au/committee/FinalDeterminations.ht Advice at NSW ScientificCommittee’sDetermination more detailedinformation,refertothe remnants ofWhiteGumMoistForest. For information toassistlandholdersidentify These guidelinesprovidebackground Introduction Bioregion in theNSWNorthCoast White GumMoistForest specieswithadiverse understorey. typically hasatallopencanopy ofanumber When mature,WhiteGumMoist Forest Forest? What isWhiteGumMoist affecting these areas are managed and reduced. as beingatriskofextinction unlessthreats Threatened SpeciesConservation Act1995 is anecologicalcommunitylistedunderthe . AnEndangeredEcologicalCommunity area includingtrees,shrubsandunderstorey and animalsthatoccurtogetherinaparticular An ecologicalcommunityisagroupplants Ecological Community? What isanEndangered Regrowth WhiteGummoistforest http://www.environment.nsw.gov. m

Brett Snelson disturbed stands,maytake onthestructure understorey. Regrowthstands, orrecently community featureastructurallydiverse palms, fernsandherbs.Maturestandsofthe a diverserangeofrainforesttrees,vines, confertus microcorys ( sometimes occurringwithSydneyBlueGum are WhiteGum( The treeswhichcharacterisethiscommunity found onupperslopesandbasaltridges. in gulliesandlowerslopes.Ithasalsobeen with relativelyfertilesoils.Itistypicallyfound NSW,and foothillsofnorth-east associated This forestoccursontheescarpmentslopes Gum MoistForest isknowntooccurintwo Queensland.InNSW,in south-east White Cresswell 1995),aswelladjacent regions NSW NorthCoastbioregion (Thackway& White GumMoistForest occursinthe Forest found? Where isWhiteGumMoist elapsed since. on thenatureofdisturbanceandtime simplified understoreystructure,depending of lowclosedforestorscrub,mayhavea ). Theunderstoreytypicallyincludes ) and/orBrushBox ( Eucalyptus dunnii ), Tallowwood ( Eucalyptus ),

Identification Guidelines for Endangered Ecological Communities restricted areas: one in the upper northern reaches of the Richmond River catchment; and the other in the north-eastern foothills of the Dorrigo plateau. The

community may also occur elsewhere in the North Snelson Brett Coast bioregion. Why is it important? Only a very small amount of healthy White Gum Moist Forest remains and mature stands are rare. It has undergone a significant reduction in area and structure through land clearing and forestry operations. The community

continues to be threatened Snelson Brett by clearing, particularly where it occurs on fertile soils in valleys and on river flats that are suitable for agriculture and plantation forestry. It is further Roadside remnant of White Gum moist forest threatened by Bell Miner associated eucalypt forest The ground layer dieback, frequent fire, weed The ground layer contains , invasion, and grazing. A herbs and graminoids (grasses and number of threatened fauna similar). The ferns include Giant species are supported by Maidenhair ( formosum), this community such as Rasp (Doodia aspera) and Koala, Powerful Owl and Shield Ferns (Lastreopsis spp.). Herbs Red-legged Pademelon. Mature White Gum moist forest Yabbra NP include Native Yam (Dioscorea transversa) and Native Ginger Description of (Alpinia caerulea); and graminoids the community include Blady Grass (Imperata cylindrica var. major) The tree layer and Spiny-headed Mat rush (Lomandra longifolia). The most common trees occurring in the canopy of Characteristic species White Gum Moist Forest are White Gum (Eucalyptus A list of trees and plants that characterise White dunnii), Blue Gum (Eucalyptus saligna), Gum Moist Forest is provided below. Not all the Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys) and Brush Box species listed need to occur at any one site for it to be (Lophostemon confertus). considered White Gum Moist Forest. The shrub layer The shrub layer of White Gum Moist Forest includes a How can I identify an diverse stratum of rainforest trees and shrubs including Lilli Pilli (Acmena smithii), Common Acronychia area of White Gum Moist (Acronychia oblongifolia), Broad-leaved Palm Lily Forest? (Cordyline petiolaris), Green Cascarilla (Croton The following is a list of key characteristics to help verreauxii), Murrogun (Cryptocarya microneura), identify an area of White Gum Moist Forest. Native Tamarind (Diploglottis australis), Bolwarra (Eupomatia laurina), Guoia semiglauca, Cockspur Thorn • Is the site in the upper northern reaches of the (Maclura cochinchinensis), Orange Thorn (Pittosporum Richmond River catchment or in the north- multiflorum), Celery Wood (Polyscias elegans) and eastern foothills of the Dorrigo plateau? Rose-leaf Bramble (Rubus rosifolius). Vines including • Is the vegetation open forest with a diverse moist Water Vines Cissus Antarctica and Cissus hypoglauca, understorey or a disturbed understorey? Vines including Water Vines Cissus Scrambling Lily (Geitonoplesium cymosum) and Lawyer • Does the tree layer contain White Gum? antarctica and Cissus hypoglauca, Vine (Smilax australis), commonly grow over and If you answer yes to the above questions, the area is Scrambling Lily (Geitonoplesium amongst the understorey shrubs and trees. Lantana is likely to be White Gum Moist Forest. cymosum) and Lawyer Vine (Smilax often present in the shrub layer. australis), commonly grow over and amongst the understorey shrubs and trees. Lantana is often present in the shrub layer. Species List White Gum Moist Forest is characterised by the species listed below. The species present at any site will be influenced by the size of the site, recent rainfall or drought conditions and by its disturbance (including fire and logging) history. Note that NOT ALL the species listed below need to be present at any one site for it to constitute White Gum Moist Forest.

