Land use allocation and biological conservation in the Batemans Bay Forests of New South Wales

Summary

Data on native forest cover within a 3500 km² area of the Batemans Bay region, south-east New South Wales, were analysed in relation to a number of factors: land tenure, site productivity, accessibility (distance to nearest human habitation), the distribution of 31 forest tree (predominantly eucalypt) associations, and the extent of disturbance from logging and clearing activities. There were 11 tenure classes. To simplify analyses and presentation the tenure classes were lumped to three tenure categories that reflect likely forest management or land use practice: National Park (19.3% by area—preserved or protected forest), State Forest (47.5%—forest allocated to timber production), Freehold (33.2%—forest potentially available for clearing for agricultural, pastoral, semi-urban, etc. land use). Tree associations that characterised the most productive sites and, on average, the most accessible land were; (i) well represented in Freehold tenure, (ii) least represented in National Park and, (iii) most extensively disturbed by logging or clearing. Of the three tree associations on the most productive sites more than 38%, by area, of each was in Freehold and less than 7% was in National Park. Of each, less than 9% remains in a minimally disturbed or undisturbed condition. The converse applied to tree associations that characterised the least productive sites and, on average, the least accessible land. Of the three associations on the poorest sites more than 38%, by area, was in National Park and of each association, more than 74% remains in a minimally disturbed or undisturbed condition.

The significance of the data and analyses is discussed in relation to the conservation management of forest resources, especially wildlife.