brigalow belt have been subject to rapid change through broadscale clearing, altered fire regimes and introduction of exotic species. The indicators of the effects of these agents on fauna and flora are perhaps only starting to appear. Species surviving in fragmented landscapes face uncertain futures through the cumulative effects of fire, weed invasion and continued clearing.

Many fauna species have undergone severe range reductions or localised extinctions as a consequence of habitat modification (e.g. Gordon 1978). An example is Lerista allanae, a burrowing lizard which appears to have lived in natural grasslands of the central highlands area and is now presumed extinct (Covacevich, pers. comm.).

Flora species of some habitats also appear to have undergone a substantial reduction in population. An example is provided by Cadellia pentastylis, a large tree associated with Acacia harpophylla forest and vine thickets. Cadellia pentastylis is now classified vulnerable.

The pressure of continuing development is acute in this region. Between 1997-1999, over 59% (251,484 ha) of the total land clearing in Queensland (425,000 ha) occurred in the brigalow belt (Department of Natural Resources 2000).

Other major threats to biodiversity are high total grazing pressure and the proliferation of exotic species. Major water infrastructure development and the expansion of intensive agriculture are emerging issues. The focus of tree clearing is shifting from the essentially cleared acacia ecosystems on fertile soils to the eucalypt woodlands on poorer soils and the clearing of remnants and regrowth as part of improving farm productivity. Clearing has been accompanied by the introduction and spread of non-native pasture species such as buffel grass Cenchrus ciliaris which invades some intact natural regional ecosystems and particularly changes fire regimes.

While most of the lowland landscapes, and those formed on shales, have been extensively cleared, the more rugged topography associated with the sandstone and metamorphic ranges remains relatively undisturbed. Some stock routes also retain relatively undisturbed remnants, including fragments of some 'at risk' regional ecosystems.

Addressing declining levels of biodiversity presents a challenge because of the extent to which some landscapes have been cleared and the fragmented nature of remnants.

Conservation Status and Level of Reservation

Though a number of National Parks and Conservation Parks occur throughout both bioregions, only 2.2% of the brigalow belt is reserved in protected areas. The largest protected area is Carnarvon National Park, chiefly associated with the sandstone ranges and highly dissected basalt tablelands of the central highlands. Competition with pastoral development over the years has meant that many of the more fertile parts supporting brigalow shrublands, blue grass downs and eucalypt woodlands on alluvial and clay plains have been poorly conserved. In total, 67% of REs are represented in protected areas with only 39% represented more than once (Sattler and Williams 1999).

Associated with the intensive development of the region, many of the REs occurring in fertile parts have been significantly cleared or cropped whilst other REs have been degraded in condition eg some blue grass REs due to parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus) weed invasion.

This has meant that 43% of all REs are endangered (<10% of pre-European extent remaining in a natural condition) or are of concern (10-30% of pre-European extent remaining in a natural condition). Forty-four percent (44%) of these threatened REs (endangered plus of concern) are not conserved in the protected area estate (Sattler 2000).

A Subregional Analysis

Bioregions are chiefly large areas in Queensland with a high degree of landscape heterogeneity even though there is a common landscape pattern that is the result of the association of a range of environmental variables. Subregions represent the more homogeneous components of bioregions, being closely associated with major geological and geomorphic units and finer climatic differences (Morgan & Terrey 1990). As such they more closely reflect general land capabilities and historical land use patterns. Subregions are being used increasingly in conservation assessment and planning such as for assessing representativeness as part of designing a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system, eg. forest agreement process in South East Queensland, and recently in assessing landscape health across Australia as part of the National Land and Water Resources Audit (NLWRA in prep. 2001).

There is growing evidence that when remaining vegetation falls to below 30% in an area there is a risk of significant loss of biodiversity (McIntyre, McIvor and MacLeod 2000; Fensham, unpublished). Research on eucalypt woodlands in New South Wales also demonstrate reduced economic returns on pastoral properties when the level of vegetation falls below 34% on a property basis (Walpole 1999).

