Threats and Management Issues
Vegetation Home
Vegetation Clearance
Native vegetation on private land in the region is protected under statewide planning controls. Native vegetation retention controls are part of a coordinated vegetation retention and revegetation program. The program includes financial assistance, information and education, and voluntary covenants.
In addition, all native plants and animals are protected under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. This Act provides the main legal framework for the protection of Victoria's biodiversity, the native plants and animals and ecological communities on land and in water.
Threatened Plants
Threatened plants and animals in the region may be variously protected under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Listed species are managed according to guidelines in approved Action Statements or National Recovery Plans.
- List of threatened flora species under FFG Act
- List of threatened flora species under EPBC Act (external link)
Invasive plants are widespread and have a serious impact within the East Gippsland region. Introduced weeds, both agricultural and environmental, have reduced productivity and encroached upon the small, fragmented areas of remnant vegetation (DNRE, 1997).
Management of invasive plants in the region is addressed by the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority’s Biodiversity Program and Invasive Plants and Animals Program.
There are numerous threats to native vegetation in the region arising from a diverse range of biological, physical and societal pressures. Some major threats such as timber harvesting, over-grazing by domestic stock and clearing for agriculture and urbanisation are well recognised, however, there are a number of lower profile threats that are considered equally serious. Examples include the invasion and spread of environmental weeds and feral animals, the decline of freshwater ecosystems (including restricted and/or inappropriate flooding regimes) and global warming due to the greenhouse effect.
Strategies to address the threats to native vegetation in the region will need to involve a range of protection mechanisms and management tools including policy development, management plans, actions and cooperation between the public and private sectors, community groups and individual landholders.
References
Commonwealth of Australia and State of Victoria (1996). East Gippsland Regional Forest Agreement: Comprehensive Regional Assessment. AGPS, Canberra.
DNRE (1997). Victoria’s Biodiversity: Directions in Management. (the former) Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne.
© The State of Victoria, 1996 - 2012.
This document was last reviewed on 11/12/2008