Rainforest in Victoria

Victoria, Australia contains approximately 32,000 hectares[1] of temperate rainforest in various regions, which represents 0.14% of the State's total area.[2] The areas with rainforest include: East Gippsland, Strzelecki Ranges, Wilsons Promontory, Central Highlands, and Otway Ranges. The rainforests vary between cool temperate, warm temperate, and mixed cool temperate.[2]

Protection

In Victorian forests subject to timber harvesting operations rainforest is protected by the Code of Practice for Timber Production (DSE 2007), which requires that:

"Rainforest communities in Victoria must not be harvested. Rainforest communities must be protected from the impacts of harvesting through the use of appropriate buffers to maintain microclimatic conditions and protect from disease and other disturbance."

However, mixed cool temperate rainforest has not been completely mapped in Victoria, and no pre-logging surveys occur to check for this forest type. Old-growth forest, with trees dating from pre-1900s, are also meant to be protected.

Victorian rainforests occurring inside national parks are protected from logging.

Rainforest does not regenerate following clearfell, coupe logging, which is practiced in Victoria.

Plant species

There are many plant species found in the various rainforests of Victoria, which differentiate it from wet sclerophyll forest. This is a combined list of differential species from the various rainforest areas in Victoria.[3]

References
  1. "Victorian Rainforest Network".
  2. "Rainforest in Victoria". Victorian Rainforest Network. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  3. A Field Guide to Rainforest Identification in Victoria. 2008. David Cameron. Department of Sustainability and Environment. ISBN 978-1-74208-899-0
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