Species Name Common Name Species Name Common Name Trees Morinda jasminoides Sweet Morinda Eucalyptus dunnii White Gum Neolitsea australiensis Green Bolly Gum Eucalyptus saligna Sydney Blue Gum Neolitsea dealbata White Bolly Gum Eucalyptus microcorys Tallowwood Omalanthus populifolius Bleeding Heart Lophostemon confertus Brush Box Pittosporum multiflorum Orange Thorn Small Trees/Shrubs Polyscias elegans Celery Wood Acacia maidenii Maidens Wattle Rubus rosifolius Rose-leaf Bramble Acmena smithii Lilli Pilli Rhodamnia rubescens Scrub Turpentine Acronychia oblongifolia Common Acronychia Synoum glandulosum subsp. Scentless Rosewood Alectryon subcinereus Native Quince glandulosum Archontophoenix Bangalow Palm Vines cunninghamiana Cayratia clematidea Native Grape Breynia oblongifolia Coffee Bush Cissus antarctica Water Vine Cordyline petiolaris Broad-leaved Palm Lily Cissus hypoglauca Water Vine Croton verreauxii Green Cascarilla Derris involuta Derris Cryptocarya glaucescens Jackwood Geitonoplesium cymosum Scrambling Lily Cryptocarya microneura Murrogun Pandorea pandorana Wonga Wonga Vine Socketwood Smilax australis Lawyer Vine Dendrocnide excelsa Stinging Tree Stephania japonica var. Snake Vine Dendrocnide photinophylla Shiny-leafed Stinger discolor Diploglottis australis Native Tamarind Ferns Diospyros australis Black Plum Adiantum formosum Giant Maidenhair Dysoxylum fraserianum Rosewood Doodia aspera Rasp Fern Eupomatia laurina Bolwarra Lastreopsis spp. Shield Ferns Euroschinus falcatus var. Ribbonwood Pteridium esculentum Bracken Fern falcata Herbs Guioa semiglauca Native Quince Dioscorea transversa Native Yam Hibiscus heterophyllus subsp. Native Rosella Alpinia caerulea Native Ginger heterophyllus Alocasia brisbanensis Cunjevoi Maclura cochinchinensis Cockspur Thorn Graminoids (grasses and similar) Mallotus philippensis Red Kamala Imperata cylindrica var. Blady Grass Melicope micrococca Hairy-leaved major Doughwood Lomandra longifolia Spiny-headed Mat rush

Variation in the community At heavily disturbed sites only some of the species

which characterise the community may be present. In Snelson Brett addition, above ground individuals of some species may not be present, but the species may be represented below ground in the soil seed bank or as bulbs, corms, rhizomes or rootstocks. As such, disturbed remnants may still be considered to form part of the community. This includes sites where either the shrub layer and/or tree layer would respond, under appropriate management, to natural regeneration (i.e. where the natural soil and associated seed bank are still mostly intact). Crown of White Gum What does this mean For further assistance for my property? This and other EEC guidelines are available on As a listed Endangered Ecological DECC website at www.environment.nsw.gov.au Community under the Threatened Species The references listed below also provide further Conservation Act 1995, White Gum Moist information on EECs. Forest has significant conservation value • Benson, JS & Hager T 1993, The and some activities may require consent or distribution, abundance and habitat of approval. Please contact the Department of Eucalyptus dunnii () (Dunn’s Environment and Climate Change (DECC) White Gum) in . for further information. Cunninghamia 3, 123-145. • Botanic Gardens Trust identification Determining the assistance: http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov. conservation value of au/plant_info/identifying_plants/plant_ remnants identification_service The degree of disturbance (i.e. condition) • Brooker, M & Kleinig, D 1990, Field Guide of many remnants can vary, from almost to Eucalypts of South-eastern , Vol 1. pristine to highly modified. It is important Inkata, . to note that even small patches or areas that • Department of Environment and Climate have had past disturbance, such as selective Change (NSW) Threatened Species profiles: logging, fire or grazing, may still be important http://www.threatenedspecies.environment. remnants of White Gum Moist Forest and nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/index.aspx be considered EEC. Where difficulties arise • Harden, G (ed) 1990-2002, Flora of NSW when faced with decisions on whether Vols 1 – 4, NSW University Press. particular sites are White Gum Moist Forest, • Harden, G, McDonald, W & Williams, J expert advice may be needed. 2006, Rainforest Trees and Shrubs – A Field Guide to their identification, Gwen Harden Retaining mature native vegetation or Publishing, Nambucca Heads. EECs for conservation purposes may attract • NSW Scientific Committee Determinations: incentive funding. Funding is allocated http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ to landholders by the local Catchment committee/finaldeterminations.htm Management Authority (CMA) according to the priorities set out in their Catchment • Thackway, R & Cresswell, ID (Eds) 1995, Action Plan and strategies. For more An Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia: a framework for establishing information contact your local CMA or the national system of reserves, Version 4.0, email: [email protected] Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra. Brett Snelson Brett Penny Kendall Kendall Penny

Disturbed White Gum moist forest Leaves and fruit of White Gum

Disclaimer: The Department of Environment and Climate Change has prepared this document as a guide only. The information provided is not intended to be exhaustive. It does not constitute legal advice. Users of this guide should do so at their own risk and should seek their own legal and other expert advice in identifying endangered ecological communities. The Department of Environment and Climate Change accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions in this guide or for any loss or damage arising from its use.

Department of Environment and Climate Change 1300 361 967 environment.nsw.gov.au [email protected] | March 2009 ISBN 978 1 74232 176 9 DECC 2009/168