Littoral Rainforest in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions - profile

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered Ecological Community
National conservation status: Critically Endangered

Description

Littoral Rainforest is generally a closed forest, the structure and composition of which is strongly influenced by its proximity to the ocean. The plant species of this community are predominantly rainforest species. Several species have compound leaves, and vines may be a major component of the canopy. These features differentiate littoral rainforest from forest or scrub, but while the canopy is dominated by rainforest species, scattered emergent individuals of sclerophyll species, such as Angophora costata, Banksia integrifolia, Eucalyptus botryoides and Eucalyptus tereticornis occur in many stands. There is considerable floristic variation between stands and in particular areas, localised variants may be recognised. The Sutherland Shire Littoral Rainforest Endangered Ecological Community which was listed previously as an endangered ecological community is included within this community. Characteristic species of this community are cited in the NSW Scientific Committee Final Determination on the DEC website.

Location and habitat

Distribution
 Littoral Rainforest occurs only on the coast and is found at locations in the NSW North Coast Bioregion, Sydney Basin Bioregion and South East Corner Bioregion. Littoral Rainforest is very rare and occurs in many small stands. In total, it comprises less than one percent of the total area of rainforest in NSW. The largest known stand occurs in Iluka Nature Reserve, which is about 136 hectares in size. Not all stands of this community have been included in mapping for the Environmental Planning Policy 26, Littoral rainforest.

• Occurs on sand dunes and on soil derived from underlying rocks.
• Stands on headlands exposed to strong wind-action may take the form of dense, wind-pruned thickets.
• Stands are generally taller in sheltered sites such as hind dunes, although wind-pruning may still occur on their windward sides.
• Most stands occur within two kilometres of the sea, though are occasionally found further inland within reach of the maritime influence.
• A number of species characteristic of Littoral Rainforest in NSW reach their southern limits at various places along the coast; a number of temperate species are restricted to the south coast; the total Littoral Rainforest flora declines from north to south.
• The species composition (flora and fauna) of a site will be influenced by its geographic location, the size of the site, its degree of exposure and rainfall, its disturbance history (including fire) and, if previously disturbed, the stage of regeneration.

Regional information
This species is found in the following catchment management authority regions. Click on a region name to see more details about the distribution, vegetation types and habitat preference of the species in that region.

• Hawkesbury/Nepean
• Hunter/Central Rivers
• Northern Rivers
• Southern Rivers
• Sydney Metro

Threats

• Invasion of weeds threaten the integrity of particular stands.
• Clearing or damage to stand-margins resulting in salt and wind damage and loss of canopy integrity.
• Clearing and/or physical disturbance to the understorey and surrounds from actions such as firewood collection, grazing, human visitation and rubbish dumping.
• Inappropriate collection of plant species (eg. epiphytes).
• Fire, particularly along the boundary of the community.
• Introduction of pathogens.
• Loss of fauna due to predation from feral animals.
• Clearing and fragmentation of stands not protected by State Environmental Planning Policy 26.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Department of Environment and Conservation has identified 12 priority actions to help recover the Littoral Rainforest in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions in New South Wales.

What needs to be done to recover this species?

• Raise visitor awareness about the threats to remnants; provide information on how visitors' actions will affect the remnants' survival.
• Control feral animals including deer, goats and foxes.
• Control introduced weeds.
• Protect known habitat from clearing and high levels of disturbance such as grazing and burning.
• Seek a permit from the DEC before collecting plants.
• Regulate visitor access to sites to insure disturbance is minimised.

Detailed References

Below is a list of references relating to this ecological community. You can filter the list by the features or publication type you require.

