Download EVCs - Mallee CMA

mallee
catchment
Above: An example of a typical Chenopod Mallee EVC.
Photo: Alison Oates.
Left: A Semi-Arid Chenopod Woodland. Photo: Alison
Oates.
At a glance
Ecological Vegetation Classes
day vegetation and pre 1750 vegetation
(EVC’s) form a Victorian vegetation
(before European broad scale clearing).
based on the types of plant
classification system that groups
From this data it is possible to predict how
species, the vegetation structure
vegetation types. EVC’s are based
much of each type of vegetation has been
and the ecological features of
on the components and structure of
cleared and assign a conservation status
vegetation present in an area.
for each EVC accordingly. The conservation
• EVC’s are vegetation groupings
an area.
• EVC’s can be used to inform
status classifications for EVC’s include
which species should be utilised
EVC’s have been mapped throughout
Presumed Extinct, Endangered,
for revegetation projects, to
Victoria by using known records and
Vulnerable, Depleted, Rare, and Least
help field based condition
information that determines where
Concern.
different plants can grow based on
climate, soil, water and topography. There
Benchmarking EVCs
are around 300 different EVC’s in Victoria
For each EVC a “description” and a
and 50 in the Mallee region.
“benchmark” have been developed. The
description outlines the ecological and
EVC’s have been mapped for both current
geological features of the EVC, and the
assessments, to prioritise
conservation works and to
locate suitable habitat for
threatened native animals.
www.malleecma.vic.gov.au
Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs)
benchmark outlines the types of plants
(including weeds) and plant species likely
Bioregion
Pre 1750
Current area Proportion remaining
area (ha)
(ha)
%
to be present, the expected cover of the
Murray Scroll Belt
114 4900
104 087
91
canopy, shrub layers and groundcover, the
Robinvale Plains
63 323
55 741
88
likely regeneration pattern and in some
Murray Fans
21 789
11 759
54
density characteristics of the EVC.
Lowan Mallee
1 077 185
1 001 153
93
If you are attempting to identify EVC’s on
Murray Mallee
2 562 157
693 027
27
your property or at a favourite reserve,
Wimmera
80 943
6 466
8
utilising a combination of the mapping,
TOTAL
3 919 887
1 872 223
48
cases the expected organic litter and log
benchmarks, descriptions and EVC
identification keys should be all you need.
Above: Table represents area of EVC pre 1750 in
All of these tools are freely available to
Woodland, while Mallee Emu Wren are
comparison to current area of EVC in the Mallee.
public.
associated with EVC’s such as Woorinen
Source: Mallee CMA.
Sands Mallee and Red-Swale Mallee.
EVC tools available
EVC distribution
Approximately 30 per cent of the original
How can EVC’s be used?
EVC mapping is available to the general
vegetated areas of the Mallee remain
Ecological Vegetation Classes are useful
public online at the DSE website below, by
primarily in five major parks (Murray-
as part of:
following the link to the interactive maps.
Sunset, Wyperfeld, Big Desert, Hattah-
• Revegetation: an EVC can provide
<www.dse.vic.gov.au/dse/dsencor.nsf>
Kulkyne, and Murray Kulkyne National
Parks). However, the vegetation within
these parks is not representative of all
EVC’s in the Mallee region. Particular
land systems with more fertile soils
such as those found in the Murray
Mallee and Wimmera Bioregion
have been preferentially cleared for
agricultural development (a bioregion is a
classification of soils and vegetation types
in Victoria).
Why are EVCs important?
It is important to have a diversity of
EVC’s remaining in the landscape to
information on the plant species that
previously existed in an area of cleared
Find out more
land and should be planted due to their
For further information regarding
suitability
• Condition Assessments: EVCs are
currently used as part of habitat and
stream condition assessments in
Victoria to compare the condition of
areas over time
• To guide conservation investment: EVC
mapping and EVC conservation status
help to prioritise native vegetation
works to the areas in Victoria with the
most need.
• Habitat Identification: Upon determining
EVC preferences of certain species,
maximise biodiversity, as each EVC
EVC mapping can be used to locate
contains different plants, and supports
other areas with suitable habitat (this
different animals. For example Carpet
ican be particularly useful for threatened
Python are typically associated with
species)
Ecological Vegetation Classes or to obtain
related fact sheets, EVC benchmarks and
descriptions contact the Mallee CMA on
(03) 5051 4377 or visit the Mallee CMA
website
<www.malleecma.vic.gov.au>
or the Department of Sustainability and
Environment website
<www.dse.vic.gov.au>
Sources:
http://www.daff.gov.au/rfa/glossary;
www.dse.vic.gov.au;
www.malleecma.vic.gov.au;
(DSE) Draft Flora and Fauna Guarantee Action Statement: Mallee
Emu-wren(Stipiturus mallee);
Mallee Catchment Management Authority (2003) Biodiversity Action
Planning: Landscape Plan for the South East Mallee Landscape
Zone.
Riverine woodland EVC’s like River Red
Gum Forest and Intermittent Swampy
Project Partners
Published October 2008
This publication may be of assistance to you but the Mallee
Catchment Management Authority refers readers to our Terms
and Conditions, available from our website.
Printed with vegetable-based inks on 100% recycled
Australian paper, made from pre- and post-consumer waste.