East Gippsland, on the far eastern side of Victoria, offers a unique range of landscapes from the snow-peaked mountains of the Great Divide, to plains, lakes and a surrounding coastal fringe. Only 17 per cent of the region is freehold land, but of this freehold land, 70 per cent has been cleared. This has led to the regional extinction of many species.  Scientists have classified 63 of the 87 Ecological Vegetation Classes present as threatened.  A large proportion of these are confined to private land. Situated between Bairnsdale and Traralgon are the Gippsland Plains, where less than eight per cent of the original vegetation remains.

The Red Gum Grassy Woodlands, Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodlands, Heathy Woodlands and Sedge Woodlands are all threatened. Nesting pairs of the rare White-bellied Sea-eagle can be found in the few remaining large Red Gum and Coastal Grey Box scattered across the plains.  Further east the limestone belt gives rise to another suite of threatened vegetation types, Limestone Box Forest, Limestone Pomaderris Shrubland and nestled in the deep gullies the rare Warm Temperate Rainforest. Here the endangered Powerful Owl relies on both private and public land for its large home range.  The largest areas of the nationall-endangered White Box Woodlands are found on the steep, granite slopes of the Omeo Valley.

Contacts:

Robyn Edwards - East Gippsland Regional Manager
Ph: +61 (03) 5153 0457 or 0418 561 646
PO Box 483 BAIRNSDALE, VIC 3875

Mark Jorgensen - East Gippsland Stewardship Officer
Ph: +61 (03) 5153 2912
PO Box 483 BAIRNSDALE, VIC 3875

Brett Mills Ranger - Gippsland Plains CMN
Ph: (03) 5153 2999 or 0409 530 462
PO Box 483 BAIRNSDALE, VIC 3875 

Visit the East Gippsland Rainforest Conservation Management Network to learn about Victoria's beautiful rainforests or to get involved with conservation initiatives.

The Gippsland Plains bio-region stretches from east of Lakes Entrance to Melbourne. To learn about this region, or the conservation work being done to protect it, visit the Gippsland Plains Conservation Management Network.