Vegetation Management
see also Statewide Vegetation Management | Species Selection Guide | Threats and Management Issues I Regional Planning I Reserves I State Forests
| With at least 70% of the private land area cleared, habitat loss is the single most important factor affecting biodiversity in the region. In addition to the widespread decline and loss of vegetation communities and plant and animal species, clearing has resulted in increased recharge and subsequent rising saline groundwater. A range of management responses may be required to address continuing habitat loss. Protective measures such as conservation covenants and land purchase may be needed in areas of poorly represented remnant communities - such as the Plains Grassy Woodlands of the Wimmera Plains. Raising community awareness of the nature and significance of these communities will help with their protection and management, while maintaining them in private ownership. Such an approach will require an emphasis on cooperation with local communities to identify and protect remnant vegetation and to restore degraded areas (DNRE, 1997). The active involvement of the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority will assist this process significantly. There are a number of organisations and programs that have responsibility for or are able to assist with the protection and management of native vegetation in the Wimmera region. For some of these, they may be relevant across the whole region while for others, they may be specific to a particular area, land tenure or address specific vegetation management issues. Threats and Management Issues 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 affect. |  Messmate Eucalyptus obliqua Photography is the property of Viridans Biological Databases (external link)  Green Tea-tree Leptospermum coriaceum Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases (external link)  Desert Stringybark Eucalyptus arenacea Photograph is the property of Viridans Biological Databases (external link) |
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.
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 and Animals
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
- List of threatened fauna species under FFG Act
- List of threatened fauna species under EPBC Act
Invasive plants are widespread and have a serious impact within the Wimmera region. Introduced weeds, both agricultural and environmental, have reduced productivity and encroached upon the small, fragmented areas of remnant vegetation. Grazing pressure exerted by stock, rabbits and feral animals has modified the Wimmera’s landscape, converting woodlands to grasslands, with a high proportion of weed species. (DNRE, 1997).
Management of invasive plants in the region is addressed by the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority (external link), which develops regional policy and allocates resources to projects that deliver on regional priorities. The Wimmera CMA completed a Weed Action Plan (WCMA, 1999) for the region. Invasive plants management is also jointly undertaken with the Department of Sustainability & Environment (external link) and Wimmera Mallee Water (external link).
State and Regional Planning
Forest Management Plans:
The purpose of the Department of Sustainability and Environment Forest Management Plans in the Wimmera region is to ensure that its natural and cultural values are maintained and the use of forest resources provide long-term community benefit.
These are working plans, put into operation by the Secretary of DSE, pursuant to Section 22 of the Forests Act 1958. They have also been developed to conform with all Victorian land and natural resources legislation, including the National Parks Act 1975, Land Act 1958, Heritage Rivers Act 1992, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, and the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Protection of species listed under the Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 are also provided for in these plans. Forest Management Area Plans also fulfil a requirement of the Code of Forest Practices for Timber Production which sets goals and guidelines for the conduct of all commercial timber production activities in Victoria. The Code has recently been revised to incorporate the most recent research on forest protection and management. The Midlands Forest Management Plan is available online (external link).
Regional Forest Agreements:
There are five Regional Forest Agreements (RFA’s) for the State of Victoria and the West Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) overlaps significantly into the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority region. The following information is available on the above web link:
- Various consultation papers
- West RFA boundaries map
- Comprehensive Regional Assessment reports
- Comprehensive Regional Assessment fact sheets
- National Estate Assessment Report
- Minerals Assessment report
- Social Assessment report
- Timber Resource Analysis Summary Papers
- Timetable for West Gippsland RFA
At the regional level, the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority (external link) has produced a draft Wimmera Regional Vegetation Plan (WCMA, 2000) describing the vegetation of the region and identifying those vegetation types considered most at risk. The plan also proposes a range of strategies and programs for reversing overall vegetation loss and decline across the Wimmera catchment. In addition to this, the Department of Sustainability and Environment has produced a revegetation strategy for the Wimmera Region.
For access to these reports contact the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority or DSE, Horsham.
