Native Vegetation Group 9 - Rainforests

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Rainforests Native Vegetation Map

High resolution map of Simplified Native Vegetation Group 9 [PDF File - 254.4 KB] - includes major roads and towns.

Ecological Vegetation Class Descriptions

9.1 Rainforests EVC 4 EVC 4 Coastal Vine-rich Forest EVC 31 EVC 31 Cool Temperate Rainforest EVC 32 EVC 32 Warm Temperate Rainforest EVC 33 EVC 33 Cool Temperate Rainforest/Warm Temperate Rainforest Overlap EVC 34 EVC 34 Dry Rainforest EVC 135 EVC 135 Gallery Rainforest

Bioregional Conservation Status and EVC benchmarks

9.1 Rainforests

EVC 4 Coastal Vine-rich Forest
Closed to open forest, occurring only in East Gippsland at the foot of slopes (often in shallow coastal gullies) which spill out onto coastal inlets or on aeolian sands on the seaward side of coastal hills which have a damp southerly aspect. The understorey has a scattered tall shrub layer and is covered with a diverse array of rainforest lianes. The groundlayer is dominated by Austral Bracken Pteridium esculentum, tussock grasses and a wide array of herbs. This EVC is the early stages of littoral rainforest colonisation or recovery following severe wildfire.

EVC 31 Cool Temperate Rainforest
Closed non-eucalypt forest occurring in high rainfall areas and protected from fire within Wet Forest. The understorey is characterised by tree ferns and a rich epiphytic flora. The ground layer is dominated by a diversity of ground ferns.

EVC 32 Warm Temperate Rainforest
Closed forest restricted to the lowlands where it grows on protected slopes adjacent to streams and along minor gullies. Dominated by a range of non-eucalypt canopy species above an understorey of smaller trees and shrubs and usually visually dominated by ferns and climbers.

EVC 33 Cool Temperate Rainforest/Warm Temperate Rainforest Overlap
Closed forest restricted to deeply incised river valleys of moderate gradient and associated steep gullies in rugged mountain country on a variety of southerly aspects. Dominated by a range of non-eucalypt canopy species above an understorey of smaller trees and shrubs and usually visually dominated by ferns and climbers.

EVC 34 Dry Rainforest
Open to closed non-eucalypt low forest or tall shrubland. Occurs in areas of relatively low rainfall and primarily confined to topographic fire refuges most often associated with extensive cliffs, gorges and rock screes on northern and western aspects. Characterised by canopy species that are rain-green (ie. lose leaves during drought).

EVC 135 Gallery Rainforest
Closed forest occurring along the fringes of substantial streams that periodically flood. The understorey comprises a number of willowy shrubs that can withstand flooding while mature woody vines are generally absent as are tree-ferns, these life-forms being swept away during floods.

Bioregional Conservation Status and EVC benchmarks