Comaum NFRs - ForestrySA

1. Purpose, Legal Designation, Planning and Protection
1.1 The Comaum Native Forest Reserves
1.1.1 Statement of Purpose
5
The Comaum Native Forest Reserves will be managed and protected to maintain and
enhance their bio-diversity as an enduring and dynamic ecosystem.
1.1.2 Significant Values
The Biodiversity Plan for the South East of South Australia acknowledges that
ForestrySA manages the largest area of remnant native vegetation in the Lower
South East containing populations of plant and animal species, and plant
communities of high conservation significance at the State and Regional level. The
Comaum Native Forest Reserves contain five of these remnants contributing to this
Region’s bio-diversity.
The following criteria have been used to determine the conservation and cultural
values of The Comaum Native Forest Reserves:
Conservation Values
The three Native Forest Reserves included in this management plan are Wombat
Flat, Comaum and Boolara. Their areas range from 84 to 157 hectares. Their
total area is 392.1 hectares adding significantly to the conservation of bio-diversity
in the Comaum district.
Wombat Flat Native Forest Reserve (151 hectares) is linked to Deadmans Swamp
NFR (550 hectares) by the Glenroy Conservation Park (541 hectares). These
Reserves together with local government and privately owned native vegetation
which adjoin Wombat Flat NFR provide an aggregated area of about 1500
hectares managed for conservation.
Their physical environment is similar consisting of aeolian sand dunes and flats
with some minor occurrences of exposed calcarenite dune crests and associated
terra rossa soils. The low lying sand flats are subject to water logging during
winter and spring in years of normal rainfall.
Soil type, depth and moisture regime influence the biological environment which is
dominated by one or more of the six eucalypt species growing in these Reserves
viz. Eucalyptus baxteri, E.camaldulensis, E.fasciculosa, E.leucoxylon, E.ovata
and E. viminalis ssp. cygnetensis.
A total of 252 native plant species have been recorded for these Reserves to date.
Of these 53 have a conservation status of Uncommon or higher rating for the
South East Region of South Australia.
Final Plan – August 2001