The Northern Beaches supports a rich diversity of native vegetation communities, including some Threatened Ecological Communities. They control erosion through protecting soils and creek banks, reduce land degradation, improve water quality, produce oxygen, regulate micro-climates and provide habitat for a wide range of animals, including threatened species. They also provide important recreational values and landscapes of immeasurable beauty.
Vegetation communities contain a diverse mix of plants and habitat types which are critical for the long-term survival of our native animals. Effective long-term conservation depends on protection of native vegetation in reserves and other areas outside the national parks, as well as the connectivity of wildlife corridors.
What is a Threatened Ecological Community?
Threatened Ecological Community is a term used in Australia for ecosystems that are in danger of being lost due to some threatening processes. These areas are a naturally occurring group of native plants, animals and other organisms that are interacting in a unique habitat. Its structure, composition and distribution are determined by environmental factors such as soil type, position in the landscape, altitude, climate and water availability.
The purpose of listing threatened ecosystems is primarily to reduce the rate of ecosystem and species extinction. This includes preventing further degradation and loss of structure, function and composition of threatened ecosystems. There are 12 Threatened Ecological Communities on the Northern Beaches and Council is committed to protecting them.
Threatened Ecological Communities on the Northern Beaches
Bangalay Sand Forest
Bangalay Sand Forest of the Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions is the name given to the ecological community associated with coastal sand plains of marine or aeolian...
Coastal Saltmarsh
Coastal Saltmarsh occurs in the intertidal zone on the shores of estuaries and lagoons that are permanently and intermittently open to the sea. Saltmarsh occupies the high tide...
Coastal Upland Heath Swamp
The Coastal Upland Heath Swamp in the Sydney Basin Bioregion includes open heath, sedgeland and tall scrub which is periodically waterlogged. It occurs primarily on impermeable...
Duffys Forest
Duffys Forest Ecological Community in the Sydney Basin is an open-forest or woodland that occurs in association with shale lenses and lateritic soils. Floristic composition and...
Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub
Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub is a nationally and state-listed Threatened Ecological Community. It consists of sclerophyllous heath vegetation which is confined to wind formed...
Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains
Freshwater wetlands on coastal floodplains on the Northern Beaches occur in swampy, saline, alluvial soils around the margins of estuaries and coastal lagoons. They are...
Littoral Rainforest
Littoral Rainforest is a closed forest occurring only on the coast of Eastern Australia. This community is defined by the regularly actions of the ocean and exposure to salty...
Pittwater and Wagstaffe Spotted Gum Forest
Pittwater and Wagstaffe Spotted Gum Forest occurs within the northern part of the Northern Beaches on the Barrenjoey Peninsular, Scotland Island and Western Foreshores of...
River Flat Eucalyptus Forest on Coastal Floodplain
This vegetation community is found on river flats of the coastal floodplains, as the name suggests, and consists of tall open trees of eucalyptus. The distinguishing features...
Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest
Swamp Oak Floodplain forest community is found on coastal floodplains around our lagoons and waterways. On the Northern Beaches this community occurs and would have occurred...
Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains
Swamp sclerophyll forest on coastal floodplains has an open to dense tree layer of eucalypts and paperbarks, some taller than 25 metres. It is a community of plants that are...
Sydney Freshwater Wetlands
Sydney Freshwater Wetlands in the Sydney Basin Bioregion is a vegetation community found in freshwater swamps in swales and depressions on sand dunes and low nutrient...
Themeda Grassland on Seacliffs and Headlands
Themeda Grassland on Seacliffs and Headlands is a structure that is typically a closed tussock grassland, but may be open shrubland or open heath with a grassy matrix between...