River-flat eucalypt forest on coastal floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions - endangered ecological community

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions is the name given to the ecological community associated with silts, clay-loams and sandy loams, on periodically inundated alluvial flats, drainage lines and river terraces associated with coastal floodplains. Floodplains are level landform patterns on which there may be active erosion and aggradation by channelled and overbank stream flow with an average recurrence interval of 100 years or less (adapted from Speight 1990). River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains generally occurs below 50 m elevation, but may occur on localised river flats up to 250 m above sea level in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions. The structure of the community may vary from tall open forests to woodlands, although partial clearing may have reduced the canopy to scattered trees. Typically these forests and woodlands form mosaics with other floodplain forest communities and treeless wetlands, and often they fringe treeless floodplain lagoons or wetlands with semi-permanent standing water (e.g. Goodrick 1970).

The composition of River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains is primarily determined by the frequency and duration of waterlogging and the texture, nutrient and moisture content of the soil. Composition also varies with latitude. The community is characterised by the following assemblage of species:

2. The total species list of the community is considerably larger than that given above, with many species present at only one or two sites or in low abundance. The species composition of a site will be influenced by the size of the site, recent rainfall or drought conditions and by its disturbance (including fire, grazing, flooding and land clearing) history. The number and relative abundance of species will change with time since fire, flooding or significant rainfall, and may also change in response to changes in grazing regimes. At any one time, above-ground individuals of some species may be absent, but the species may be represented below ground in the soil seed banks or as dormant structures such as bulbs, corms, rhizomes, rootstocks or lignotubers. The list of species given above is of vascular plant species, the community also includes micro-organisms, fungi, cryptogamic plants and a diverse fauna, both vertebrate and invertebrate. These components of the community are poorly documented.

3. River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions is known from parts of the Local Government Areas of Port Stephens, Maitland, Singleton, Cessnock, Lake Macquarie, Wyong, Gosford, Hawkesbury, Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Parramatta, Penrith, Blue Mountains, Fairfield, Holroyd, Liverpool, Bankstown, Wollondilly, Camden, Campbelltown, Sutherland, Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Shoalhaven, Eastern Capital City Regional, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley but may occur elsewhere in these bioregions. Bioregions are defined in Thackway and Creswell (1995). Major examples once occurred on the floodplains of the Hunter, Hawkesbury, Moruya, Bega and Towamba Rivers, although many smaller floodplains and river flats also contain examples of the community.

4. River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions has a tall open tree layer of eucalypts, which may exceed 40 m in height, but can be considerably shorter in regrowth stands or under conditions of lower site quality. While the composition of the tree stratum varies considerably, the most widespread and abundant dominant trees include Eucalyptus tereticornis (forest red gum), E. amplifolia (cabbage gum), Angophora floribunda (rough-barked apple) and A. subvelutina (broad-leaved apple). Eucalyptus baueriana (blue box), E. botryoides (bangalay) and E. elata (river perppermint) may be common south from Sydney, E. ovata (swamp gum) occurs on the far south coast, E. saligna (Sydney blue gum) and E. grandis (flooded gum) may occur north of Sydney, while E. benthamii is restricted to the Hawkesbury floodplain. Other eucalypts including Eucalyptus longifolia (woollybutt), E. moluccana (grey box) and E. viminalis (ribbon gum) may be present in low abundance or dominant in limited areas of the distribution. A layer of small trees may be present, including Melaleuca decora, M. styphelioides (prickly-leaved teatree), Backhousia myrtifolia (grey myrtle), Melia azaderach (white cedar), Casuarina cunninghamiana subsp. cunninghamiana (river oak) and C. glauca (swamp oak). Scattered shrubs include Bursaria spinosa subsp. spinosa (blackthorn), Solanum prinophyllum (forest nightshade), Rubus parvifolius (native raspberry), Breynia oblongifolia (coffee bush), Ozothamnus diosmifolius, Hymenanthera dentata (tree violet), Acacia floribunda (white sally) and Phyllanthus gunnii. The groundcover is composed of abundant forbs, scramblers and grasses including Microlaena stipoides (weeping grass), Dichondra repens (kidney weed), Glycine clandestina, Oplismenus aemulus, Desmodium gunnii, Pratia purpurascens (whiteroot), Entolasia marginata (bordered panic), Oxalis perennans and Veronica plebeia (trailing speedwell). The composition and structure of the understorey is influenced by grazing and fire history, changes to hydrology and soil salinity and other disturbance, and may have a substantial component of exotic shrubs, grasses, vines and forbs.

