Grey Box-Buloke Grassy Woodlands
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Grey Box-Buloke Grassy Woodlands A nationally threatened vegetation community found in the Goulburn Broken About this fact sheet This fact sheet addresses the following questions regarding the vegetation community, Grey Box – Buloke Grassy Woodland: • What is it? • Where is it? • Why is it important? • How can I protect and manage it? Community Description Grey Box and Buloke Grassy Woodlands are open woodlands of the Riverina and Murray Darling Depression Bioregions. They are typically found on clay-loam soils, in areas with < 600 mm p.a. of rainfall, which are seasonally inundated but rarely flooded for long periods. Grey Box (dominant species) and Buloke are the most common overstory species, however other trees such as River Red Gum, Yellow Box, White Box and White-Cypress Pine may occur. Buloke may not always be present in a particular patch, but will occur in the neighbourhood as individuals or dense stands. The understorey is open and grassy, typically consisting of native grasses and herbs such as lillies, daisies and saltbushes (chenopods). Shrubs are sparse and typically include Wattles, Sweet Bursaria and Cassinia. This community largely equates to the Plains Woodland Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) in the North East. The presence of chenopods with the dominant overstorey species distinguishes this EVC from Plains Grassy Woodland. Distribution Grey Box-Buloke Grassy Woodlands are found in the Goulburn Broken on the non-flooding plains. In areas including Murchison, Violet Town, Nagambie, Katamatite, Nathalia and Numurkah. Key sites include the Balmattum Grassy Woodland Reserve, Wunghnu Bushland Reserve, Yielma Bushland Reserve, and the Broken-Boosey State Park. Progressive clearing, additional threats from pest plants and animals, and changing agricultural practices from grazing to cropping have seen this community decline in extent and condition. This decline is compounded by a lack of conservation reserves. Estimates suggest that less than 1% of the former distribution currently exist. Wunghnu Bushland Reserve a high value site of Grey Box and Buloke Grassy Woodland vegetation. Buloke Woodlands of the Riverina and Murray Darling Depression Bioregions are shown in red on the map above. Source:DEH website Photo: Gaye Furphy
Transcript of Grey Box-Buloke Grassy Woodlands
Grey Box-Buloke GrassyWoodlandsA nationally threatened vegetation community found in the Goulburn Broken
About this fact sheetThis fact sheet addresses the following questionsregarding the vegetation community, Grey Box –Buloke Grassy Woodland:
• What is it?
• Where is it?
• Why is it important?
• How can I protect and manage it?
Community Description
Grey Box and Buloke Grassy Woodlands are openwoodlands of the Riverina and Murray DarlingDepression Bioregions. They are typically foundon clay-loam soils, in areas with < 600 mm p.a. ofrainfall, which are seasonally inundated but rarelyflooded for long periods.
Grey Box (dominant species) and Buloke are themost common overstory species, however othertrees such as River Red Gum, Yellow Box, WhiteBox and White-Cypress Pine may occur. Bulokemay not always be present in a particular patch,but will occur in the neighbourhood as individualsor dense stands.
The understorey is open and grassy, typicallyconsisting of native grasses and herbs such aslillies, daisies and saltbushes (chenopods). Shrubsare sparse and typically include Wattles, SweetBursaria and Cassinia.
Wunghnu Bushland Reserve a high value siteof Grey Box and Buloke Grassy Woodlandvegetation.
Source:DEHwebsite
Photo: Gaye Furphy
Buloke Woodlands of the Riverina and MurrayDarling Depression Bioregions are shown in redon the map above.
This community largely equates to the PlainsWoodland Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) in theNorth East. The presence of chenopods with thedominant overstorey species distinguishes thisEVC from Plains Grassy Woodland.
Distribution
Grey Box-Buloke Grassy Woodlands are found inthe Goulburn Broken on the non-flooding plains.In areas including Murchison, Violet Town,Nagambie, Katamatite, Nathalia and Numurkah.Key sites include the Balmattum Grassy WoodlandReserve, Wunghnu Bushland Reserve, YielmaBushland Reserve, and the Broken-Boosey StatePark.
Progressive clearing, additional threats from pestplants and animals, and changing agriculturalpractices from grazing to cropping have seen thiscommunity decline in extent and condition.
