7.9 STATUS OF VEGETATION COMMUNITIES Native vegetation in Victoria has been classified according to Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) (DSE, 2012). There are approximately 300 EVCs statewide. An ecological vegetation class consists of one or a number of floristic communities that appear to be associated with a recognisable environmental niche, and which can be characterised by a number of their adaptive responses to ecological processes that operate at the landscape scale level (DSE, 2012). EVCs in each bioregion have been assessed and characterised with a conservation status. This status is traditionally based on the broad concepts of inherent rarity, degree of threat (including consideration of historic and on- going impacts) and importance for supporting other significant features (for example, as a drought refuge for native fauna) (DSE, 2012). As the South Gippsland Landcare Network area has been extensively cleared of native vegetation, much of the remnant vegetation is classified as characterised as Endangered or Vulnerable. For a detailed description of conservation status description, please see appendix 1. Figure 13 Status of Vegetation Communities in the South Gippsland Landcare Network (WGCMA-mapped data, 2012) Page 25 of 70 7.10 KEY REMNANT ASSETS Mount Worth State Park The South Gippsland Landcare Network area contains several key remnant assets on public land. This includes state parks, Mirboo North Reserve Park fauna and fauna reserves, state reserves, Hallston Bush marine and coastal parks and wetland Bass Valley Reserve reserves. Hammans Bush To the east of the Network is highly connected vegetation that linked to the Tarra-Bulga National Park, an important habitat for Strzelecki Koalas. Another important environment for koalas is the Mount Worth State park in the Northern Region of the Network. Turton‟s Creek Important remnant vegetation islands across the Network area include the Halston Bush, Hamanns Bush, Alsop‟s Agnes Falls Creek Reserve, Cape Liptrap Coastal Park, Turtons Creek State Reserve, Agnes River State Reserve and the Bald Hills Wetland Reserve. Corner Inlet Coastal Park Many of these reserves and parks are Bald Hills Wetland maintained by Landcare or Friends groups. Cape Liptrap Coastal Park Shallow Inlet Coastal Park 2005 remnant assets (ha) Figure 14 Key remnant assets in the South Gippsland Landcare Network. Patches are coloured according to their size. (WGCMA-mapped data, 2012) Page 26 of 70 7.11 SUITABLE KOALA HABITAT Tree species are grouped into primary, secondary and supplementary preference classes according to the level of utilisation by koalas (McAlpine, Rhodes, & Possingham, 2006). For a list of these species please see appendix 5. The South Gippsland Landcare Network has created a koala map based on EVC dataset mapping. This characterises whether the EVC is likely to support primary, secondary or supplementary koala trees. This map is based on data provided to the Network by HVP plantations based on 119 sites surveyed in the Strzelecki Ranges. This is based on the strike rate around Eucalyptus species (proportion of survey trees). EVCs were sorted by the South Gippsland Landcare Network into four levels: 1 – Likely to characterised by primary species. 2- Likely to be characterised by both primary and secondary and/or supplementary species 3 Likely to be characterised by secondary and/or supplementary species 4. None or very little Eucalyptus likely to be present Figure 15 Koala Habitat in South Gippsland rated according to its likelihood to be koala habitat. Created by SGLN. Page 27 of 70 7.12 PREVIOUS PROJECTS CASE STUDY: ENHANCING The South Gippsland Landcare Network was formed in 1995. However Landcare THE CAPE LIPTRAP TO has existed in the South Gippsland region for far longer either in the form of organised BUNURONG BIOLINK groups, or as individual landholders undertaking environmental works on their PROJECT property. The Friends of Strzelecki Koala project aims to not only build corridors on The Cape Liptrap to Bunurong project aimed to remnant vegetation, but also to build on improve connectivity across the landscape. The project previous Landcare works. aspired to improve the connectivity between the wider Landcare projects provide biophysical Westernport Bay to Wilson Promontory biolink, as well outcomes including increases in farm as the Cape Liptrap to Strzelecki Range biolink. This productivity, biodiversity improvements, was a partnership project between South Gippsland erosion control and sediment reduction Landcare Network and West Gippsland Catchment outcomes, as well as social outcomes such Management Authority. The project was funded as community empowerment and through the Victorian Investment Framework. cohesion. When: 2011-2013 An example of this has