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EVC Groups | References & further reading


The Wimmera region lies mainly within the Murray Mallee, Wimmera and Lowan Mallee bioregions. Smaller areas lie within the Glenelg Plain, Dundas Tablelands, Greater Grampians, Central Victorian Uplands and Goldfields bioregions.

Prior to European settlement, the vegetation of the Wimmera catchment region was a mixture of forests, woodlands, grasslands and seasonal wetlands. In the upper reaches of the catchment associated with the Grampians and other higher altitude areas of the Great Dividing Range, heathy and shrubby woodlands and forests were the dominant vegetation types. Lightly wooded and natural grasslands occupied the fertile Wimmera plains in the central and northern parts of the catchment, which were dissected by the riverine forests associated with the major river systems of the region. The sand sheets to the south-west of the region and those of the Little Desert contained heathlands and heathy woodlands while the plains were dotted with a range of both freshwater and saline wetlands and lakes. Mallee scrubs also occurred sporadically throughout the region, particularly in drier areas to the north and west.

Since that time, large areas have been cleared and converted to agriculture such that only fragmented and degraded examples of the fertile plains woodlands and grasslands remain. These are often confined to roadsides and other small areas of public and private land. Elsewhere, heathlands, heathy woodlands and shrubby woodlands remain on the infertile sand sheets or more inaccessible parts of the catchment.
Photo: A range of vegetation types in the Grampians ranges.
A range of vegetation types occur in the Grampians ranges.

Some areas, such as around Stawell, have been disturbed by past mining and timber harvesting activities. Current mining exploration and urban expansion continue to threaten these areas. Large areas of contiguous vegetation are associated with the Little Desert while the Wimmera River retains a reasonably continuous tree cover along its length, although much of this vegetation is at risk from grazing, timber utilisation, weed invasions and recreational pressures.
(the former DNRE, 1997)

On a broad scale, the native vegetation of the region can be categorised into a number of distinct types based on differences in broad landscape features and environmental regimes. Each of these broader units may be divided into a few to many Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs), which are usually delineated on the grounds of environment and landscape as for the broader descriptions but which also include considerations of life form, genera and vegetation structure.

EVC descriptions and mapping have been completed for approximately 30% of the region. These relate largely to the southern parts of the catchment that were assessed as part of the West Regional Forest Agreement (external site) process. EVCs in the south-east of the region were mapped as part of the Environment Conservation Council (ECC) Box-Ironbark Forests and Woodlands Investigation. EVC coverage is lacking for most of the Wimmera plains and riverine forests of the region, north of Horsham. The Little Desert has also not been mapped at an EVC level.

Summaries of the EVCs associated with each broader vegetation type (BVT) are given below where available. Detailed EVC descriptions and maps for the Wimmera catchment management area can be found in VicRFASC (2000) and ECC (2000).

Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) associated with the following Broad Vegetation Types (BVTs) found in the Wimmera region today include:

Heathy Woodland

Dry Foothill Forest/Inland Slopes Woodlands Box Ironbark Forests Sedge-rich Woodlands Plains Grasslands Plains Grassy Woodlands Herb-rich Woodlands Riverine Grassy Woodlands/Forests Mallee Scrubs Mallee Heath Wimmera Mallee Woodlands
The Biodiversity Interactive Map on the DSE website (external link) allows users to display a number of vegetation themes for any area of Victoria - including Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs), 1750 EVCs, broad EVC Groups and Bioregional Conservation Status of EVCs. Users can then print out the maps they have created.

References:

(the former) Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE). (1997). Victoria’s Biodiversity: Directions in Management, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne.

Environment Conservation Council (ECC), (2000). Box-Ironbark Forests and Woodlands Investigation: Draft report for public comment, Environment Conservation Council, East Melbourne.

Muir, A.M., Edwards, S.A., Dickins, J.M., (1995). Description and Conservation Status of the Vegetation of the Box-Ironbark Ecosystem in Victoria. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Melbourne.

VicRFASC, (2000). West Victoria Comprehensive Regional Assessment: Biodiversity Report. Commonwealth of Australia and (the former) Department of Natural Resources and Environment, East Melbourne, Victoria.

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