Biodiversity and Threatened Species
Mallee Regional Catchment Strategy Goal
To maintain ecological processes and to protect and improve the extent and quality of biodiversity in the Mallee.
Natural Assets
Extreme climatic conditions interacting with the geology of the Mallee have resulted in unique communities of flora and fauna. Aboriginal use of fire was also a strong influence in shaping native vegetation formation, distribution and ecological requirements.
The Victorian Mallee is signficant for its unique animals, particularly its reptiles and birds. Approximately 52 species of flora and 62 species of fauna in the Mallee region are threatened.
Number of Victorian Mallee Region Rare or Threatened Flora or Fauna | ||
| Status | Flora | Fauna |
| extinct | 7 | 7 |
| critically endangered | n/a | 10 |
| endangered | 64 | 30 |
| vulnerable | 119 | 35 |
| rare/other | 142 | 30 |
| Source NRE 2000 | ||
Three communities have been listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988:
- Semi-arid Herbaceous Pine-Buloke Woodland
- Semi-arid Shrubby Pine-Buloke Woodland
- Semi-arid Herbaceous Pine Woodland.
Many of the vegetation complexes that originally dominated the Mallee are now largely fragmented. Large blocks of public land remain but this vegetation does not represent the diversity that would have been present prior to European settlement. The vegetation of the Mallee region has been classified into 50 separate ecological vegetation classes (EVCs).
Program Objectives
Core projects comprising the Biodiversity and Threatened Species Program will contribute towards:
- an increase in the extent of endangered EVCs (as determined by Biodiversity Action Plans)
- the restoration of native vegetation as a habitat for native species in priority areas
- the completion of vegetation extent and quality assessments at priority sites using the ‘habitat quality assessment’ method (as determined by vegetation condition mapping projects)
- population monitoring of priority populations (as determined in Biodiversity Action Plans)
- remnants of EVCs less than 15 percent pre-1750 coverage being subjected to management agreements with land managers (as determined in Biodiversity Action Plans)
- improved knowledge of terrestrial ecology to enable better management of threatening processes
- the investigation and determination of ecological fire regimes.
Further Information
For futher information, click on any of the links below.