been the Friends of Who: Any landholder in the project area was Strzelecki Koala Project, funded with encouraged to apply. Landholders were informed of support of SP Ausnet in 2011. This project the project through direct mail outs, information funded the Foster North Landcare Group to sessions and advertisements in the local newspapers. provide koala habitat links along Amy‟s track in the Foster North area. This project What: The project supported onground works that reignited the group and created many on helped improve links across the landscape. All projects farm benefits. were ranked by their potential to connect habitat. Other recent examples of projects in the Over the three years of the project: Network include the Fish Creek Group‟s 76 Landholders applied for projects Strzelecki Lyrebird Link Project, the Westernport Targeted Land Stewardship Funded 17 landholders to undertake work Project, the Corner Inlet Connection Funded 22.9 km of fencing to protect 178.92 Project and the Upper Tarwin ha remnant sites Enhancement project. Funded 20.08 ha of revegetation, 50,370 trees planted Page 28 of 70 8. THREATS TO 8.2 INTRODUCED PLANTS AND ANIMALS STRZELECKI The climatic conditions and soil in South Gippsland provide optimum conditions for blackberries to KOALAS flourish. Blackberries (Rubus fruticosus sp) form dense thickets which koalas are unable to move through, restricting access to vegetation especially in 8.1 HABITAT LOSS AND gullies and along waterways, where blackberries thrive. This can restrict koala‟s access to cool FRAGMENTATION refuges with trees with moisture rich leaves over summer. Blackberry infestations also may harbour Habitat loss is where ecosystems capable of predator animals such as foxes. supporting indigenous endemic species are Pest animals including foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and destroyed by natural processes – wildfire, flood, wild dogs (Canus familiaris) have been reported to drought etc or human activity where natural prey on koalas. (Melzer, 2011). Livestock, vegetation is replaced by farmlands, plantations of particularly cattle, may also harass and even kill non indigenous forest species, mining, urbanisation, koalas that are attempting to cross paddocks. weed infestation or dams. Approximately 52% of the vegetated land in the West Gippsland CMA region prior to European settlement has now been cleared 8.3 URBANISATION, ROADS (WGCMA, 2003) Habitat fragmentation occurs when a naturally AND DOGS occurring large and continuous area of habitat is As the extent and quality of native vegetation is reduced to smaller scattered remnants of habitat. reduced, koalas are moving into urban areas in Fragmentation leads to isolation as well as search of suitable habitat. Dogs are a crucial threat decreases the number of animals supported by the in urbanised areas as they have been reported to habitat (Preece H, 2007). The South Gippsland attack and kill koalas. Landcare Network is severely fragmented, with small areas of remnant remaining on both private and Koala strikes by motor vehicles are the second most public land. common cause of koalas being admitted into care and the second most common cause of mortality This loss of habitat and fragmentation will increase (Senate Environment and Communications the risk of koalas populations becoming more References Committee, 2011). Roads can also susceptible to natural pressures as well as increased present an insurmountable physical barrier for opportunities for disease to spread in localised and koalas to cross leaving them isolated in pockets of sometimes overcrowded pockets (Lumney & Reed, bush land (Senate Environment and 1990) Communications References Committee, 2011). Koalas are commonly seen in South Gippsland and the Strzelecki ranges in paddock trees, along roadsides and in urban areas. This can be due to 8.4 DISEASE koalas simply moving around their home range, or Chlamydia is the most prevalent disease found in koalas migrating from their home range due to koalas and is manifested in time of stress (such as population pressures, territorial dynamics or natural when habitat is reduced.) The effects of chlamydial disasters. This movement increases the subject to disease in koalas includes eye infections, that can higher levels of mortality, as they are more lead to blindness, urinary tract infections which vulnerable to predators such as dogs; collisions with cause cystitis, which leads discoloration and vehicles; harsh environmental conditions; stress; or ulceration of the koala‟s rump (“dirty tail” or “wet starvation which may exacerbate the effects of bottom”) due to incontinence. The greatest threat to diseases such as Chlamydia (Preece H. , 2007). koala populations from chlamydial disease is from the effects of upper reproductive