Endange

WHITE BOX-YELLOW BOX-BLAKELY’S RED GUM

(BOX-GUM) WOODLANDfact-sheet

This fact-sheet contains the following information:1. What is an ecological community?2. What is a Box-Gum Woodland ecological

community?3. Why is Box-Gum Woodland an endangered

ecological community (EEC)?� The legal status of Box-Gum Woodland.

4. Identifying Box-Gum Woodland.5. Examples of social and economic benefits of

Box-Gum Woodlands.6. Does Box-Gum Woodland have to be in a pristine

state to be considered part of the EEC?7. What happens now that Box-Gum Woodland is

listed as an EEC?� Who issues approvals for actions that impact

on EECs?� Examples of actions that will require

approval.8. How will the impact of proposed actions on Box-

Gum Woodlands be assessed? (the ‘8-part test’).9. Planning for the recovery of Box-Gum Woodland.10. NPWS Threatened Species Unit contacts11. Useful references12. Useful websites13. References for economic benefits section

Endangered Ecological Community

red Ecological Community: Box-Gum Woodland information 1

Endangered Ecological Community: Box-Gum Woodland information 2

1. What is an ecologicalcommunity?

An ecological community is a grouping ofspecies that commonly occur together in away that is recognisably different fromother groupings. A community consists ofcharacteristic trees, shrubs, wild flowersand grasses as well as the mammals, birds,reptiles and insects that utilise the habitat.

2. What is a Box-Gum Woodlandecological community?

White Box Yellow Box Blakely’s RedGum Woodland (or Box-Gum Woodland)is found from the Queensland border in thenorth, to the Victorian border in the south.It occurs in the tablelands and westernslopes of NSW.

In its pre-European-settlement state,Box-Gum Woodland was an extremelydiverse part of the landscape. Manyhundreds of plant species, including trees,shrubs, grasses, and wildflower species,such as orchids, lilies, peas, daisies andmany others, traditionally make up theBox-Gum community. Many of these floraspecies are now threatened.

Box-Gum Woodland generally occurs onthe fertile lower parts of the landscapewhere resources such as water andnutrients are abundant. This means thatBox-Gum Woodland trees often grow verylarge, and hollows of all sizes develop.Hollows, including those in dead trees, areextremely important for a huge range offauna species such as parrots, owls andbats and many of these are now alsothreatened species. The availability ofnutrients and water also means thatBox-Gum Woodland trees have relativelyreliable nectar flows and foliage growth.This makes them essential resources fornectar-feeding and insectivorous birds andbats. A range of woodland birds, bats andinsectivores are now also threatened.

3. Why is Box-Gum Woodland anendangered ecologicalcommunity (EEC)?

Box-Gum Woodland was oncewidespread. However, the lower fertilefootslopes and flats that support thesewoodlands were also the areas generallypreferred for cropping, pasture andinfrastructure development. As a

consequence Box-Gum Woodland is nowseverely reduced in area, remnants tend tobe highly isolated and fragmented andremnants with a full range of flora andfauna species are very rare.

For example, in the Holbrook area,woodlands have been reduced to less than7% of the pre-European extant. In theNSW South West Slopes less than 4%remains and in the Central LachlanRegion, less than 1% remains.

Although large areas of NSW still containthe large trees that make up the backboneof the Box-Gum Woodland community,there is very little regeneration of trees.Should this situation continue vast areasnow occupied by box and gum trees willbe devoid of trees in 50 or 100 years.Salinity, insect induced dieback and otherfactors also seriously threaten large areasof Box-Gum woodlands.

Additionally, the ongoing clearing for theestablishment of irrigation projects, ruralsub-divisions, pine plantations andvineyards threaten Box-Gum Woodlandcommunity in some regions.

Legal status of Box-Gum Woodland.

On 15th March 2002 an independent panelof scientists, known as the NSW ScientificCommittee, made a final determination tolist White Box Yellow Box Blakely’s RedGum Woodland as an EndangeredEcological Community (EEC) under theThreatened Species Conservation Act 1995(TSC Act). You can view the ScientificCommittee’s Final Determination athttp://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/f020315a.htm.

The Commonwealth also lists GrassyWhite Box as endangered under theEnvironment Protection and BiodiversityConservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Youcan view the advice for the Grassy WhiteBox determination athttp://www.ea.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities/grassy-white-box.html.