5. River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions provides habitat for a broad range of animals, including many that are dependent on trees for food, nesting or roosting (Law et al. 2000a, b). These include cormorants (Phalacrocorax spp.) and egrets (Ardea spp. and Egrettia spp.), the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), as well as the Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa), Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis), Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) (Law et al. 2000a), Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) and Grey-headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus). The fauna of River-Flat Eucalypt Forest also includes a number of species of frogs in the families Myobatrachidae and Hylidae, particularly Litoria spp., and many species of forest birds including honeyeaters, kingfishers, cuckoos, owls, doves, whistlers and fantails.

6. River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions forms part of a complex of forested wetland and treeless wetland communities found throughout the coastal floodplains of NSW. A recent analysis of available quadrat data from these habitats identified a distinct grouping of vegetation samples attributable to this community (Keith and Scott 2005). The combination of features that distinguish River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains from other endangered communities on the coastal floodplains include: its dominance by either a mixed eucalypt canopy or by a single species of eucalypt belonging to either the genus Angophora or the sections Exsertaria or Transversaria of the genus Eucalyptus (Hill 2002); the relatively low abundance or sub-dominance of Casuarina and Melaleuca species; the relatively low abundance of Eucalyptus robusta; and the prominent groundcover of soft-leaved forbs and grasses. It generally occupies central parts of floodplains and raised levees; habitats where flooding is periodic and soils are rich in silt, without deep humic horizons and show little or no influence of saline ground water.

7. River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions includes and replaces Sydney Coastal River-Flat Forest Endangered Ecological Community. River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains may adjoin or intergrade with several other endangered ecological communities, which collectively cover all remaining native vegetation on the coastal floodplains of New South Wales. These include Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain in the NSW North Coast bioregion, Subtropical Floodplain Forest of the NSW North Coast bioregion, Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions (including the formerly listed Sydney Coastal Estuary Swamp Forest in the Sydney Basin bioregion), Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions and Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions. For example, northwards from the Hunter valley, River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains may intergrade with, or be replaced by, Subtropical Floodplain Forest of the NSW North Coast bioregion. As soil salinity increases, River-Flat Eucalypt Forest may adjoin or intergrade with Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions. The boundaries between all of these communities are dynamic and may shift in response to changes in hydrological regimes, fire regimes or land management practices. The Determinations for these communities collectively encompass the full range of intermediate assemblages in transitional habitats.

8. A number of vegetation surveys and mapping studies have been conducted across the range of River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions. In the Comprehensive Regional Assessment of the north-eastern NSW (NPWS 1999), areas that were mapped on coastal floodplains of the Manning River as 'Forest Ecosystem 47, Escarpment Red Gums' are included within this community. In the lower Hunter valley, 'Central Hunter Riparian Forest' (map unit 13), 'Wollombi Redgum-River Oak Woodland' (map unit 14) and 'Redgum Roughbarked Apple Swamp Forest' (map unit 38) of NPWS (2000) fall within this community. On the Cumberland Plain, 'Riparian Forest' (map unit 12) of Tozer (2003) and parts of 'Alluvial Woodland' (map unit 11) that are dominated by eucalypts (Tozer 2003) are included within this community. Benson's (1992) 'Camden White Gum Forest' (map unit 6d) and those parts of 'River Flat Forest' (map unit 9f) dominated by eucalypts also fall within this community, as do parts of the 'River-flat forests' of Benson and Howell (1990) and Benson et al. (1996) that are dominated by eucalypts. In the Warragamba catchment, small areas of 'Burragorang River Flat Forest' (map unit 88b) and 'Oakdale Alluvial Rough-barked Apple Forest' (map unit 88c) of NPWS (2002) are included within this community. On the south coast of NSW, this community includes those parts of 'Ecotonal Coastal Swamp Forest' (forest ecosystem 27) of Thomas et al. (2000) dominated by eucalypts, those parts of 'Coastal Lowlands Riparian Herb/Grass Forest' (forest ecosystem 48) and 'Southern Hinterland Shrub/Herb/Grass Riparian Forest' (forest ecosystem 49) of Thomas et al. (2000) mapped on alluvial soils, and those parts of 'Cumberland River Flat Forest' (map unit 33) and 'Floodplain Swamp Forest' (map unit 105) of Tindall et al. (2004) that are dominated by eucalypts. In the Eden region, this community includes forested parts of 'Floodplain Wetlands' (map unit 60) that are dominated by eucalypts and parts of 'Bega Wet Shrub Forest' (map unit 19) that are mapped on floodplains (Keith and Bedward 1999). River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions is included within the 'Coastal Floodplain Wetlands' vegetation class of Keith (2002, 2004). There may be additional or unmapped occurrences of River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains within and beyond these surveyed areas.