Reference Details	Features
Adam, P. (1987) New South Wales rainforests: The nomination for the World Heritage List. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney..
Adam, P. (1992) Australian rainforests. Oxford University Press, Oxford..
Andresen, L. (2005) Successional recovery of Littoral Rainforest in Banksia regrowth after sandmining: A comment on implications of applying Endangered Ecological Community Determinations. Ecological Management and Restoration, Vol 6 (3).
Bell, S.A.J. (2002) The natural vegetation of the Wyong Local Government Area, Central Coast, New South Wales: Technical Report. Unpublished Final Report to Wyong Shire Council, Eastcoast Flora Survey, 197 pgs.
Bell, S.A.J. (2004) The natural vegetation of the Gosford Local Government Area, Central Coast, New South Wales: Technical Report. Unpublished Final Report to Gosford City Council, Eastcoast Flora Survey, 131 pgs.
Bellingen Shire Council (2006) Coastal Vegetation of the Bellingen Local Government Area. A report by Flametree Ecological Consultants for Bellingen Shire Council. Bellingen Shire Council, 88 pgs.
Benson, D.H. (1986) The native vegetation of the Gosford – Lake Macquarie 1:100 000 Mapsheets. Cunninghamia, Vol. 1, pp. 467-490..
Beukers, P. and Miles, J. (In prep) Revision of vegetation mapping for the NSW Far South Coast. DECC Merimbula. NSW Dept. of Environment and Climate Change (Parks and Wildlife Group), Merimbula.
Brooker, M. and Kleinig, D. (1990) Field Guide to Eucalypts of South-eastern NSW. Vol 1 and 2. Inkata Press, Melbourne..
DEC (2004) North East NSW Field Key to Forest Ecosystems. Natural Resource Management Field Assessment Guidelines. DEC, NE Branch Coffs Harbour..
DEC (2006) Endangered Ecological Communities Survey and Mapping, Coastal Vegetation Communities – Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Saltmarsh. A report by NGH Environmental for NSW Dept. of Environment and Conservation (Park and Wildlife Division, Southern Branch), 59pgs.
DEH (2005) Technical Workshop Outcome Report: Littoral Rainforest and Vine Thickets of Eastern Australia. DEH Website. Accessed: 25/08/06.
DEH (2005a) Nomination of mixed microphyll/notophyll vine thicket on bench ridges (Quaternary sands) as an Endangered Ecological Community under the EPBC Act 1999. DEH Website. Accessed: 15/09/06.
ESC (2007) Endangered Ecological Communities Survey and Mapping in Eurobodalla Shire. A report prepared by NGH Environmental for Eurobodalla Shire Council, 40 pgs.
Fisher, M., Body, M. and Gill, J. (1996) Vegetation Idenification and Classification of the Coffs Harbour City Council LGA. North East Vegetation Surveys, 75 pgs.
Floyd, Alexander (1990) Australian rainforests in New South Wales. Volume 1. Surrey Beaty and Sons, 136 pgs.
Floyd, Alexander (1990) Australian rainforests in New South Wales. Volume 2. Surrey Beaty and Sons, 180 pgs.
Gellie, N. (2005) Native Vegetation of the Southern Forests: South-east Highlands, Australian Alps, South-west Slopes, and SE Corner bioregions. Cunninghamia, Vol 9 (2) pp. 219-253.
Gilmore, P. (2006) Vegetation Communities of the Central Coast Region of NSW. In: McCauley, A. etal (2006) Vegetation of Regional Significance on the NSW Central Coast. HCR CMA and Hunter Councils Inc. NSW., 240 pgs.
Harden, G. (ed) (1999-2002) Flora of NSW. NSW University Press, Vol. 1-4.
Harden, G., McDonald, B. and Williams, J. (2006) Rainforest trees and shrubs: a field guide to their identification. Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney.
Hnatuik, R.J., Thackway, R. and Walker, J. (2003) Vegetation - Guidelines for site-based survey. Australian Bureau of Rural Sciences, 111pgs.
House, S (2003) Lower Hunter & Central Coast Regional Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, Technical Report, Digital Aerial Photo Interpretation & Updated Extant Vegetation Community Map. Lower Hunter & Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy, Callaghan, NSW..
Keith, D.A. (2004) Ocean Shores to Desert Dunes - The native vegetation of NSW and the ACT. Dept. of Environment and Conservation (NSW), 353 pgs.
