Eastern Australian temperate forests
Eastern Australian temperate forests encompass a diverse and complex region located between the eastern coastline of Australia and the Great Dividing Range, extending from New South Wales to southeast Queensland. This area is characterized by its dominant eucalyptus forests, interspersed with various types of rainforests, including subtropical and warm temperate varieties. The unique geological features, including ancient shield volcanoes and distinct substrates, contribute to a high level of biodiversity, supporting numerous endemic and threatened species of flora and fauna.
The coastal zone, notably including Fraser Island—recognized as a World Heritage site—hosts vast sand deposits and unique ecosystems, while the Border Ranges are rich in vascular plant species. The Greater Blue Mountain area further highlights this biodiversity, with a significant number of endemic plant species and a variety of vertebrates. However, these temperate forests face serious threats from human activities such as deforestation, urban development, invasive species, and climate change, leading to habitat destruction and significant losses in biodiversity. Reports indicate that a considerable portion of these forests has already been cleared, raising concerns about the future of the region's rich ecological heritage.
Eastern Australian temperate forests
- Category: Forest Biomes.
- Geographic Location: Australia.
- Summary: This geologically complex and biologically diverse region, covered by eucalypt forests and patches of rainforests, faces threats from deforestation and other human activities.
The eastern Australian temperate forest region is located between Australia's east coast and the Great Dividing Range (also known as the Eastern Highlands mountain range), extending from the central coast of New South Wales near Sydney into southeast Queensland. This area supports a large variety of animals and plants, some of which are endemic (uniquely evolved to fit a biome) to this region and others that are globally threatened. High diversity exists here, in part due to the changes that occur along the landscape, characterized by dramatically different substrates and microclimates.
Temperate eucalyptus forests are dominant, with patches of rainforest dispersed throughout. Four types of rainforests exist in this area: subtropical, dry, warm temperate, and cool temperate. In the coastal area, heath, shrubs, and other sand-dune vegetation flourish. Specific areas of the eastern Australian temperate forest region are recognized internationally as biodiversity hot spots and regions of high plant endemism. Human civilization, however, has had a significant impact on this region's rich biota through deforestation and development.
The Australian temperate forest region is geologically complex, and a wide variety of substrates underlies these distinct regions of rich vegetation.
Coastal Zone
In the coastal zone, extensive sand deposits make up the large sand mass of Fraser Island and Cooloola in Queensland. Together, these sand masses are named the Great Sandy Region. Fraser Island is one of the largest sand islands in the world; it is included on the World Heritage List because of its unique landscape. It is the only place in the world where tall subtropical rainforests, known as littoral rainforests, grow amid giant sand dunes. The large and extensive sand deposits are the result of climatic and sea-level changes over the past 700,000 years. The sand dunes on Fraser Island can reach elevations of more than 656 feet (200 meters).
Coastal vegetation includes shrublands, heaths, satinays, kauri pines, and other salt-tolerant vegetation. Mammals in this area include wallabies, dingoes, bandicoots, and potoroos. The Great Sandy Region also provides critical habitat for birds; more than 350 species of birds have been recorded, including sea eagles, osprey, kites, and pelicans.
Border Ranges
Forming the boundary between Queensland and New South Wales, the Border Ranges are remnants of 20-million-year-old shield volcanoes. Volcanic activity during the Tertiary Period formed large areas of basalt and elevated landscapes such as these. The Border Ranges—including the McPherson Range, Tweed Range, and some notable plateaus—are recognized as biodiversity hot spots. The area contains more than 1,000 vascular plants, including several that are endemic, and some threatened species. This area is considered to be a center for vascular-plant species richness and endemism. More than 100 genera are Gondwanan in origin and include both rainforest and non-rainforest genera.
The Border Ranges are also similarly diverse in fauna, with a variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and invertebrates. Volcanic activity during the Tertiary Period created the distinct landscapes and large areas of basalt. The central ancient shield volcano, Tweed Volcano, formed Mount Warning, which dominates the landscape of far northeastern New South Wales. About 20 million years ago, this area covered 1,544 square miles (4,000 square kilometers) and was nearly twice its present height. Throughout time, erosion has produced unique landforms, including an erosion caldera known as Tweed Valley. Mount Warning, also called Wollumbin and Cloud-Catcher by the Aboriginal inhabitants, is the first place on Australia's mainland to be touched by the morning sun.
Greater Blue Mountain Area
The Blue Mountains form the central part of the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales, which parallels much of the eastern margin of Australia. The Greater Blue Mountain area is approximately 2.4 million acres (1 million hectares) of well-forested sandstone plateaus and cliffs. Much of this area has protected status, to preserve the high diversity of scleromorphic species. It is a center for plant endemism.
The high diversity of scleromorphic taxa consists of 20 plant families, including Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, and Orchideae. The diverse and endemic biota of this region exists partly due to the region's geologic stability and inaccessibility. This area contains 92 species of eucalyptus, 10 percent of Australia's vascular flora, and 13 percent of the global total. Many of these species are rare or threatened, and some are endemic species, such as the Wollemi pine. Rainforest communities are interspersed throughout the region. The high diversity of plants create equally diverse habitats for fauna. The region has more than 400 vertebrate taxa, including native mammals, birds, reptiles, and frogs. Many of these species are rare, endemic, or threatened.
Threats
The forest supports an array of plant and animal life, however, human activities threaten its stability. Large-scale deforestation, coastal and urban development, invasive species, wildfires, and climate change are all problems the biome faces. In 2015, the World Wildlife Fund listed Australia of one of eleven places set to account for 80 percent of global forest loss by 2030. The report noted that 70 percent of the forests of Eastern Australia had been cleared or disturbed, and only 18 percent was protected. This habitat destruction could cause the disappearance of many species. Further, development around the area also leads to logging and destruction of habitat. Wildfires, exacerbated by climate change, have become an increasing threat in the twenty-first century. In 2019 and 2020, the number of bushfires in the area resulted in 7.3 million hectares of forest burned, impacting 3 billion animals. Fires are only expected to worsen and intensify as the effects of climate change are felt in the region.
Bibliography
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“Eastern Australia Listed as Global Front for Deforestation.” WWF, 27 Apr. 2015, wwf.org.au/news/2015/eastern-australia-listed-as-global-front-for-deforestation/. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
“Forests of Eastern Australia.” WWF, www.worldwildlife.org/pages/forests-of-eastern-australia. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Mansergh, I., and D. Cheal. “Protected Area Planning and Management for Eastern Australian Temperate Forests and Woodland Ecosystems Under Climate Change—A Landscape Approach.” In M. Taylor and P. Figgis, eds. Protected Areas: Buffering Nature Against Climate Change. Sydney: World Wildlife Fund-Australia, 2007.