Native Vegetation Group 6 - Dry Forests
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Dry Forests Native Vegetation Map
High resolution map of Simplified Native Vegetation Group 6 (PDF - 2.0 Mb) - includes major roads and towns.Ecological Vegetation Class Descriptions
| 6.1 Dry Forests - Exposed and/or lower altitude |  |
| 6.2 Dry Forests - Sheltered and/or higher altitude |  |
Bioregional Conservation Status and EVC benchmarks
6.1 Dry Forests - Exposed and/or lower altitude
EVC 20 Heathy Dry Forest
Grows on shallow, rocky skeletal soils on a variety of geologies and on a range of landforms from gently undulating hills to exposed aspects on ridge tops and steep slopes at a range of elevations. The overstorey is a low, open eucalypt forest, poor in form with an open crown cover. The understorey is dominated by a low, sparse to dense layer of ericoid-leaved shrubs including heaths and peas. Graminoids and grasses are frequently present in the ground layer, but do not provide much cover.
EVC 22 Grassy Dry Forest
Occurs on a variety of gradients and altitudes and on a range of geologies. The overstorey is dominated by a low to medium eucalypt forest, sometimes resembling an open woodland with a secondary, smaller tree layer including a number of Acacia species. The understorey usually consists of a sparse medium shrub layer. Grassy Dry Forest is characterised by a ground layer dominated by a high diversity of drought-tolerant grasses and herbs, often including a suite of fern species.
6.2 Dry Forests - Sheltered and/or higher altitude
EVC 21 Shrubby Dry Forest
Occurs on a range of geologies on exposed aspects such as ridge-lines and medium to steep upper slopes, often in high rainfall areas and on shallow infertile soils. The overstorey is an open forest characterised by the diversity and variability of the eucalypts. The understorey often lacks a secondary tree layer but contains a well-developed medium to low shrub layer. The ground layer is often very sparse with tussock-forming graminoids being the dominant life form.
EVC 23 Herb-rich Foothill Forest
Occurs on relatively fertile, moderately well-drained soils on an extremely wide range of geological types and in areas of moderate to high rainfall. Occupies easterly and southerly aspects mainly on lower slopes and in gullies. A medium to tall open forest or woodland with a small tree layer over a sparse to dense shrub layer. A high cover and diversity of herbs and grasses in the ground layer characterise this EVC.
EVC 45 Shrubby Foothill Forest
Occurs on ridges and exposed slopes in association with moister forests on moderately fertile soils and at a range of elevations. The overstorey is a medium eucalypt forest over an understorey characterised by a distinctive middle strata dominated by a diversity of narrow-leaved shrubs and a paucity of ferns, graminoids and herbs in the ground stratum.
EVC 47 Valley Grassy Forest
Valley Grassy Forest occurs under moderate rainfall regimes on fertile well-drained colluvial or alluvial soils on gently undulating lower slopes and valley floors. The tall, open overstorey may carry a variety of eucalypts, usually species which prefer more moist or more fertile conditions over a sparse shrub cover. In season, a rich array of herbs, lilies, grasses and sedges dominate the ground layer but at the drier end of the spectrum the ground layer may be sparse and slightly less diverse, but with the moisture-loving species still remaining.
EVC 127 Valley Heathy Forest
A low, open forest with a sedgy/grassy understorey with a component of small ericoid shrubs and grass-trees. Soil and moisture factors are critical in delimiting the vegetation.
EVC 128 Grassy Forest
Low growing forest with an understorey of small and medium shrubs and a rich diversity of herbs. Large shrubs and understorey trees may also be conspicuous. Often grows in areas transitional between drier box stringybark forests and taller herb-rich forests typical of more favourable environments.
EVC 169 Dry Valley Forest
Open eucalypt forest occurring along minor gullies, ephemeral streams and river flats. The overstorey may contain a range of eucalypts typical of drier environments over an understorey of scattered shrubs and a notably mossy herb-rich groundcover.
EVC 177 Valley Slopes Dry Forest
An open eucalypt forest occurring on steep, eroding valley slopes in dry country. Soils are skeletal though fertile and well-drained, with occasional rock outcropping. The EVC carries a mixture of wet and dry species as river fogs and river margins provide increased moisture.
EVC 902 Gully Woodland
Woodland or open forest occurring along moderately steep gullies. Soils are mostly colluvial deposits of sands and silts. Characterised by a medium dense small tree and shrub layer above a grassy/sedgy understorey, often rich in herbs within the inter-tussock spaces.
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Bioregional Conservation Status and EVC benchmarks
An EVC may have a different conservation status in each bioregion in which it is found. To look up an EVC's Bioregional Conservation Status (BCS), download the spreadsheet on the Simplified Native Vegetation Groups page.
You can also use this spreadsheet to help find the corresponding EVC benchmarks, which are listed by bioregion.
Please note: Document(s) on this page are presented in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download a copy free from the Adobe web site.
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