Sun Valley Cabbage Gum Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion - 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: Sun Valley Cabbage Gum Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion

Conservation status in NSW: Critically Endangered Ecological Community

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 15 Apr 2011

Profile last updated: 13 Nov 2024

Description

Sun Valley Cabbage Gum Forest is dominated by Eucalyptus amplifolia (Cabbage Gum) with E. eugenioides (Thin-leaved Stringybark) as an associated tree. Native understorey species include Acacia parramattensis, Imperata cylindrica, Lomandra longifolia and Pteridium esculentum.

Distribution

Occurs in the Sun Valley in the Blue Mountains City Council local government area. About 15 hectares of the community remains, mostly in poor condition.

Habitat and ecology

Occurs on soils formed from diatremes (pipes of volcanic material) at Sun Valley. Other diatreme substrates in the area support different dominant tree species and do not have Eucalyptus amplifolia.
Before disturbance, this community originally formed tall open forest. Much has been cleared for timber and grazing and, although there is still good cover of remnant trees and regeneration is occurring, the trees remaining are often small and young (less than 20 years old) with few older trees. The ground vegetation has also been highly modified by grazing and other disturbance.
Disturbed remnants are still considered to form part of the community; these include areas where the vegetation - either ground vegetation, trees or both - would regenerate in response to assistance, such as where the natural soil and associated seedbank are still at least partially intact.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Sydney Basin

Threats

Grazing of livestock, particularly horses, now affects much of the community, and tree recruitment is negligible in most of the remnants.
Mowing, landscaping for exotic gardens, and general tidying-up.
Weed invasion.
Clearing of understorey for hazard reduction purposes.
Altered fire regimes that are inappropriate for promotion of regeneration.
Clearing for houses and infrastructure.
Habitat fragmentation
Lack of hollows
Lack of diversity in structure, similar age class in regrowth area with dense even age stands.

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

Seek expert ecological advice when considering bushfire hazard reduction.
Survey potential development sites for presence of the community. Carry out developments or installations where the community is not present and cannot regenerate.
Allow and promote natural regeneration to occur.
Incorporate the community as a natural feature into landscaping and mow only in areas where the community is not present and cannot regenerate.
Retain natural features and vegetation structure. Leave fallen timber and branches in place. Retain scrubby-looking vegetation with shrubs, grasses, etc.
Protect remnants by fencing to prevent stock access.
Control weeds using bush regeneration techniques.

Information sources

NSW Scientific Committee (2001) Sun Valley cabbage gum forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion - Endangered ecological community determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.