Early contact with Environment Australiais recommended if an action is likely toimpact on the Grassy White Boxcommunity. You can view the guidelineson making a referral to EnvironmentAustralia under the EPBC Act athttp://www.ea.gov.au/epbc/assessmentsapprovals//referrals/guide.html

Endangered Ecological Community: Box-Gum Woodland information 3

4. Identifying Box-Gum Woodland.

Box-Gum Woodland is characterised bythe presence or prior occurrence ofEucalyptus albens (White Box),E. melliodora (Yellow Box) and/orE. blakelyi (Blakely’s Red Gum). Thetrees may occur as pure stands, mixtures ofthe three species or in mixtures with othertrees such as E. bridgesiana (Apple Box),E. microcarpa (Grey Box), E. mannifera(Brittle Gum), E. rubida (Candlebark),E. cinerea (Argyle Apple) andE. macrorrhyncha (Red Stringybark).

The understorey of Box-Gum Woodland ischaracterised by native grasses and wildflowers. Shrubs are generally sparse orabsent from Box-Gum Woodland, thoughthey may be locally common. Up to 1000flora species have been identified in Box-Gum Woodland across NSW.

For more detailed information onidentifying Box-Gum Woodland contactNPWS for a copy of ‘IdentificationGuidelines for Endangered EcologicalCommunities: White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland (Box-GumWoodland)’.

5. Economic and social benefits ofBox-Gum Woodlands.

The management and retention of remnantvegetation on farms, including Box-GumWoodland, provides habitat for a diverserange of plant and animal species andcontributes to more productive farmingsystems.

Box-Gum Woodland can provide shelterfor stock, pasture and crops, a seed bankfor further tree and native grassregeneration on the property, habitat forbirds, mammals and insects that eat insectpests, and assist in the management ofrising water-tables and salinity.

Stock shelterLack of shelter for stock can result in heatstress. Therefore, the shelter provided byremnant or regenerating Box-GumWoodland can;

� increase milk production,� increase liveweight gains in cattle

(assists them to chew their cud), � increase wool growth, � increase ram fertility, ewe ovulation

rate and conception,

� improve foetal development, � decrease mortality of stock, � assist in preventing abortion in

pregnant cows and � assist in preventing calves to be born

undersized.

Lack of shelter can result in cold stress.Therefore, the shelter provided by remnantor regenerating Box-Gum Woodland can;

� increase wool growth,� increase liveweight gains and� increase milk yields.

For example, sheltered off-shears wethersrequire two-thirds less supplementary feedto maintain their bodyweight asunsheltered off-shears wethers.

Unsheltered newborn lambs can die at19�C if there is rain and 18 km/hr winds.

A study in Armidale showed that shelteredsheep produced 35 % more wool and 6 kgmore liveweight than exposed sheep.

Insect controlBox-Gum Woodland and its floweringnative grass understorey is habitat forinsectivorous insects, frogs, reptiles, birdsand mammals.

For example, in healthy Eucalyptwoodland birds will consume 50 % ofinsects present (approx. 30 kg/ha/yr).Gliders, spiders and insects consume mostof what’s left.

Studies near Wagga Wagga observed thatabout 80% of birds in Grey Box trees wereinsectivorous.

Endangered Ecological Community: Box-Gum Woodland information 4

Woodland provides habitat for honeyeatersthat consume 24-36 kg of insects perhectare per year.

At least 10 wasp species parasitise scarabbeetle larvae. The adult wasps feed onnectar from trees and shrubs.

Sugar Gliders have been estimated to eat3.25 kg of insects per glider per year. OneSugar Glider consumes the equivalent ofwell over 4,000 Christmas beetles or23,000 Autumn Gum Moths per year.

Standing dead trees with hollows providenests for insectivorous bats; one of thesebats can consume up to 600 small flyinginsects in an hour. Bats can also consumelarge numbers of other farm insect pests,such as army-worms.

Reseeding after droughtAreas of remnant vegetation act asreseeding areas after drought by supplyingnative pasture seed to adjoining areas.

Soil benefitsSome understorey species, e.g. Acacia spp.and Casuarina spp. have bacteria-fillednodules that fix atmospheric nitrogen intothe soil and convert it to nitrogen that isavailable to other plants.

Fallen logs, branches and litter in remnantwoodland provide stores of nutrients whilehelping to slow runoff and reduce itserosion potential.