Map 4 identifies those subregions in Queensland where remaining natural vegetation has fallen below 30%. In addition it identifies those subregions with less than 40% natural vegetation as it is expected that since this analysis is based on 1997 satellite imagery these subregions may be approaching the 30% threshold. Map 4 also identifies those subregions with less than 50% and 60% vegetation to flag areas where particular land zones, such as alluvial systems, may have been cleared disproportionately. The status and distribution of remnants in these subregions should be carefully checked.

Notably 12 of the 36 subregions in the brigalow belt have less than 30% remaining vegetation, with a further five having less than 40%. In the Southern Brigalow Belt bioregion this proportion is much greater and generally coincides with the Murray-Darling catchment in Queensland.

Whereas the Queensland government has a policy to require 30% retention of vegetation at a bioregional level, this analysis enables this policy to be interpreted at the more appropriate subregional scale. It has been suggested (Sattler 2001) that if this policy is not interpreted at a subregional scale, a highly biased vegetation retention pattern will emerge, i.e. remnant vegetation will chiefly be confined to mountain ranges and lower capability lands.

Queensland Regional Vegetation Management Plans

The new Queensland Vegetation Management Act 2000 requires the development of regional vegetation management plans. This major planning exercise will require the development of up to 20 regional plans over the next two years across a significant proportion of the state.

Four brigalow belt subregions together with a series of maps, are chosen to illustrate the application of a vegetation management system to such vegetation management planning. These are the Moonie River-Commoron Creek Floodout (BBS19) and the Inglewood Sandstones (BBS18) in the Southern Brigalow Belt and the Isaac-Comet Downs (BBN11) and the Belyando Downs (BBN7) subregions in the Northern Brigalow Belt (Map 1).

An analysis of all brigalow belt subregions is also attached in tabular form to assist regional vegetation planning throughout both bioregions, refer Table 3 and Table 4. These tables provide a similar analysis of the values of REs as used in these four examples. In particular, Table 3 provides data on each RE, its conservation status (clearing and condition), its total representation in reserves across the whole bioregion, REs of special scientific value, and the subregions where the RE occurs. Table 4 provides data on REs in a subregional context and enables regional vegetation plans that may be defined on administrative boundaries to be assembled in terms of conservation values for each subregion. Specifically Table 4 identifies the level of reservation for of concern REs in each subregion.

The Queensland Vegetation Management Act, 2000 prescribes inter alia, the preservation of remnant endangered regional ecosystems (s3(1)(a)(i)) and vegetation in areas of high nature conservation and areas vulnerable to land degradation (s3(1)(a)(ii)). In this case study a number of the criteria proposed by Sattler (2001, attached) to identify potential areas of high nature conservation value are used to demonstrate the application of a vegetation information system.

These criteria identify a number of key vegetation attributes or ecological values that should be protected in the development of Queensland's regional vegetation management plans, viz:

Method used in the Case Study

In addition to the initial identification of remnant natural vegetation at a subregional level, Map 4, the rationale for the other criteria chosen for the case study includes:

  1. The protection of endangered REs is a specific requirement of the Act. Both dominate and subdominate endangered REs are identified where they occur within mixed (heterogenous) vegetation units (polygons).
  2. The Queensland Vegetation Management Act 1999 sought to protect all endangered and of concern ecosystems. This was amended before proclamation to remove protection to of concern REs as a general category on freehold lands. However, there are a number of, of concern REs which are particularly at risk: these include REs that are not reserved or only poorly reserved in the protected area estate.

    This analysis identifies those of concern REs that have less than 10% of their original occurrence (pre-European distribution) in parks in each subregion. It is argued (Sattler 2001) that these priority of concern REs should be totally protected in each subregion to maximize retention of these threatened REs across their geographic range.

