Department of Environment and Climate Change1300 361 967environment.nsw.gov.auinfo@environment.nsw.gov.au | August 07ISBN 9 781 74122 662 1 DECC 2007/551

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Retaining mature native vegetation or EECs for conservation purposes may attract incentive funding. Funding is allocated to landholders by the local Catchment Management Authority (CMA) according to the priorities set out in their Catchment Action Plan and strategies. For more information contact your local CMA or email: info@nativevegetation.nsw.gov.au

For further assistanceThis and other EEC guidelines are available on the DECC website: at www.environment.nsw.gov.au

The references listed below also provide further information on EECs.

NSW Scientific Committee Determinations: http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Final+determinations

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Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) Threatened Species profiles: http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/index.aspxBotanic Gardens Trust plant identification assistance: http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/information_about_plants/botanical_info/plant_identificationBrooker, M. and Kleinig, D. (1990) Field Guide to Eucalypts of South-eastern Australia, Vol 2. Inkata, Melbourne.Harden, G. (ed) Flora of NSW Vols 1 – 4 (1990-2002). NSW University Press.Harden, G., McDonald, W. and Williams, J. (2006) Rainforest Trees and Shrubs – A Field Guide to their identification. Gwen Harden Publishing, Nambucca Heads.

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McKies EEC Landscape

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McKies with Cypress Pine EEC Landscape

Disclaimer: The Department of Environment and Climate Change has prepared this document as a guide only. The information provided is not intended to be exhaustive. It does not constitute legal advice. Users of this guide should do so at their own risk and should seek their own legal and other expert advice in identifying endangered ecological communities. The Department of Environment and Climate Change accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions in this guide or for any loss or damage arising from its use.

McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest

IntroductionThese guidelines provide background information to assist landholders to identify remnants of McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest in the Nandewar and New England Tableland Bioregion (known here as McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest). For more detailed information, it is recommended to refer to the NSW Scientific Committee’s Determination Advice at the website: http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Final+determinations

What is an Endangered Ecological Community?

An ecological community is a group of trees, shrubs and understorey plants that occur together in a particular area. An Endangered Ecological Community (EEC) is an ecological community listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 as being at risk of extinction unless threats affecting these areas are managed and reduced.

McKies Stringybark EEC landscape

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What is McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest?

McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest is an open forest primarily occurring on reddish, weathered soil

(laterites). It is found in low lying areas on hill slopes and open depressions on the New England Tablelands and North West Slopes. Characteristic canopy tree species are McKies Stringybark (E. mckieana) New England Blackbutt (Eucalyptus andrewsi) and Black Cypress Pine (Callitris endlicheri). Other tree species may also be present. A wide range of shrub and herb species make up the understorey.

Where is McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forestfound?

McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest has a restricted distribution occurring between Kings Plains in the north to Bundarra in the south and out to the west of Uralla. It is known from the Inverell local government area, but may occur in Guyra and Uralla and possibly may occur in other adjoining local government areas. Examples of McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest occur in Clive State Forest west of Tingha, along the Old Armidale Road east of Tingha and in Single and Kings Plain National Parks.

How can I identify an area of McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest?The following is a list of key characteristics to help identify an area of McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest.

Is the site on the New England Tablelands or the North-west Slopes?Is the vegetation open forest with a grassy or shrubby understorey?Does the canopy contain any of the following tree species: McKies Stringybark, New England Blackbutt, Black Cypress Pine?

If you answer yes to the above questions, the area is likely to be McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest.

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Species ListMcKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest is characterised by the species listed in the table below. The species present at any site will be influenced by the size of the site, recent rainfall or drought conditions and by its disturbance (including fire and logging) history. Note that NOT ALL the species listed below need to be present at any one site for it to constitute McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest.

The ground layer

There is usually a ground layer of grasses and herbs, including Wallaby Grass (Austrodanthonia eriantha), Speargrass (Austrostipa rudis), Hedgehog Grass (Echinopogon species), Blady Grass (Imperata cylindrica) and Forest Fern (Cheilanthes sieberi).