Public Land
There are a number of policy documents, strategic plans and management plans available that focus on the protection and management of vegetation on public land within the region. This includes vegetation within reserves, state forests and council-owned land.
Planning
The Environment Conservation Council (ECC) has been given the task of proposing an appropriate system for the protection and management of Box-Ironbark forests and woodlands in Victoria, including small areas of the Wimmera region (ECC, 2000). This report identifies and evaluates the extent, condition, values and uses of the Box-Ironbark forests and woodland areas and makes recommendations on the balanced use of these areas.
There are five Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) for the State of Victoria, but only one is relevant to the Wimmera region. Areas south of Horsham and the Little Desert are included in the West Regional Forest Agreement (external link).
Reserves
Mt Arapiles
Parks Victoria (external link) is responsible for the management of reserved areas in Victoria. All national and state parks are managed according to park management plans, which aim to establish the long term framework to protect important conservation values of these areas and to provide visitor opportunities. The following are reserve management plans relevant to the Wimmera region:
- Lake Albacutya Park
- Little Desert National Park
- Mt Arapiles Tooan State Park
Responsibility for the management of State Forests in the region rests with the Department of Sustainability and Environment DSE Forests Division. These areas are managed according to Forest Management Plans, which aim to ensure that the natural and cultural values of these areas are maintained and that the use of forest resources provides long-term community benefit.
These are working plans, put into operation by the Secretary of DSE, pursuant to Section 22 of the Forests Act 1958. They have also been developed to conform with all Victorian land and natural resources legislation, including the National Parks Act 1975, Land Act 1958, Heritage Rivers Act 1992, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, and the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Protection of species listed under the Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 are also provided for in these plans. Forest Management Area Plans also fulfil a requirement of the Code of Forest Practices for Timber Production, which sets goals and guidelines for the conduct of all commercial timber production activities in Victoria. The Code has recently been revised to incorporate the most recent research on forest protection and management.
Other Programs and Organisations
There are a number of organisations and programs that focus on native vegetation protection and management in the Wimmera region. Following is a list of those organisations/programs and their areas of interest.
Land for Wildlife: (external link) A scheme encouraging landholders to manage parts or all of their properties for wildlife conservation.
Trust for Nature (external link)
Permanent protection of private land habitat through conservation covenants or land purchase. Also provision of habitat management advice through trained extension officers.
Greening Australia (external link)
Greening Australia provides information and assistance on all aspects of tree growing and protecting remnant vegetation, improving biodiversity and fauna habitats on farms. Facilitators throughout regional Victoria offer a broad range of practical experience and technical knowledge on the many roles of vegetation on farmland.
Birds Australia (external link)
Conducts research programs and provides advice for conserving native bird life and their habitats.
Bird Observers club of Australia (external link)
Natural Resources Conservation League (external link)
Aboricultural and farm tree planning consultancy services, educational programs for schools and supplier of farm trees to advanced landscape specimens
Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (external link)
Related Links
The document: "Native Vegetation Management - a needs analysis of regional service delivery - Wimmera" is available for download on the Greening Australia website (external link). As part of the 2003 Bushcare Support contract, Greening Australia was contracted by Environment Australia (external link) to develop Regional Vegetation Management Summaries for natural resource management regions across Australia. It provides a snapshot of the 'infrastructure' currently available in those regions to assist in the technical on-ground management of native vegetation in light of five and a half years of Natural Heritage Trust (external link) investment. These documents have been prepared by Greening Australia staff in consultation with key regional stakeholders.
References
Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), (1997). Victoria’s Biodiversity: Directions in Management. (the former) Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne.
Wimmera Catchment Management Authority (WCMA) (2000). Wimmera Regional Vegetation Plan, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, Horsham.
Wimmera Catchment Management Authority (WCMA). (1999). Wimmera Weed Action Plan, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, Horsham.
Fact Sheets on the Greening Australia website
- case studies describing the revegetation and vegetation management experiences of land managers.
Direct seeding the biolinks
Sheltering fragile soils
Revegetating outside the square
© The State of Victoria, 1996 - 2012.
This document was last reviewed on 06/12/2010