Brigalow within the Brigalow Belt South, Nandewar and Darling Riverine Plains Bioregions - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

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: Brigalow within the Brigalow Belt South, Nandewar and Darling Riverine Plains Bioregions

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered Ecological Community

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 23 Aug 2002

Profile last updated: 09 Jun 2022

Description

The Brigalow community is a low woodland or forest community dominated by Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla), with pockets of Belah (Casuarina cristata) and Poplar Box (Eucalyptus populnea subsp. bimbil). The canopy tends to be quite dense and the understorey and ground cover are only sparse.

Distribution

Scattered remnants on the North West Slopes and Plains and Darling River Plains in NSW; also in Queensland. Usually occurs on heavy clay soils.

Habitat and ecology

This community has been extensively cleared for agriculture, with most surviving remnants along roadsides and paddock edges.
It provides important habitat for rare native wildlife such as the Black-striped Wallaby.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Land clearing and fragmentation.
Invasion and establishment of weed species changing community structure and floristic composition.
Overgrazing by domestic stock
Changes in hydrological regimes by pumping groundwater for irrigation and changes in surface water flows through drains and levees
Spray drift of herbicides and pesticides from agricultural activities.
Fragmentation resulting in edge effects and risk of loss of small, scattered remnants
Lack of value and understanding of the TEC by landholders and managers of the TEC
Clearing and damage from road and rail maintenance activities
Lack of viability of seed set
Lack of pollinators
Logging for fence posts.
Predation of Brigalow wildlife by foxes and feral cats.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Support local Landcare groups.
Assist with the control of foxes and feral cats.
Identify roadside remnants and protect during roadworks and roadside management activities.
Control weeds.
Protect remaining areas of Brigalow community from clearing, fragmentation, thinning and timber collection.
Encourage regeneration around Brigalow remnants.
Reconnect isolated patches of Brigalow with vegetated corridors.

Information sources

Benson, J.S., Allen, C.B., Togher, C. and Lemmon, J. (2006) New South Wales Vegetation Classification and Assessment: Part 1 Plant communities of the NSW Western Plains. Cunninghamia 9(3): 383-450
Benson, J.S., Richards, P.G., Waller, S. and Allen, C.B. (2010) New South Wales Vegetation classification and Assessment: Part 3 Plant communities of the NSW Brigalow Belt South, Nandewar and west New England Bioregions and update of NSW Western Plains and South-western Slopes plant communities, Version 3 of the NSWVCA database. Cunninghamia 11(4): 457-579
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) Threatened Species of the New England Tablelands and North West Slopes of NSW. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)
NSW Scientific Committee (2002) Brigalow within the Brigalow Belt South, Nandewar and Darling Riverine Plains bioregions - Endangered ecological community determination - final.
NSW Scientific Committee (2011) Brigalow within the Brigalow Belt South, Nandewar and Darling Riverine Plains Bioregions - Minor amendment to Endangered ecological community determination.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Plains	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Moonie-Barwon Interfluve	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Narrandool	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Basalts	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Outwash	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga Outwash	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Bogan-Macquarie	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Castlereagh-Barwon	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Culgoa-Bokhara	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Warrambool-Moonie	Known	None
Nandewar	Kaputar	Known	None
Nandewar	Nandewar Northern Complex	Predicted	None
Nandewar	Peel	Known	None

Images

Brigalow growing in gilgais within the Brigalow Belt South Image 1 of 5.
View slideshow.

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