Biodiversity Strategy - Gosford City Council - NSW Government

There have been few quantitative studies of the condition of native vegetation in Gosford City. A
report on the COSS found that 20% of the total COSS lands (at that time 2,000ha) were
impacted by weeds (Manidis Roberts 1992). The Gosford Rainforest Study (Payne 2002) found
that lantana had increased significantly since 1987, and that where previously a few metres
existed at the rainforest edge, that this was now well over 100 metres in depth in some areas.
Condition mapping (i.e. extent of tracks and clearing, bush fire or other regrowth) is not
available for the Gosford study at this stage,
nor is there any mapping describing the extent of weed invasion.
A - 5.2.3
Significant Vegetation Communities
Vegetation mapping enables an assessment to be made about the extent and proportion of
native vegetation communities and their relative conservation significance, this is best done
within a regional context. The Regional Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (LHCCREMS 2003)
provides a conservation assessment for the region, considering national, state and local
significant vegetation communities.
For national significance, no locally occurring vegetation communities have been listed so far
under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
However, Environment Australia provides criteria to identify communities that could qualify
under this category. The Regional Biodiversity Conservation Strategy assessed all regional
vegetation communities against national criteria (see Table 5.6) and identified a number of
communities that would qualify for national significance. Of the communities identified, only
Beach Spinifex (Map Unit 53) and Alluvial Tall Moist Forest (Map Unit 5) are not now likely to be
covered under the new determinations for endangered ecological communities at NSW State
level.
Figures 5.2 – 5.4
Dune vegetation protects foreshore dunes and provides habitat for species such as
the coastal pigface (Carpobrotus glaucescens) and coastal wattle (Acacia sophorae)
(R. Lonie).
Table 5.6 Criteria for assessing national significance
CRITERIA
Ctiterion 1
Critically endangered = very severe
decline = 95% or more (1C)
Endangered = a severe decline = 90% or
more (1E)
Vulnerable - substantial decline = 70% or
more (1V)
Criterion 2
REASON FOR SIGNIFICANCE
Decline in geographic distribution
Small geographic distribution coupled with
demonstrable threat. This category applies
only to vegetation communities with
distributions that are small on a national
scale.
Biodiversity - Technical Report Page 104