Management fundingThe listing of Box-Gum Woodland as anEEC will give land managers an importantpoint of leverage when they are applyingfor funding or other assistance in relationto managing their Box-Gum Woodland.

As the community is also listed underCommonwealth legislation, programs suchas the Natural Heritage Trust may also bea valuable source of funds.

The Australian farming landscapeImagine the farming landscape if treeswere totally absent. This is a possibility inmany areas if younger trees do not replacethe old standing trees.

Box-Gum Woodland has an importantaesthetic value, it represents an archetypalAustralian rural landscape, and hasprovided inspiration for a range oflandscape artists including Tom Robertsand Frederick McCubbin. It provides thevista that rural communities and their

visitors expect when they are enjoying theAustralian countryside.

Tourism potentialBox-Gum Woodland that retains high-quality understorey offer scenic sites thathave considerable tourism potential. Somegrassy Travelling Stock Reserves andcemeteries rival the alpine summer floraldisplays. Others provide opportunities toexperience the type of woodlands thatwere familiar to our early explorers. Suchsites will add to the portfolio of importanttourist attractions that rural communitieshave to offer.

6. Does Box-Gum Woodland haveto be in a pristine state to beconsidered part of the EEC?

Remnant Box-Gum Woodland can occurin a range of conditions, from almostpristine to highly modified. Theimportance of a particular Box-GumWoodland remnant to the maintenance andrecovery of this EEC in a local regionneeds to be considered in the context ofthe extent and condition of Box-GumWoodland in the local region.

Intact Box-Gum Woodland remnants inwhich native grasses and wild flowerscharacterise the ground layer areextremely rare and highly significant in allregions. Remnants of this quality shouldbe managed appropriately to ensure theyremain in such good condition.

Where the Box-Gum Woodland remnant isin less than pristine condition it is stillconsidered part of the EEC as long as thesite has at least part of its natural soil andseedbank intact, so that under appropriatemanagement it would respond to assistednatural regeneration. Therefore theBox-Gum Woodland EEC can include thefollowing conditions,

� Trees present as a canopy with anon-native ground-layer,

Endangered Ecological Community: Box-Gum Woodland information 5

� Characteristic tree species absent as aresult of past clearing or thinning andonly other tree species and ground-layer present and

� Overstorey absent as a result of pastclearing or thinning and only aground-layer present.

Depending on the local extent andcondition of Box-Gum Woodland, isolatedbox or gum trees scattered across apaddock may also form part of the EEC.This is because these few remaining treesmay be providing important hollow andnectar resources for fauna, they may be animportant seed source for regeneration orthey may be acting as ‘stepping-stones’ forfauna moving between larger, morecomplex Box-Gum Woodland remnantsacross an otherwise cleared landscape.However, for isolated Box-GumWoodland trees to be considered part ofthe EEC, it must be considered that thesite, under appropriate management,would respond to assisted naturalregeneration. For additional informationsee the ‘Identification Guidelines forEndangered Ecological Communities:White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red GumWoodland (Box-Gum Woodland)’.

Additional guidelines are also beingprepared by NPWS to assist in assessingthe significance of the different conditionsof Box-Gum Woodland.

7. What happens now that Box-Gum Woodland is listed as anEEC?

Listing Box-Gum Woodland as an EECdoes not mean that every White Box,Yellow Box and Blakely’s Red Gum tree,or every native pasture derived fromclearing of these trees, is now protectedand cannot be removed.

However, it does mean actions that impacton the EEC will trigger the TSC Act. Thismeans an approval authority must considerthe impact of the proposed action on thecommunity. An approval will be issued ifit is deemed the action will not have asignificant impact on the local Box-GumWoodland EEC.

Routine agricultural activities do notrequire approval under the TSC Act. Thismeans that a similar agricultural activitycan continue at a similar intensity on the

same site. Farmers will not have to changehow they currently manage their landbecause of the listing. However, care mustbe taken when applying this rule,especially if the action is likely to harm theEEC. If there is any doubt that the action isa ‘routine agricultural activity’ contact theappropriate Threatened Species Unit.

Actions that have already been approvedunder the Environmental Planning andAssessment Act 1979 are also exempt fromfurther approval.

Who issues approvals for actionsthat impact on EECs? The approval authority will vary accordingto the scale of the action and localenvironmental planning requirements.The following key will assist you infinding the appropriate approval authority.It is only a broad guide. For furtherinformation or if you are unsure, thencontact your local council, Department ofLand and Water Conservation (DLWC) orthe National Parks and Wildlife Service(NPWS).

