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The North Central region spreads from the foothills of the Great Dividing Range through to the Midlands and Northern Riverine Plains.
Eighty-seven per cent of this region is privately owned land with 65 per cent of it used for agricultural purposes.
There is only 3.6 per cent of remnant vegetation remaining on private land in the region.
For the past 150 years the natural plant cover of the North Central grasslands has been more profoundly changed than almost any other major ecosystem in the State.
Only scattered remnants of grassy woodlands remain.
Twenty of the 21 species of mammal extinct in Victoria existed in native grasslands or grassy woodlands.
At least 131 of Victoria’s 866 rare and threatened plants occur or occurred in these vegetation communities.
Ephemeral wetlands are one of Victoria’s most vulnerable and threatened ecosystems. This is because of a history of drainage, cultivation and the onset of salinity.
Wetlands support a large variety of animals and plants and play a vital role in filtering the sediments and nutrients carried in surface run-off.
The loss of many species is due to habitat destruction or degradation.
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Photo by Mark Schapper
Photo by Eris O'Brien
Photo by Lance Williams
Photo by Eugene O'Brien
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Contacts:
Tim Read - North Central Regional Manager
Ph: +61 (03) 5470 6529 or 0437 564 325
233 Barker Street
Castlemaine, Vic 3450
email
Nathan Wong - Grassy Ecosystems Coordindator
Ph: +61 (03) 5470 6529 or 0458 965 329
233 Barker Street
Castlemaine, Vic 3450
email
Eris O’Brien - Grasslands Project Officer
Ph: +61 (03) 5488 2290 or 0458 965 222
email
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