This decline is compounded by a lack ofconservation reserves. Estimates suggest that lessthan 1% of the former distribution currently exist.
Grey Box-Buloke Grassy Woodlands
Protection Measures
In addition to the normal vegetation clearingcontrols of the Victorian Planning Provisions(VPP’s), the special conservation values of GreyBox-Buloke Grassy Woodlands are recognised inState and Federal Government Legislation.
Flora and Fauna Guarantee (FFG) Act 1988
Grey Box-Buloke Grassy Woodlands are listed asthreatened under ‘Schedule 2 - ThreatenedEcological Community’.
An FFG listing means there are a number ofactions that must be taken including thepreparation of an Action Statement. It also meansthere are additional powers, which can be utilisedto protect this community. In particular, all florain the community is declared protected flora andas such, controls exist over the taking, trading,keeping, moving or processing of plants on publicnot private land (see Protected Flora License orPermit).
Environment Protection and BiodiversityConservation (EPBC) Act 2000
The community Grey Box and Buloke GrassyWoodlands are recognised nationally as part ofthe larger ‘Buloke Woodlands of the Riverina andMurray Darling Depression Bioregions’. Grey Box-Buloke Grassy Woodlands are listed asendangered under ‘Part 3 - Endangered EcologicalCommunity’.
An EPBC listing recognises the conservation statusof the community at a national level. If an actionis likely to have a significant impact as defined inthe Act, then it must be referred to the Ministerfor a decision. This means that a Commonwealthassessment and approval process may betriggered (see EPBC Permit).
Flora and faunaThe flora and fauna of Grey Box-Buloke GrassyWoodlands are typical of many grassy ecosystemsacross the Northern Plains. As is the case forother grassy ecosystems, many of the flora andfauna species are also threatened. Bulokemistletoe (Amyema linophylla subsp. Orientale)which is classified as vulnerable in Victoria is theonly specific flora association with thiscommunity. No specific fauna associations areyet known.
Some examples of threatened flora found in theproject area include: Leafy Templetonia(Templetonia stenophylla), Buloke (Allocasuarinaluehmannii), Waterbush (Myoporum montanum)and Wooly Buttons (Leptorhynchos panaetiodies) .
Some examples of threatened fauna found in theproject area include: Tree Goanna (Varanusvarius), Bush-stone Curlew (Burhinusmagnirostris), Grey Crowned Babbler(Pomatostomus temporalis) and Swift Parrot(Lathamus discolor).
Tree Goanna at Wunghnu Bushland Reserve israre in Victoria.
Photo: Gaye Furphy
Photo: Gaye Furphy
Buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii) is listed asdepleted under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee(FFG) Act 1988.
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The Swift Parrot is nationally endangered. GreyBox-Buloke Grassy Woodland is important habitatfor this species.
Photo: Mike Carter
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Grey Box-Buloke Grassy Woodlands
ThreatsGrey Box-Buloke Grassy Woodlands are subject toa number of threats as discussed below.
Cultivation
Cultivating the soil removes the vegetation,encourages exotic weeds, and changes thestructural diversity and integrity of the site.Once disturbed the grassy woodland isdifficult to rehabilitate. Suckering may occurfrom disturbance around the Buloke treeroots (this technique should be conductedwith expert input).
Clearing
Clearing can occur deliberately via a permitprocess. Any assessment should have properregard for the impact of the clearing and theconservation status of this community.Frequently scattered trees die as a result ofinadequate protection in the agriculturallandscape eg. ringbarking, cropping, burning,irrigation etc.
Grazing
Light grazing can be beneficial, however over-stocking, particularly during Spring/Summer,changes the ecology of the grassy woodland.This can result in increased exotic weeds andannual species, and may contribute to treedieback, ringbarking and poor regenerationof woody species. This may furthercontribute to the poor reproductive successof Buloke.
Timber collection
Fallen timber contributes to habitat forground dwelling fauna such as the Bush-stone Curlew and Common Dunnart.Removing timber also removes importantnutrients from the nutrient cycle, whichbecome available through decomposition.
Weeds and exotic grasses
Weeds are opportunistic and typically invadedisturbed areas, which have been cultivated,overgrazed or fertilised. A number of exoticgrasses such as Phalaris and Wild Oats arevery invasive and can out-compete andreplace native grasses and herbs.
