Upland Wetlands of the Drainage Divide of the New England Tableland 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: Upland Wetlands of the Drainage Divide of the New England Tableland Bioregion

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered Ecological Community

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 28 Jun 2002

Profile last updated: 12 Apr 2024

Description

This community is composed of a series of high altitude wetlands in the New England Tablelands of Northern NSW. The wetlands have small local catchments, and range from shallow and temporary to near-permanent wetlands. Vegetation is usually a combination of sedges, rushes, spike-rushes, grasses and other aquatic plants, occurring either on the shores of open water or extending across shallow or dry wetland beds, and can die back during dry periods. These wetlands are important habitat for a range of native wildlife.

Distribution

Known to occur between the Tenterfield and Uralla Local Government Areas but may occur elsewhere within the New England Tablelands.

Habitat and ecology

Generally above 900m altitude and associated with basalt soils.
Not connected to river systems by floodplains.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

New England Tablelands

Threats

Land clearing from urban, rural and agricultural development.
Change in catchment hydrology altering the water regime including drainage, increasing inflow, construction of dams, making the wetland shallower or deeper.
Erosion and sedimentation of the catchment from activities such as road management, land management practices, cattle trampling, development.
Agricultural activities such as grazing and trampling by stock, removing vegetation, water harvesting and draining, planting of species not indigenous to this TEC.
Invasion and establishment of weed species, particularly along the fringes.
Lack of knowledge and value of the TEC and the lack of understanding about the dynamics of the TEC (i.e. that is is still the TEC even during dry periods).
Potential for fire in the TEC to burn for months.

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 and catchment management initiatives.
Provide watering points for stock away from wetlands.
Fence wetlands to protect them from grazing stock.
Assist with the control of introduced weeds.
Protect wetlands from clearing, drainage, excavation and damming.
Support property agreements and voluntary conservation agreements.
Rehabilitate degraded wetland areas.

Information sources

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) Upland wetlands of the drainage divide of the New England Tableland Bioregion - Endangered ecological community determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

New England Tablelands	Armidale Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Bundarra Downs	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Deepwater Downs	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Ebor Basalts	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Glenn Innes-Guyra Basalts	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Moredun Volcanics	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Nightcap	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Northeast Forest Lands	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Round Mountain	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Tenterfield Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Tingha Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Walcha Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Yarrowyck-Kentucky Downs	Predicted	None

Images

Upland Wetlands of the Drainage Divide of the New England Tablelands Image 1 of 4.
View slideshow.

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