List of Threatened Ecological Communities Amendment (EC175) Instrument 2022 (Cth)

Commonwealth of Australia

List of Threatened Ecological Communities Amendment (EC175) Instrument 2022

I, SUSSAN LEY, Minister for the Environment, pursuant to paragraph 184(a) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, amend the list referred to in section 181 of that Act by including in the list of threatened ecological communities in the endangered category:

Araluen Scarp Grassy Forest

as described in the Schedule to this instrument.

This instrument commences the day after registration.

Sussan Ley ................................................................................... Sussan Ley Minister for the Environment

Dated .................31 / 3 / 22......................................................

SCHEDULE 1

Araluen Scarp Grassy Forest

The Araluen Scarp Grassy Forest is an assemblage of native plants, animals and other organisms that comprise a type of temperate open eucalypt forest or woodland with mesic elements associated with steep slopes and coastal rainshadow areas.

The ecological community occurs in New South Wales within South East Corner and South Eastern Highlands bioregions, primarily within the Moruya River catchment. Known occurrences are mainly in the Araluen Valley region. The ecological community is typically distributed on steep scarp slopes, ridges, spurs and foothills on sandy loam soils derived from granitoid substrates.

The vegetation structure is typically a medium-height open forest or woodland with sparse to moderate canopy cover dominated by Eucalyptus or Angophora species. Characteristic canopy species include Eucalyptus maidenii (Maiden's blue gum), E. melliodora (yellow box), E. tereticornis (forest red gum), and Angophora floribunda (rough-barked apple). Other Eucalyptus species may also be common in the canopy, including E. kartzoffiana (Araluen gum) which is found in more sheltered sites.