Regional ecosystem details for 7.8.4
| Regional ecosystem | 7.8.4 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 4, 6, (7) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 29000 ha; Remnant 2021 10000 ha |
| Short description | Simple to complex notophyll vine forest of cloudy wet highlands on basalt |
| Structure code | Closed Forest |
| Description | Simple to complex notophyll vine forest. Uplands and highlands on basaltic krasnozems, of the cloudy wet rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 1b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.8.4a: Complex notophyll vine forests. Highlands on very limited areas, of the cloudy wet rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 1b). 7.8.4b: Simple notophyll vine forest (often with Agathis microstachya). Highlands of the cloudy wet and moist rainfall zones. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 6b). 7.8.4c: Complex notophyll vine forest. Common canopy species include Syzygium kuranda, Cryptocarya hypospodia, Beilschmiedia obtusifolia, Sloanea langii, Castanospora alphandii, Acmena resa, Flindersia pimenteliana, F. bourjotiana, Stenocarpus sinuatus, and Buckinghamia celsissima. Highlands of the moist rainfall zone. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 1b). 7.8.4d: Acacia celsa open to closed forest. Highly restricted, possibly man made disturbance - requires investigation. Foothills, uplands and highlands, of the very wet and wet rainfall zones. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 5d). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), B5a, B116, B8, B12a; Tracey and Webb (1975), 5a |
| Protected areas | Tully Falls NP, Maalan NP, Wooroonooran NP, Koombooloomba NP, Herberton Range NP, Mount Hypipamee NP, Tully Gorge NP, Mount Fisher FR, Tumoulin NP, Ravenshoe FR 1 |
| Special values | 7.8.4: Habitat for regional endemics such as Beilschmiedia brunnea and Darlingia ferruginea. Threatened species include: Cyathea celebica, Diploglottis pedleyi, Phlegmariurus filiformis, Dryopteris wattsii, Solanum hamulosum and Steganthera australiana. Other species of local significance are Diospyros hemicycloides. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Do not burn deliberately. Mosaic burning in surrounding fire-adapted ecosystems will minimise spread and severity of wildfire during severe weather events. ISSUES: Occasional hot fires in adjoining communities may be required to prevent expansion of rainforest elements. Edges are generally self-protecting but back burning from rainforest edges may be desirable. The occurrence of high biomass grasses in or adjacent to rainforest may detrimentally affect rainforest during fire events associated with dry weather. |
| Comments | 7.8.4: Threatened by timber harvesting in some areas. Floristically very species rich. The dominant type, 7.8.4b, is the most species rich. Floristically 7.8.4c appears to be intermediate between 7.8.4b and 7.8.3. As such, 7.8.4c contains elements of both, including: Alectryon semicinereus, Aleurites rockinghamensis, Alloxylon flammeum, Beilschmiedia bancroftii, Castanospermum australe, Cryptocarya hypospodia, Endiandra palmerstonii, Endiandra sideroxylon, Pavetta australiensis and Syzygium kuranda. This RE is approaching the threshold of 'Of concern' Vegetation Management Act class and therefore consideration of any further clearing should be very carefully assessed. From near Koombooloomba Dam, north to the Upper Barron area of the Atherton Tablelands. Large areas of this regional ecosystem on the Evelyn Tableland between Atherton and Tully Falls have been cleared for dairy and corn production. Areas of this regional ecosystem not within the WTQWHA are under freehold tenure and are highly fragmented. |
1 Estimated extent is from version 13 pre-clearing and 2021 remnant regional ecosystem mapping. Figures are rounded for simplicity. For more precise estimates, including breakdowns by tenure and other themes see remnant vegetation in Queensland.