Habitat fragmentation and size
Most remnants are small in size and highlyfragmented in the landscape. This makesthem more vulnerable to catastrophic eventssuch as fire and edge affects fromneighbouring agricultural land, includingfertiliser and herbicide spray drift. The smalland highly fragmented nature of patches alsocontributes to poor regeneration of Buloke.
Poor regeneration
Buloke requires both female and maleindividuals, to reproduce. Young plants arean uncommon occurrence in the region andwhere regeneration does occur it is ofteninadequate. That is the young plants are notsufficient to replace the adults in time.
Clearing ControlsSince 1989 a planning permit is required,should you propose to remove, destroy orlop native vegetation. This applies toclearing all native vegetation includingtrees, shrubs, groundcovers and grasses,unless an exemption exists.
Before removing any native vegetation,please consult a Planning Officer fromyour Local Government Authority ordiscuss your plans with a regional officeof the DSE.
Protected Flora Licence or PermitProtected flora are native plants orcommunites of native plants that havelegal protection under the FFG Act 1988.This includes all plants which belong tocommunities listed as threatened underthe Act.
If you are proposing works or otheractivities on public land which might kill,injure or disturb protected native plantsyou must obtain a Protected Flora Licenceor Permit. Application forms can beobtained from DSE Regional Offices or bycalling the Customer Service Centre on136 186.
EPBC AssessmentsIf you are proposing works which mayhave a significant impact as defined bythe EPBC Act 2000, you should contact theDepartment of Environment and Heritage(DEH).
Further information regarding the EPBCAct and making a referral can be obtainedby contacting www.deh.gov.au/epbc or on(02) 6274 1111
Photo: Gaye Furphy
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Scattered Buloke on private property. Note the lackof native understorey, ringbarking and poor treehealth.
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Grey Box-Buloke Grassy Woodlands
ManagementWhile there is still much to be learnt regarding thebest management regimes for Grey Box-BulokeGrassy Woodlands the following general pointscan be made, to assist decision making.
Grazing and fencingGrassy Woodlands have evolved with somelevel of grazing and require a degree ofbiomass removal to maintain an openunderstorey. Remnant patches shouldgenerally be fenced to control this level ofdisturbance. If grazing is permitted thisshould be light and periodic during Summerand Autumn (not Spring or Winter).
RevegetationRevegetation may be necessary if acomponent of the community is missing(trees, shrubs etc), the seed bank is depletedor species are not regenerating adequately(eg. Buloke). Care should be taken inselecting the species, provenance andmethod of establishment, particularly wherea relatively undisturbed groundcover exists.
A network of remnant patchesBecause of the small and highly fragmentednature of many of the remnant patches, thecontribution these sites make collectively asa whole needs to be considered in anydecision making. Ideally enlarging andimproving the habitat first and thenconnecting these remnants, via revegetationand enhancement of existing vegetation, willlessen the effects of fragmentation andisolation.
Weed managementThe strategies for managing weeds arethreefold. Control those weeds, which can beeasily removed with little disturbance tonative species (ie. Boxthron, Prickly Pear).Manipulate the differences in growthconditions between native and exotic such ascrash graze in Autumn/Winter or an earlySpring burn to reduce annual weed speciesUtilise adaptive management principles suchas monitoring change, trialing techniquesand implementing what works.
Signage and identifying sitesAll sites should be adequately signed andidentified on relevant Department and LocalGovernment systems, to preventunintentional misuse and damage to thesesites.
Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and EnvironmentMelbourne, June 2006 © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2006
This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne.
ISBN 1 74152 668 XFor more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186 or DSE Benalla Office 57611611.This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriatefor your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
www.dse.vic.gov.au
African Boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) is a weedof Grassy Woodlands. It can be removed bycutting and ‘painting’ the stump with anappropriate herbicide.
Related InformationManaging your patch of bush - EVC descriptions andRevegetation Guide for the Goulburn Broken
Catchment at: www.gbcma.vic.gov.au
EVC Bioregional Conservation Status informationand Biodiversity Action Plans by Bioregion at:www.dse.vic.gov.au under ‘Conservation &Environment’.
Photo: Gaye Furphy
Photo: Gaye Furphy
