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.
(
click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Illawarra and south coast lowland forest and woodland ecological community
Gazetted date:
16 Sep 2016
Profile last updated:
29 Feb 2024
Description
The ecological community was placed on the 2014 Finalised Priority Assessment List as the ‘Illawarra Lowlands Grassy Woodland’ (hereafter referred to as ‘Illawarra and south coast lowland forest and woodland’, or ‘the ecological community’). It comprises eucalypt forest or woodlands, which can have a grassy ground layer and/or a shrub layer as well as a small tree layer. The distribution is patchy, with the remaining occurrences mostly on lowland sandy loam, loam or clay loam soils around Wollongong to Shellharbour, Milton, Bawley Point and Moruya. The ecological community encompasses the NSW listed endangered ecological community ‘Illawarra Lowlands Grassy Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion’ (NSW Scientific Committee, 1999). The Illawarra and south coast lowland forest and woodland typically occurs within 30 km of the coast in coastal valleys and low-lying foothills on the south coast of NSW. In the northern part of the ecological community’s range, a sharp boundary is provided by the steep slopes of the eastern coastal escarpment. The ecological community can occur below approximately 350 m above sea level (ASL), but most occurrences are at a much lower altitude; between 10 and 150 m ASL(Tozer et al, 2010). At a local scale, the expression of the ecological community varies with aspect, with more mesic elements such as rainforest understorey plants occurring (but not dominating) on more sheltered or south-facing slopes (Mills and Jakeman, 1995). It occurs in the Illawarra (SYB12), Ettrema (SYB13) and Jervis (SYB14) IBRA (Interim Biogeographical Regional Analysis V.7) subregions, in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (SYB) and the Bateman subregion (SEC03) of the Southeast Corner Bioregion (SEC) (Department of the Environment, undated). At the time of listing, the ecological community occurs in the area covered by South East Local Land Services and is found within the Local Government Areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla. The ecological community occurs as a forest or woodland, with foliage cover of the main canopy greater than 10% (see National Committee on Soil and Terrain, 2009). The local expression of the
community is influenced by geology and soils, drainage and aspect, site history and current management. The canopy is typically dominated by Eucalyptus or Angophora trees. The composition of the understorey is variable. Many patches have a sub-canopy of smaller trees as well as a shrub Source: Bureau of Meteorology (undated) layer and/or a ground layer, which is grassy or sedgy. Proximity to rainforest may also increase the number of seedlings or saplings of mesic species. Many patches have been disturbed and their current state reflects this, past clearance, with fire history and management involving grazing or under-scrubbing having a strong influence on the structural and floristic composition of the ecological community (Mills, 1993; NPWS, 2002a; Gellie, 2005; Miles and Kendall, 2007; Tozer et al, 2010). Some patches, which would have been part of the ecological community in the past, are now so modified that they would not meet the key diagnostic characteristics or condition thresholds for the nationally protected ecological community. For example, in derived grassland or shrubland, the canopy layer has been substantially removed, or thinned to very scattered trees (<10% foliage cover), but one or more of the understorey layers remain largely intact. These derived grasslands or shrublands that are isolated are not recognised as part of this nationally protected ecological community, although if the tree layer regenerates in the
future they may become part of the ecological community. Small treeless areas within a patch of the ecological community may be part of that patch. In order to meet the definition of the TEC sites must satisfy condition criteria stipulated in the Listing Advice and/or Conservation Advice. Typically condition is assessed by reference to patch size and vegetation structure thresholds or species composition metrics.
Distribution
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Recovery strategies
Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological
community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified
0 priority actions
to help recover the Illawarra and south coast lowland forest and woodland ecological community in New South Wales.
|
IBRA Bioregion
|
IBRA Subregion
|
Known or predicted
|
Geographic restrictions region
|
|---|