Keith, D.A. (1996) Fire-driven mechanisms of extinction in vascular plants: a review of empirical and theoretical evidence in Australian vegetation. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales., Vol. 116, pp. 37-78..
Keith, D.A. and Bedward, M. (1999) Vegetation of the South East Forests region, Eden, NSW (Eden CRA). Cunninghamia, Vol 6, pp 1-218.
Kendall and Kendall Ecological Consultants (2003) Nambucca Catchment Vegetation Survey. Report prepared for Nambucca Vegetation Sub-committee, 155 pgs.
Kooyman, R and Rossetto, M. (2006) Factors influencing species selection for littoral rainforest restoration: Do environmental gradients matter? Ecological Management and Restoration, Vol 7 (2), pp 113-122.
Leonard, G. (2007) Eucalypts of the Sydney region: a bushwalker's guide. UNSW Press, Sydney, 77 pgs.
Lovett, S. and Price, P. (eds) (2007) Principles for riparian lands management. Land and Water Australia, Canberra., 200 pgs.
McCauley, A., DeVries, R., Elith, J. and Gilmore, P. (2006) Vegetation of Regional Significance on the NSW Central Coast. Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority and Hunter Councils Inc. NSW., 308 pgs + appendices.
McDonald, R.C., Isbell, R.F., Speight, J.G., Walker, J. and Hopkins, M.S. (1990) Australian soil and land survey. Field handbook. Second edition. Inkata Press, Melbourne., pp. 9-57.
McKinley, A., Milledge, D., Nicholson, H., Nicholson, N. & Stewart, B. (1999) Identification of littoral rainforest on krasnozem soil between Queensland-New South Wales border and the Richmond River, report for NPWS, Sydney. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney..
Miles, J. (2007) Recognition and Management of Endangered Ecological Communities in the South East Corner of NSW. Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, 60 pgs.
Mills, K. (1988) The clearing of the Illawarra rainforests: Problems in reconstructing pre-European vegetation patterns. Australian Geographer, Vol 19 / pp 230-240.
Mills, K. (1996) Littoral Rainforest in Southern NSW: Inventory, Characteristics and Management. Illawarra Vegetation Studies (1). Coachwood Publishing Jamberoo, 17 pgs.
Mills, K. (2003) The natural vegetation in the municipality of Kiama, NSW. A report prepared by Kevin Mills and Associates for Kiama Municipal Council, 49 pgs.
Mills, K. and Jakeman, J. (1995) Rainforests of the Illawarra District. Coachwood Publishing Jamberoo, 143 pgs.
NCC (1999) Towards an Illawarra Regional Vegetation Management Plan. Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Sydney..
NPWS (2002) Native vegetation of the Illawarra Escarpment and Coastal Plain. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney, 242 pgs.
Robinson, L (2003) Field guide to native plants of Sydney revised 3rd edition. Kangaroo Press, 448 pgs.
Telfor, D. and Kendall, P. (2006) Native Vegetation Mapping and Endangered Ecological Community Mapping, Kempsey LGA east. Report to Kempsey Shire Council, 40 pgs.
Thackway, R., Creswell, I.D. (eds) (1995) An interim biogeographic regionalisation of Australia: a framework for establishing the national system of reserves. Australian Nature Conservation Agency: Canberra..
Thackway, R., Neldner, J. and Bolton, M. (2003) Chapter 7. Vegetation - Guidelines for Conducting Surveys. Australian Bureau of Rural Sciences, 35 pgs.
Thomas, V., Gellie, N., & Harrison, T. (2000) Forest Ecosystem Classification and Mapping for the Southern Comprehensive Regional Assessment. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Queanbeyan..
Tindall, D., Pennay, C., Tozer, M.G., Turner, K., & Keith, D.A. (2004) DRAFT Native vegetation map report series No. 4. Araluen, Batemans Bay, Braidwood, Burragorang, Goulburn, Jervis Bay, Katoomba, Kiama, Moss Vale, Penrith, Port Hacking, Sydney, Taralga, Ulladulla, Wollongong (Priority 5 Mapping Area - P5MA). NSW Dept. of Environment and Climate Change and NSW Dept. of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources..
Tozer, M.G., Turner, K., Simpson, C., Keith, D.A., Beukers, P., MacKenzie, B., Tindall, D. & Pennay, C. (2006) Native vegetation of south east NSW: a revised classification and map for the coast and eastern tablelands. V1.0. NSW Dept. of Environment and Climate Change and NSW Dept. of Infrastructure, Planning and Natrual Resources..