Regional ecosystem details for 7.11.48
| Regional ecosystem | 7.11.48 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 8, 9 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 300 ha; Remnant 2021 200 ha |
| Short description | Melaleuca viridiflora +/- Corymbia clarksoniana +/- Eucalyptus platyphylla woodland to open forest on metamorphics |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Melaleuca viridiflora (broad leaf tea tree) +/- Corymbia clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) +/- Eucalyptus platyphylla (poplar gum) woodland to open forest. Metamorphics. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 7.11.48a: Melaleuca viridiflora woodland. Metamorphics. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). 7.11.48b: Melaleuca viridiflora woodland to open forest with emergents or sparse upper stratum of eucalypts including Corymbia clarksoniana, Eucalyptus platyphylla, Lophostemon suaveolens and E. drepanophylla. Metamorphics. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21a). |
| Supplementary description | Stanton and Stanton (2005), M41, M78 |
| Protected areas | Kuranda West FR, Daintree NP (CYPAL), Kuranda NP |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Early to mid-dry season in normal season (March-May) and in drier areas (e.g., Mt Molloy region) where there is likelihood of fire continuing into dry period leaving ground exposed for long duration. Early to late-season in wet year (March-Sep). INTENSITY: Low to moderate. INTERVAL: 3-10 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 3. INTERVAL_MAX: 10. STRATEGY: Patch burn (<30% of area) early in the dry season to limit the extent and intensity of wildfires. Fires may, depending on the conditions and type of vegetation, burn areas larger than just the melaleuca ecosystem. Ensure secure boundaries from non fire-regime adapted ecosystems. Use topography to restrict spread of fire. Consider the needs of melaleuca ecosystems based on understorey (i.e., heath dominated, sedge dominated or mixed grass/shrub) when planning burns. High soil moisture (or presence of water on the ground) is required, as avoidance of peat-type fires must be maintained. ISSUES: Restrict extent and intensity of fires. High intensity and extensive fires degrade vegetation structure and destroy animal habitats. Melaleuca forests are fire-adapted, but too high an intensity or frequent fire will slow or prevent regeneration and lead to lower species richness (since these communities contain numerous obligate seed regenerating species that require sufficient fire intervals to produce seed). High intensity fires may kill trees and lead to whipstick regeneration. Too frequent fire may result in a net loss of nutrients over time from an already nutrient poor system. Fire associations are significantly influenced by understorey composition. |
| Comments | 7.11.48: Scattered across the ranges, mapped only north of Cairns. |
1 Estimated extent is from version 13.1 pre-clearing and 2021 remnant regional ecosystem mapping. Figures are rounded for simplicity. For more precise estimates, including breakdowns by tenure and other themes see remnant vegetation in Queensland.