Key to approval authorities

1. Approval for an action that will impact onan isolated tree or a small patch of trees(less than 2 ha).

If the action is clearly part of adevelopment that is being assessed bycouncil, council will assess it as part of theoverall development application.

If the action is not part of a broaderdevelopment application and the localcouncil has a Tree Preservation Order, thecouncil will be the approval authority.

If the action is not part of a broaderdevelopment application and there is noTree Preservation Order, NPWS will be theapproval authority.

2. Approval for an action that will impact on asmall patch of Box-Gum woodlandunderstorey (less than 2 ha).

NPWS will be the approval authority.

3. Approval for an action that will impact onBox-Gum woodland trees or understoreyover an area greater than 2 ha.

DLWC will be the approval authority.

NOTE: There are possible impending changesto the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997regarding the 2 ha rule. This may alter theapproval authority in some situations. Theabove key applies in July 2002.

Endangered Ecological Community: Box-Gum Woodland information 6

Examples of actions that willrequire approval.

The following actions have the potential toimpact on the Box-Gum Woodland EECand may require approval.

(a) Clearing Box-Gum Woodland(including native grass and wildflowerspecies) to,� Plant crops or exotic pastures,� Install irrigation systems,� Plant native or exotic tree

plantations,� Build housing, sheds, roads, etc.,� Intensify agricultural activity,� Undertake orchard or vineyard

development and� Undertake rural-residential

development.

(b) Commercial felling of trees inBox-Gum Woodland for firewood.

(c) Clearing of remnant Box-GumWoodland along roadsides duringroadwork.

8. How will the impact of proposedactions on Box-Gum Woodlandbe assessed? (The ‘8-part test’).

To determine whether the proposed actionis likely to have a significant effect on theEEC, approval authorities will use the '8-part test'.

NPWS will produce Environmental ImpactAssessment Guidelines for Box-GumWoodland and these will assist theproponent in addressing the ‘8-part test’.At a basic level the ‘8-part test’ has 6 partsthat need to be addressed when assessingthe significance of the action on the EEC.These are;

(a) and (b)These parts refer specifically toindividual species and populations andare not applicable to EndangeredEcological Communities.

(c) In relation to the regional distributionof the habitat of a threatened … ecologicalcommunity, whether a significant area …is to be modified of removed.

Consider the amount and quality of theBox-Gum Woodland left in the regionsurrounding the proposed site.

(d) Whether an area of known habitat islikely to become isolated from currently

interconnecting or proximate areas ofhabitat for a threatened … ecologicalcommunity.

Consider whether existing links (orcorridors) between the proposed site andneighbouring Box-Gum Woodland willbe impacted upon. Remember thatseemingly isolated trees may actually beproviding an important link across thelandscape, acting like stepping stones forfauna to use.

(e) Whether critical habitat will beaffected.

This part is not applicable to Box-GumWoodland at the time of writing, ascritical habitat has not been declared forthis community.

(f) Whether the (…) ecological communityis adequately represented in conservationreserves (or other similar protected areas)in the region.

The community is poorly represented inconservation reserves. There are only afew small occurrences of Box-GumWoodland in national parks and naturereserves.

(g) Whether the action proposed is of aclass of action that is recognised as athreatening process.

Threatening processes currently listed onSchedule 3 of the TSC Act 1995 thatmay impact on or occur in Box-GumWoodland include, � High frequency fire resulting in the

disruption of life cycle processes inplants and animals and loss ofvegetation structure and composition,

� Clearing of native vegetation,� Competition and grazing by the feral

European Rabbit, Oryctolaguscuniculus,

� Predation by the European Red FoxVulpes vulpes and

� Predation by the Feral Cat, Felis catus.

(h) Whether [the] (…) ecologicalcommunity is at the limit of its knowndistribution.

Consider whether the Box-GumWoodland is further east, west or at agreater or lower altitude than otherexamples of the community in NSW.

The 8-part test is not a pass/fail techniquebased on a score out of eight. Significanceof effect is determined for a proposedaction by the consideration on balance of

all 8-part test questions. One factor alonecould be sufficient to be considered asignificant effect on EEC.

If, after applying the ‘8-part test’ to thesite, the approval authority considers thatthere will be a significant impact on theEEC and the proponent wishes to continuewith the action, the proponent will need toprepare a Species Impact Statement (SIS).For further information on preparing a SIScontact NPWS.