Characteristic species

A list of canopy trees and understorey plants that characterise patches of McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest is provided in the table at the back of this profile. Not all the species listed need to occur at any one site for it to be considered McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest and in some cases additional species not included in the table may occur.

Variation in the community

At heavily disturbed sites only some of the species which characterise the community may be present. For example, Black Cypress Pine may occur in very small numbers or not at all in some sites. In addition, above-ground individuals of some species may not be present, but the species may be represented below ground in the soil seed banks or as bulbs, corms, rhizomes or rootstocks.

Why is it important?

Native vegetation across most of the area where this EEC is found has been extensively cleared and now exists as remnants which are often isolated from each other. As a result, only small areas of McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest remain many are now narrow remnants on roadsides and in travelling stock routes whilst others exist on private lands. In many cases these areas are threatened by weed invasion, road works or widening, clearing for fences, clearing for tracks or powerlines, unsustainable grazing, too frequent burning, excessive use of fertilizers and selective logging.

Description of the communityThe tree layer

The most common trees occurring in the canopy of McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest are McKies

Mckies Stringybark seed capsules and juvenile leaves

Scientific Name Common NameTreesAngophora floribunda Rough-barked AppleCallitris endlicheri Black CypressEucalyptus andrewsii New England

Blackbutt; Gum-topped Peppermint

Eucalyptus banksii Tenterfield WoollybuttEucalyptus crebra Narrow-leaved IronbarkEucalyptus mckieana McKies StringybarkEucalyptus melliodora Yellow BoxShrubs/Small treesAcacia buxifolia Box-leaved WattleAcacia filicifolia Fern-leaved WattleAcacia neriifolia Silver WattleBrachyloma daphnoidesCassinia uncata Sticky CassiniaLeptospermum brevipes Tea TreeLissanthe strigosa Peach HeathLeucopogon lanceolatus Bearded HeathMyoporum montanum Western Boobialla;

Water BushPomaderris angustifolia PomaderrisStyphelia triflora Styphelia

Scientific Name Common NameGrassesDigitaria breviglumis Finger GrassAustrodanthonia eriantha

Wallaby Grass

Austrostipa rudis SpeargrassEchinopogon caespitosus Tufted Hedgehog GrassEchinopogon ovatus Forest Hedgehog GrassImperata cylindrica Blady GrassMicrolaena stipoidesHerbs/FernsCalotis cuneifolia Purple Burr-daisyCheilanthes sieberi subsp. sieberi

Forest Fern

Dianella revoluta Blue Flax LilyDichondra repens Kidney WeedOpercularia aspera Coarse StinkweedVinesClematis glycinoides Headache VineDesmodium varians Slender Tick-trefoilLagenifera stipitata Blue Bottle-daisyPoranthera microphyllaVeronica calycina Hairy Speedwell

What does this mean for my property?As a listed EEC under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest has significant conservation value and some activities may require consent or approval. In addition, the tree McKies Stringybark, is a threatened species. Clearing or damage to the EEC and/or a McKies Stringybark tree may require consent or a licence under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Please contact the Department of Environment and Climate Change for further information.

Determining the conservation value of remnantsThe degree of disturbance (i.e. condition) of many remnants can vary, from almost pristine to highly modified. It is important to note that even small patches or areas that have had past disturbance such as selective logging, fire or grazing are still considered to be important remnants of McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest and meet the criteria of being an EEC. Where difficulties arise when faced with decisions on whether particular sites are McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest, expert advice may be needed.

Lateritic soils

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Bark of Mckies Stringybark

Bark of New England Blackbutt

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Stringybark, New England Blackbutt and Black Cypress Pine. There may also be a number of other eucalypt species which occasionally occur.

The shrub layer

The shrub layer is generally sparse. Examples of shrub species that may occur include Box-leaved Wattle (Acacia buxifolia), Fern-leaved Wattle (Acacia filicifolia), Silver Wattle (Acacia neriifolia) and Tea Tree (Leptospermum brevipes).