9. The extent of the River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions prior to European settlement has not been mapped across its entire range. However, one estimate based on a compilation of regional vegetation maps suggests that Coastal Floodplain Wetlands, which include Temperate Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains, currently cover 800-1400 km2, representing less than 30% of the original extent of this broadly defined vegetation class (Keith 2004). Compared to this combined estimate, the remaining area of River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains is likely to be considerably smaller and is likely to represent much less than 30% of its original range. Major occurrences include: about 2000 ha in the lower Hunter region in 1990s (NPWS 2000); less than 10 000 ha on the NSW south coast from Sydney to Moruya in the mid 1990s (Tindall et al. 2004), of which up to about three-quarters occurred on the Cumberland Plain in 1998 (Tozer 2003); and less than 1000 ha in the Eden region in 1990 (Keith and Bedward 1999).

10. River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions has been extensively cleared and modified. Large areas that formerly supported this community are occupied by exotic pastures grazed by cattle, market gardens and other cropping enterprises (e.g. turf). In the lower Hunter region, about one-quarter of the original extent was estimated to have remained during the 1990s (NPWS 2000), while less than one-quarter remained on the Cumberland Plain in 1998 (Tozer 2003). In the Sydney - South Coast region, less than one-fifth was estimated to remain in the late 1990s (Tindall et al. 2004), in the Eden region about 30% was estimated to remain during the 1990s (Keith and Bedward 1999).

11. Land clearing continues to threaten River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions. A small minority of the remaining area occurs on public land (e.g. Benson and Howell 1990), with most occurring on productive agricultural land or in close proximity to rural centres. The remaining stands are severely fragmented by past clearing and are further threatened by continuing fragmentation and degradation, flood mitigation and drainage works, landfilling and earthworks associated with urban and industrial development, pollution from urban and agricultural runoff, weed invasion, overgrazing, trampling and other soil disturbance by domestic livestock and feral animals including pigs, activation of 'acid sulfate soils', removal of dead wood and rubbish dumping (e.g. Benson and Howell 1990, Boulton and Brock 1999, Johnston et al. 2003). Anthropogenic climate change may also threaten River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains if this affects future flooding regimes (IPCC 2001, Hughes 2003). Localised areas, particularly those within urbanised regions, may also be exposed to frequent burning which reduces the diversity of woody plant species. Clearing of native vegetation; Alteration to the natural flow regimes of rivers, streams, floodplains and wetlands; Invasion of native plant communities by exotic perennial grasses; Predation, habitat destruction, competition and disease transmission by feral pigs; Anthropogenic climate change; High frequency fire; and Removal of dead wood and dead trees are listed as Key Threatening Processes under the Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995).

12. Very few examples of River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains remain unaffected by weeds. The causes of weed invasion include physical disturbance to the vegetation structure of the community, dumping of landfill rubbish and garden refuse, polluted runoff from urban and agricultural areas, construction of roads and other utilities, and grazing by domestic livestock. The principal weed species affecting River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains include Anredera cordifolia (madeira vine), Araujia sericiflora (moth plant), Asparagus asparagoides (bridal creeper), Axonopus fissifolius (narrow-leaved carpet grass), Bidens pilosa (cobbler's peg), Cardiospermum grandiflorum (balloon vine), Cirsium vulgare (spear thistle), Conyza bonariensis (flaxleaf fleabane), C. sumatrensis (tall fleabane), Gleditsea triacanthos (honey locust), Hypochaeris radicata (catsear), Ipomoea spp. (morning glories), Lantana camara (lantana), Ligustrum lucidum (large-leaved privet), L. sinense (small-leaved privet), Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle), Macfaydyena unguis-cati (cat's claw creeper), Olea europea subsp. cuspidata (African olive), Plantago lanceolata (plantain), Rubus fruticosis agg. (blackberries), Senecio madagascariensis (fireweed), Senna pendula var. glabrata, Setaria parviflora (slender pigeon grass), Sida rhombifolia (paddy's lucerne), Sonchus oleraceus (common sowthistle), Tradescantia fluminensis (wandering jew), Verbena bonariensis (purpletop), Paspalum dilatatum (paspalum), P. urvillei and Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu) (Tozer 2003, Keith and Scott 2005, J. R. Hosking, pers. comm.).

13. Small areas of River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions are contained within existing conservation reserves, including Blue Mountains, Cattai, Dharug, Georges River, Marramarra, Morton, Deua and Wadbilliga National Parks, and Gulguer and Mulgoa Nature Reserves, and these are unevenly distributed throughout the range and unlikely to represent the full diversity of the community. The reserved examples are on localised, sheltered river flats between hills, rather than the large open floodplains that comprised the majority of the original habitat (Keith 2004).

14. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.

Associate Professor Paul Adam
Chairperson
Scientific Committee

Proposed Gazettal date: 17/12/04

Exhibition period: 17/12/04 - 28/01/05

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