If the approval authority considers thatthere will not be a significant impact onthe Box-Gum Woodland they will issue anapproval to carry out the work.

9. Planning for the recovery ofBox-Gum Woodland.

When an ecological community is listed asendangered under the TSC Act, it alsomeans that a recovery plan will beprepared to set guidelines for the long-term conservation of the EEC. A recoveryteam, made up of experts and communityrepresentatives prepares this plan. A draftplan is put on public exhibition forcomment before it is finalised.

Actions likely to be in a recovery plan forthe Box-Gum Woodland EEC include;

� identifying remnant sites that areavailable to be included in the NSWReserve System as national parks ornature reserves,

� mapping and vegetation surveys inremnant sites,

� establishing long-term monitoring sites,

� preliminary studies of the impacts ofburning and other managementregimes,

� provision of advice to landholdersmanaging Box-Gum Woodland on bothprivate and public property,

� extension activities including fielddays, workshops, seminars and sitevisits and

� identifying priority areas for State andCommonwealth funding.

The recovery plan is also likely torecommend ongoing support andexpansion of the Grassy Box ConservationManagement Network (CMN). Thisnetwork provides a focus point for theremnant grassy woodlands and theirmanagers. The remnants in the networkremain under a variety of tenures and aremanaged for different purposes (althoughalways with the protection of the naturalvalues as an important focus). For moreinformation on CMNs visit theConservation Management Networkwebsite listed in the ‘Useful Websites’

Endangered Ecological Community: Box-Gum Woodland information 7

section.

Endangered Ecological Community: Box-Gum Woodland information 8

NPWS Threatened Species Unitcontacts

Central Directorate PO Box 1967HURSTVILLE 2220Phone: 02 9585 6678Fax: 02 9585 6442

Northern DirectorateLocked Bag 914 COFFS HARBOUR 2450Phone: 02 6659 8230Fax: 02 6659 8230

Southern DirectoratePO Box 733QUEANBEYAN 2620Phone: 02 6297 6144Fax: 02 6299 4281

Western DirectoratePO Box 2111DUBBO 2830Phone: 02 6883 5330Fax: 02 6884 9382

10. Useful ReferencesEddy D., Mallinson D., Rehwinkel R.,Sharp S., (1998) Grassland Flora: a fieldguide for the Southern Tablelands.E ACT, NSW NPWS, WWF. ANBG.

Grassy Box Woodlands ConservationManagement Network, (2000-2002),Woodland Wanderings (magazine).GBWCMN.

Lambert J., Elix J., (2002) Grassy WhiteBox Woodlands: Information Kit.Community Solutions.

NSW NPWS, (2002) White Box-YellowBox-Blakely’s Red Gum (Box-Gum)Woodland: Fact-sheet for NSW.

Southern Tablelands Grassy EcosystemsConservation Management Network,(2002), Austral Bugle (magazine).STGECMN.

Threatened Species Conservation Act1995, NSW Scientific Committee, (March2002) Final Determination: White BoxYellow Box Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland.

NSW NPWS, (2001) Paddock TreeBrochure. NSW NPWS.

Walker K., Burrows G., McMahon L.,(2001) ‘Bidgee Bush. Greening Australia.

11. Useful WebsitesCommunity Solutionshttp://www.communitysolutions.com.au/gwbw_project/index.html

Conservation Management Network http://www.conservation-management-networks.net/

Environment Australia http://www.ea.gov.au/index.html

NPWS http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/

12. References for Economic andSocial Benefits section

Blakers M et al, 1984. The Atlas ofAustralian Birds, Melbourne UniversityPress, 738 pp.

Breckwoldt R, 1983. Wildlife in the HomePaddock, p 6, Angus and Robertson,Sydney 348 pp.

Kingham L, 1996, in Proceedings ofRemnant Vegetation in the Central West.

Winning Battles but Losing the War ?,Orange September 1996.

Victorian Department of Conservation andNatural Resources (DCNR), 1992. Landfor Wildlife (L for W) Note No. 10.

DCNR, 1995. L for W Note No. 22

DCNR, 1995. L for W Note No. 26

DCNR, 1995. L for W Note No. 30

DCNR, 1995. L for W Note No. 32

Photography: Phil Gibbons, Stuart Cohen,Rainer Rehwinkel, Keith McDougall, StuartMcMahon and Ben Wrigley