Ecological vegetation classes of Wombat Forest
By Murray Ralph
The types of native vegetation that occur across Victoria vary significantly. This variation reflects differences in geology, soil type, aspect, climate, altitude and position in the landscape. Depending on these environmental conditions, particular plant species and groups of plants will tend to grow together. The term used to describe these distinct native vegetation types or plant communities is Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC).
Within the Wombat Forest approximately 16 different EVC’s have been mapped (although more mapping is required). The most common EVC in the Wombat Forest is Shrubby Foothill Forest. It occurs on both sides of the Great Divide, but is particularly extensive on the southern side of the divide.
EVCs in the Wombat State Forest
EVC | EVC number | Bioregional Conservation Status | % Wombat |
---|---|---|---|
Swampy Riparian Woodland | EVC 83 | Endangered | 0.17 |
Streambank Shrubland | EVC 851 | Endangered | 0.00 |
Riparian Forest | EVC 18 | Vulnerable | 0.92 |
Valley Grassy Forest | EVC 47 | Vulnerable | 0.97 |
Creekline Herb-rich Woodland | EVC 164 | Vulnerable | |
Sedgy Riparian Woodland | EVC 198 | Depleted | 2.41 |
Grassy Forest | EVC 128 | Depleted | 0.02 |
Grassy Woodland | EVC 175 | Vulnerable | 0.01 |
Grassy Dry Forest | EVC 22 | Depleted | 1.69 |
Shrubby Dry Forest | EVC 21 | Least concern | 2.56 |
Midlands Heathy Woodland | EVC 48-13 | Depleted | 0.40 |
Heathy Dry Forest | EVC 20 | Least concern | 8.79 |
Herb-rich Foothill Forest | EVC 23 | Depleted | 13.73 |
Herb-rich Foothill Forest/ Shrubby Foothill Forest Complex | EVC 178 | Depleted | 6.84 |
Shrubby Foothill Forest | EVC 45 | Least concern | 57.66 |
Damp Forest | EVC 29 | Vulnerable | 1.47 |
EVC status and criteria
The status of an EVC is established by a number of criteria which include depletion (how much of the EVC remains since European settlement), degradation, current threats and rarity. The table below is a simplified version of this criteria.
Status | Criteria |
---|---|
Endangered | Less than 10% pre-European extent remains. |
Vulnerable | 10 to 30% pre-European extent remains. |
Depleted | Greater than 30% and up to 50% pre-European extent remains. |
Rare | Rare EVC (as defined by geographic occurrence) but neither depleted, degraded nor currently threatened to an extent that would qualify as Endangered, Vulnerable or Depleted. |
Least Concern | Greater than 50% pre-European extent remains and subject to little to no degradation over a majority of this area. |