State of Biodiversity
1. Terrestrial biodiversity
By maintaining biodiversity, support is given to ecosystems that have a positive effect on air quality, water quality, food production, soil formation, breakdown and absorption of pollutants and climate stability. Protection of an ecosystem helps areas to rehabilitate after destructive environmental events such as fires, flooding and strong winds. Sutherland Shire supports a rich diversity of flora and fauna in its National Parks, parklands, reserves and residential properties.
Vegetation communities
In the Sutherland Shire the diversity of flora and fauna is contained and supported in a number of key vegetation communities. These communities include:
• Estuarine Complex
• Rainforests
• Tall Open (Shale) Forest
• Shale/Sandstone Transition Complex
• Sydney Sandstone Gully Forest
• Sydney Sandstone Ridgetop Woodland
• Sydney Sandstone Heathland
• Sand Dune Communities
• Freshwater Wetlands.
• Estuarine Complex
• Rainforests
• Tall Open (Shale) Forest
• Shale/Sandstone Transition Complex
• Sydney Sandstone Gully Forest
• Sydney Sandstone Ridgetop Woodland
• Sydney Sandstone Heathland
• Sand Dune Communities
• Freshwater Wetlands.
Wildlife corridors
Wildlife corridors allow the uninhibited movement of animals from one area to another, and include large tracts of bushland and wetland areas along creeks and rivers. These corridors are vital in maintaining genetically healthy and viable populations as well as providing escape and colonisation routes in the event of fire, flood and other disasters. In the Sutherland Shire Council area, important wildlife corridors include the Woronora Valley, Dents Creek, Ewey Creek, Carvers Creek and Still Creek. The wildlife corridors play an integral part in the Greenweb strategy of Sutherland Shire Council.
Wildlife corridors allow the uninhibited movement of animals from one area to another, and include large tracts of bushland and wetland areas along creeks and rivers. These corridors are vital in maintaining genetically healthy and viable populations as well as providing escape and colonisation routes in the event of fire, flood and other disasters. In the Sutherland Shire Council area, important wildlife corridors include the Woronora Valley, Dents Creek, Ewey Creek, Carvers Creek and Still Creek. The wildlife corridors play an integral part in the Greenweb strategy of Sutherland Shire Council.
Endangered communities
In the Sutherland Shire there are a number of “Endangered Communities” these are:
• Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest
• Shale-Sandstone Transition Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion
• Kurnell Dune Forest
• Bangalay Sand Forest
• NSW Littoral Rainforest (replaces Sutherland Shire Littoral Rainforest)
• River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains(replaces Sydney Coastal River-Flat Forest)
• Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains (replaces Sydney Coastal Estuary Swamp Forest Complex)
• Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest
• NSW Coastal Saltmarsh
• Sydney Freshwater Wetlands
• Southern Sydney Sheltered Forest on Transitional Sandstone Soils
• Themeda Grassland on Sea Cliffs and Coastal Headlands, and
• Taren Point Shorebird Community.
No new Endangered Communities were declared for the Sutherland Shire during 2006/07.
In the Sutherland Shire there are a number of “Endangered Communities” these are:
• Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest
• Shale-Sandstone Transition Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion
• Kurnell Dune Forest
• Bangalay Sand Forest
• NSW Littoral Rainforest (replaces Sutherland Shire Littoral Rainforest)
• River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains(replaces Sydney Coastal River-Flat Forest)
• Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains (replaces Sydney Coastal Estuary Swamp Forest Complex)
• Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest
• NSW Coastal Saltmarsh
• Sydney Freshwater Wetlands
• Southern Sydney Sheltered Forest on Transitional Sandstone Soils
• Themeda Grassland on Sea Cliffs and Coastal Headlands, and
• Taren Point Shorebird Community.
No new Endangered Communities were declared for the Sutherland Shire during 2006/07.
2. Aquatic biodiversity
The Sutherland Shire consists of a variety of aquatic habitats that include freshwater creeks, estuarine and coastal environments. These environments support a range of diverse ecosystems. Mangrove forests, saltmarsh and sea grasses in particular play a vital role as nursery grounds, shelter and sources of food for aquatic and marine animals. They also help to protect and stabilise sediments in our foreshore areas.
Coastal ecosystems
Coastal ecosystems occur above the low tide mark but are still subject to varying degrees of tidal
influence and include saltmarsh and mangrove communities. Sutherland Shire contains 90% of all remaining saltmarsh areas in Sydney and 50% of all mangrove areas.
Coastal ecosystems occur above the low tide mark but are still subject to varying degrees of tidal
influence and include saltmarsh and mangrove communities. Sutherland Shire contains 90% of all remaining saltmarsh areas in Sydney and 50% of all mangrove areas.
http://www.sutherland.nsw.gov.au/ssc/rwpattach.nsf/viewasattachmentPersonal/20062007_SOE_Report_web.pdf/$file/20062007_SOE_Report_web.pdf (THIS IS THE SAME WEBSITE FOR THE PREVIOUS POST)
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