    Whereas the Vegetation Management Act 2000 seeks to protect all endangered REs threatened by clearing, there remains a number threatened by significant deterioration in their condition in terms of compositional change and soil loss: these are broadly identified across Queensland in Sattler and Williams (1999).

    This analysis includes those REs that are threatened by degradation, as the protection of remnants that still remain in a near natural state will be a significant part of protecting regional biodiversity. (Note: S3(I)(c) stipulates that the purpose of the Act is to maintain or increase biodiversity).
  3. It is identified in Sattler and Williams (1999) that there is a limited number of REs across Queensland for which conservation is recommended on scientific grounds irrespective of current conservation status owing to their special ecological significance. These include:
    • all spring communities, including mound springs;
    • dry rainforest scrubs (semi-evergreen vine thicket);
    • montane heaths (shrubland);
    • some coastal types including littoral rainforest and vegetation of rocky headlands;
    • heaths (shrublands) on Tertiary sandstones in inland areas;
    • rainforest, particularly lowland types;
    • riparian ecosystems;
    • wetland ecosystems;
    • ecosystems associated with topographic isolates;
    • mangroves.

    These types are often species rich, of localised or restricted distribution and contain high proportions of isolated and restricted populations of plants and animals.

    For this analysis the REs that fall within these categories have been identified across the brigalow belt (Table 5). A coding system for cross referencing to Tables 3, 4, 7 & 8 is also provided in Table 5.
  4. Thirty-one percent (31%) of all REs in Queensland and 33% of all REs in the brigalow belt are not reserved in the park estate. Even with the proposed expansion of Queensland's National Park estate to 5%, many of these REs are unlikely to be formally protected in parks: they may occur as isolated occurrences and inclusion in parks may not represent an efficient or practical management strategy. In this analysis, REs that are not reserved or only have a low (<5% of original distribution i.e. relative to the proposed size of Queensland's National Park estate) representation across the brigalow belt as a whole are identified. Protection of these REs to agreed targets in each subregion is an important consideration for regional vegetation planning fora.
  5. Other values associated with determining areas of high nature conservation value, e.g. National Park and other protected area proposals, are discussed generally rather than spatially identified for the purposes of this case study.
  6. The maintenance of corridors at both property and regional scales is significant to maintain regional biodiversity. The protection of regrowth has been vigorously debated and is not directly addressed in Queensland's new legislation. However protection of key areas of regrowth is essential to recover riparian corridors and endangered REs, to ensure the viability of remnants and to restore ecological processes, particularly in the highly fragmented landscapes.

Southern Brigalow Belt

Moonie River - Commoron Creek Floodout (BBS19)

Moonie River - Commoron Creek Floodout is level to gently undulating country on Quaternary alluvium derived from sandstone to the east, and overlying the Griman Creek Formation. These are also areas of partly consolidated Tertiary alluvial deposits. Soils include grey clays, brown clay loams, sandy solodics and solodised solonetz. Major vegetation types include brigalow Acacia harpophylla and/or belah Casuarina cristata open forest, often with molly box Eucalyptus pilligaensis and narrow-leaved ironbark E. crebra, cypress pine Callitris glaucophylla open forest/woodland, (Young et al 1999).

Map 4 and Map 5a identifies that 18% remnant vegetation existed as of 1997. Map 5b shows the pre-clearing distribution of the REs that are now endangered, of concern and not of concern. Accordingly, based on the above discussion, that no further clearing should occur below a subregional threshold of 30%, a detailed analysis is not presented as to any particular areas of remnant vegetation that may be of higher nature conservation value. Rather, Map 5c indicates the proximity of remnants to existing parks, state forests, and riparian corridors where restoration should be encouraged to maintain and increase the viability of remnants and to restore ecological processes. The protection of regrowth of endangered REs in such locations would be a priority.

