The aim of this project is to compile land use and management practices and their observed and measured impacts and effects on vegetation condition. The results provide land managers and researchers with a tool for reporting and monitoring spatial and temporal transformations of Australia’s native vegetated landscapes due to changes in land use and management practices. Following are the details for the Big Scrub Rocky Creek Dam, NSW.
Pre-European benchmark - analogue vegetation: The site was originally Lowland Subtropical Rainforest on basalt-derived and alluvial soils. The forest is distinguished by its dense, uneven canopy comprised of typically two to three tall tree layers. Eucalypts and brushbox (Lophostemon confertus) may be present as sparse emergent. Characteristic life-forms include buttressed trees, strangler figs, stands of bangalow palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana), woody vines and large epiphytes.
Brief chronology of changes in land use and management:
1840: Intact rainforest
1862: Area opened-up for selection
1900: Cedar getters select large trees
1910: Rainforest cleared and converted to pasture for dairying
1911-1948: Area used for grazing dairy cattle
1948: Area acquired for public use (water storage)
1950-1989: Minimal management - land in transition (open public space)
1950-1952: Rocky Creek Dam constructed
1983-1990: Commenced experiments using assisted regeneration on small test plots
1991-2000: Large scale assisted regeneration (25 ha) by converting lantana thickets to rainforest
2001-2011: Minimal management.
