Indicative distribution
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas.
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click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Illawarra Subtropical Rainforest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion
Gazetted date:
01 Nov 2002
Profile last updated:
23 Mar 2022
Description
Illawarra Subtropical Rainforest (ISR) is a rainforest community that occupies high nutrient soils in the Illawarra region, south of Sydney. Characteristic tree species include Baloghia inophylla (Brush Bloodwood), Brachychiton acerifolius (Flame Tree), Dendrocnide excelsa (Giant Stinging Tree), Diploglottis australis (Native Tamarind), Ficus spp., Pennantia cunninghamii (Brown Beech), and Toona ciliata (Red Cedar). Species of Eucalyptus, Syncarpia and Acacia may also be present as emergents or incorporated into the dense canopy. While rainforest canopies are generally closed, in highly disturbed stands the canopy of ISR may be irregular and open. The height of the canopy varies considerably, and structurally some stands of ISR are scrub.
Distribution
Recorded from the local government areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and Kiama, but may occur elsewhere in the Sydney Basin Bioregion. The main occurrences of ISR are located between Albion Park and Gerringong (referred to as the Illawarra Brush in Mills & Jakeman 1995) and on the Berkeley Hills north of Lake Illawarra (referred to as the Berkeley Brush in Mills & Jakeman 1995). Outlying occurrences extend south to the Shoalhaven River and west into the Kangaroo Valley.
Habitat and ecology
- Occupies the Illawarra coastal plain and escarpment foothills, rarely extending onto the upper escarpment slopes.
- Usually found on Permian volcanic rocks, but can occur on a range of rock types.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Further loss and fragmentation of habitat, particularly as a consequence of clearing for agriculture, hard rock quarrying, hobby farming, and residential development.
- Habitat degradation as a consequence of weed invasion.
- Risk of fire from arson or adverse conditions.
- Habitat degradation as a consequence of grazing/trampling by livestock.
- Habitat degradation as a consequence of altered hydrological conditions.
- Habitat degradation as a consequence of illegal rubbish dumping.
- Unsuitable land management practices.
- Herbivory and environmental degradation by feral herbivores.
- Lack of knowledge regarding the extent of the threatened ecological community over what tenure and the opportunities for conservation.
Recovery strategies
A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.
Activities to assist this species
- Monitor vertebrate pest presence and/or abundance to inform control actions
- Implement feral animal control programs, particularly for deer and goats.
- Manage sites to exclude fire.
- Consider off-site impacts (including changes to groundwater hydrology) in the assessment of nearby developments.
- Implement measures to control inappropriate water flows.
- Install fencing and signage to exclude livestock and machinery, and prevent rubbish dumping.
- Monitor sensitive sites for invasive weeds to inform management
- Implement weed control programs.
- Protect remnants from clearing and further fragmentation.
- Restore degraded habitat using bush regeneration techniques.
Information sources
- Floyd, A.G. (1990) Australian rainforests in New South Wales, Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney.
- Mills, K. and Jakeman, J. (1995) Rainforests of the Illawarra District. Coachwood Publishing, Jamberoo.
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Native Vegetation of the Illawarra Escarpment and Coastal Plain. Wollongong Local Government Area Bioregional Assessment (Part I). (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)
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