Inglewood Sandstones (BBS18)

Inglewood Sandstones consists of undulating to low hilly country on deeply weathered and lateritised Jurassic-Cretaceous sandstone, with associated colluvial lower slopes and alluvial plains. Major vegetation types include: narrow-leaved ironbark Eucalyptus crebra on hillsides; E. crebra, cypress pine Callitris glaucophylla and bulloak Allocasuarine luehmannii on solodic soils in gently undulating parts; and poplar box E. populnea on lower slopes and flats. There are also minor areas of brigalow-belah Acacia harpophylla-Casuarina cristata (Young et al 1999).

This subregion supports 59% of its original vegetation cover, refer Map 4 and Map 6a. Map 6b shows the pre-clearing extent of REs that are now endangered, of concern and not of concern. Map 6c shows the mapped REs for a portion of the subregion.

Maps 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g, the compiled Map 6h and Table 6 identify REs that are of potential high nature conservation value accordingly to the above criteria. It is cautioned that Map 6f which identifies REs of high scientific value, includes a number of REs that may support rare and threatened (R & T) species: this does not mean that a particular occurrence of the RE does actually contain the R & T species. This would need to be subject to field assessment.

Map 6i identifies the tenure of this subregion and indicates that much of the remnant vegetation is contained in State Forest. In these circumstances both native timber logging practices and vegetation management practices over areas of non commercial timber species by lessees who have grazing leases on the State Forest will need to be cognisant of these identified ecological values.

The proposed extensions to the Wondul Range National Park would add to the protection and positive management of some of these values.

Brigalow Belt North

Isaac - Comet Downs (BBN11)

Isaac - Comet Downs is an extensive but diverse subregion. It is a largely undulating subregion dominated by Tertiary and other Cainozoic deposits, with mid-catena deposits being slightly more prominent. Tableland and dissected remnants of the upper Tertiary surface are widespread, carrying a narrow-leaved Eucalyptus crebra woodland on the earths of undulating plateaus, and bendee Acacia catenulata or lancewood. A. shirleyi on the rocky hills and mesas. The lower parts of the Tertiary surface are dominated by brigalow Acacia harpophylla and Dawson gum Eucalyptus cambageana communities on undulating clay or tenure contrast soils. These communities dominate the subregion. Alluvium is also prominent, and the predominantly fine-textured soils carry brigalow or coolibah Eucalyptus coolabah woodlands. Fine-grained Permian sediments are exposed in some areas, giving rise to grasslands, open woodland and areas of brigalow (Young et al 1999).

Map 4 and Map 7a identifies that this subregion is below the 30% threshold with 26% remnant vegetation as of 1997. Map 7b shows the pre-clearing extent of the endangered, of concern and not of concern REs. Again, no further analysis is carried out as to the relative value of remnant patches as all remaining vegetation should be protected (Map 7c).

This diverse subregion, containing extensive fertile areas was the subject of the fourth highest level of clearing between 1997 and 1999 with 7.1% of all clearing in Queensland.

This subregion also has a number of National Park proposals (Sattler 2000). These include proposals on the Nogoa River near Emerald, adjoining the Expedition Range south of Blackwater, on the Junee Tableland and possible extensions to existing parks. The critically endangered bridled nailtailed wallaby (Onychogalea faenata) occurs in this subregion in a few discrete populations. Recovery of species and ecosystems will require that the emphasis shift to reversing fragmentation of remnant vegetation, to consolidating the park estate and to off park conservation strategies to ensure positive management of other remnants.

Belyando Downs (BBN7)

Belyando Downs is an extensive undulating subregion dominated by lower strata of the Tertiary deposits. Fine-textured soils support brigalow Acacia harpophylla and gidgee A. cambagei communities. Plateau remnants of the upper Tertiary surface are widespread, their red and yellow earth soils supporting silver-leaved ironbark Eucalyptus melanophloia woodlands. Where the underlying Paleozoic rocks outcrop, lancewood Acacia shirleyi and bendee A. catenulata occur on the rockier hills and cypress Callitris glaucophylla or ironbark on deeper soils. Poplar box Eucalyptus populnea woodlands occur on areas of the middle strata of the Tertiary surface, and there are also areas of bluegrass Dichanthium sericeum downs. Alluvia deposits are also widespread, and carry poplar box and brigalow communities (Young et al 1999).

This subregion supports 41% of remnant vegetation (Map 4 and Map 8a). Map 8b shows the preclearing extent of endangered, of concern and not of concern REs and Map 8c shows the mapped REs for part of this subregion. This subregion being predominantly freehold and leasehold tenure has a highly fragmented vegetation, though opportunities for linking remnants and existing parks through the protection of key areas of regrowth do exist, refer Map 8d.

Maps 8e, 8f, 8g, 8h, compiled Map 8i and Table 7 identify potential areas of high nature conservation value.

Nairana on the confluence of Mistake Creek and the Belyando River has recently been acquired for National Park under the National Reserve System program. Consolidation of this area with Willandspey Conservation Park identifies a relatively large potential area of high nature conservation value (Map 8c and Map 8i).

List of Tables

Lists of Maps

Acknowledgment

Vegetation mapping and the analysis of mapped data by the Qld Herbarium, Environment Protection Authority is gratefully acknowledged.

References

Department of Natural Resouces (2000) Land Cover Change in Queensland 1997-1999. QDNR, 890 Meiers Road, Indooroopilly.

Environment Australia, (2000). An Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia: A Framework for Establishing the National System of Reserves, Version 5.1 - In press. Commonwealth Government, Canberra.

Fensham unpublished

Gordon, G. (1978). The Bush - here, there and everywhere'. In: Exploration North, A Natural History of Queensland (ed. H.J. Lavery). Richmond Hill Press and Queensland Government.

Isbell, R.F. (162). Soils and Vegetation of the Brigalow Lands, Eastern Australia, Soils and Land Use Series No. 43, Division of Soils, CSIRO.

Johnson, R.W. (1980). Studies of vegetation transect through brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) forest in central Queensland. Australian Journal of Ecology 5:287.

McIntyre, S., McIvor, J.G. and Macleod, N.D. (2000) Principles for sustainable grazing in Eucalypt Woodlands: Landscape-scale Indicators and the Search for Thresholds. In Management for Sustainable Ecosystems: Eds P. Hale, A. Petrie, D. Moloney and P.S. Sattler pp 92-100. Centre for Conservation Biology, University of Queensland Press, Brisbane.

Morgan, G. and Terrey, J. (1992). Nature Conservation Western New South Wales. National Parks Association of NSW Inc.

Morgan, G. and Terrey, J. (1990). Natural regions of western New South Wales and their use for environmental management. Proceedings Ecological Society Australia 16(4) 67-73.

National Land and Water Resource Audit (2000). "Australian Vegetation Attributes, version 5.0" - Audit, Australia.

Sattler, P.S. (2000). Queensland's National Parks - an investment in our future. 13th Romeo Lahey address to the National Parks Association of Queensland, Brisbane.

Sattler, P.S. (2001). Rapid Assessment of Nature Conservation Priorities for the Development of Regional Vegetation Management Plans in Queensland. In Press. Royal Society of Queensland. Landscape Health Symposium proceedings, Brisbane.

Sattler, P.S. and Williams, R.D. (eds) (1999). The Conservation Status of Queensland's Bioregional Ecosystems. Published by Environmental Protection Agency and the Queensland National Parks Association, Brisbane.

Walpole, S.C. (1999). Assessment of the economic and ecological impacts of remnant vegetation on pasture productivity. Pacific Conservation Biology 5:28-35. Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney.

Young, P.A.R., Wilson, B.A., McCosker, J.C., Fensham, R.J., Morgan, G. and Taylor, P.M. (1999). Brigalow Belt In The Conservation Status of Queensland's Bioregional Ecosystems Eds. by P.S. Sattler and R.D. Williams. Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane.

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