What is an ecological community?
An ecological community (EC) is a group of native plants, animals and other organisms that naturally occur together and interact in a unique habitat. Its structure, composition and distribution are determined by environmental factors such as soil type, position within the landscape/seascape (e.g. altitude/depth), climate, and water availability, chemistry and movement (e.g. oceanic currents). Species within each ecological community interact with and depend on each other—for example, for food or shelter. Listed ecological communities include grasslands, woodlands, shrublands, forests, wetlands, marine, ground springs and cave communities.
Threatened Ecological Communities
Under the Commonwealth Government
Under NSW Government legislation Threatened Ecological Communities are listed under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The full list of Threatened Ecological Communities are listed at the bottom. The ones that occur in the Tweed are described below:
Part 1 Critically endangered ecological communities
(No critically endangered communities are listed within the Tweed Shire)
Part 2 Endangered ecological communities
Endangered Ecological Communities
- Coastal Saltmarsh in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions Treatment 92 – attempt to exclude fire from habitat, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials, 148 – avoid ground disturbance in known locations
- Freshwater wetlands on coastal floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions Treatment 147- implement appropriate fire regimes, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials
- Littoral Rainforest in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions Treatment 92 – attempt to exclude fire from habitat, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials
· Lowland Rainforest in the NSW North Coast and Sydney Basin Bioregions Treatment 92 – attempt to exclude fire from habitat, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials
- Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain in the New South Wales North Coast Bioregion Treatment 92 – attempt to exclude fire from habitat, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials
- Sub-tropical Coastal Floodplain Forest of the NSW North Coast bioregion Treatment 147- implement appropriate fire regimes, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials
- Swamp sclerophyll forest on coastal floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions Treatment 147- implement appropriate fire regimes, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials
- Swamp oak floodplain forest of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions Treatment 147- implement appropriate fire regimes, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials
- Themeda grassland on seacliffs and coastal headlands in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions Treatment 147- implement appropriate fire regimes, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials, 148 – avoid ground disturbance in known locations
- Coastal Cypress Pine Forest in the NSW North Coast Bioregion Treatment 147- implement appropriate fire regimes, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials
- Byron Bay Dwarf graminoid clay heath community Treatment 147- implement appropriate fire regimes, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials
Endangered Populations (TSC Act listed)
- Long-nosed potoroo population at Cobaki Lakes and Tweed Heads West Treatment 147- implement appropriate fire regimes, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials, 148 – avoid ground disturbance in known locations
Critical Habitat (TSC Act listed)
- Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail (Thersites mitchellae), Stotts Island Nature Reserve Treatment 92 – attempt to exclude fire from habitat, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials, 148 – avoid ground disturbance in known locations
Commonwealth EPBC Act 1999 – Threatened Ecological Communities
Critically Endangered
- Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Vine Thickets of Eastern Australia Treatment 92 – attempt to exclude fire from habitat, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials
- Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia Treatment 92 – attempt to exclude fire from habitat, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials
Vulnerable
- Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh Treatment 92 – attempt to exclude fire from habitat, Treatment 93 – disseminate community education materials, 148 – avoid ground disturbance in known locations
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 No 63 https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/act/2016/63/sch2
Schedule 2 Threatened ecological communities
(Section 4.2)
Note. Any ecological community that is listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 of the Commonwealth is marked with an asterisk.
Part 1 Critically endangered ecological communities
| Agnes Banks Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| * | Artesian Springs Ecological Community in the Great Artesian Basin (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) |
| * | Blue Gum High Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) |
| * | Cumberland Plain Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) |
| * | Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the notice of, and reasons for, the Final Determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) |
| Elderslie Banksia Scrub Forest (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Gnarled Mossy Cloud Forest on Lord Howe Island (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| * | Hunter Valley Weeping Myall Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) |
| Hygrocybeae Community of Lane Cove Bushland Park in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Kincumber Scribbly Gum Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Lagunaria Swamp Forest on Lord Howe Island (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Community to list the ecological community) | |
| Mallee and Mallee-Broombush dominated woodland and shrubland, lacking Triodia, in the NSW South Western Slopes Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Marsh Club-rush Sedgeland in the Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Monaro Tableland Cool Temperate Grassy Woodland in the South Eastern Highlands Bioregion (as described in the notice of, and reasons for, the Final Determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| * | New England Peppermint (Eucalyptus nova-anglica) Woodland on Basalts and Sediments in the New England Tableland Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Community to list the ecological community) |
| Porcupine Grass—Red Mallee—Gum Coolabah hummock grassland/low sparse woodland in the Broken Hill Complex Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| * | Robertson Basalt Tall Open-forest in the Sydney Basin and South Eastern Highlands Bioregions (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) |
| Shale Sandstone Transition Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Snowpatch Feldmark in the Australian Alps bioregion (as described in the notice of, and reasons for, the Final Determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Snowpatch Herbfield in the Australian Alps bioregion (as described in the notice of, and reasons for, the Final Determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Sun Valley Cabbage Gum Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| * | Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the notice of, and reasons for, the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) |
| Werriwa Tablelands Cool Temperate Grassy Woodland in the South Eastern Highlands and South East Corner Bioregions (as described in the notice of, and reasons for, the Final Determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Windswept Feldmark in the Australian Alps Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) |
Part 2 Endangered ecological communities
| Acacia loderi Shrublands (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Acacia melvillei Shrubland in the Riverina and Murray-Darling Depression Bioregions (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Allocasuarina luehmannii Woodland in the Riverina and Murray-Darling Depression Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Araluen Scarp Grassy Forest in the South East Corner Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Bangalay Sand Forest of the Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Ben Halls Gap Nature Reserve Sphagnum Moss Cool Temperate Rainforest (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list Ben Halls Gap National Park Sphagnum Moss Cool Temperate Rainforest ecological community) | |
| * | Blue Mountains Basalt Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) |
| Blue Mountains Shale Cap Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Brigalow within the Brigalow Belt South, Nandewar and Darling Riverine Plains Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Brigalow-Gidgee woodland/shrubland in the Mulga Lands and Darling Riverine Plains Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Brogo Wet Vine Forest in the South East Corner Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Byron Bay Dwarf Graminoid Clay Heath Community (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Cadellia pentastylis (Ooline) community in the Nandewar and Brigalow Belt South Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Carbeen Open Forest community in the Darling Riverine Plains and Brigalow Belt South Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Carex Sedgeland of the New England Tableland, Nandewar, Brigalow Belt South and NSW North Coast Bioregions (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Castlereagh Swamp Woodland Community (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Central Hunter Grey Box—Ironbark Woodland in the New South Wales North Coast and Sydney Basin Bioregions (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Central Hunter Ironbark—Spotted Gum—Grey Box Forest in the New South Wales North Coast and Sydney Basin Bioregions (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Coastal Cypress Pine Forest in the New South Wales North Coast Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Coastal Saltmarsh in the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Coastal Upland Swamp in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Coolac-Tumut Serpentinite Shrubby Woodland in the NSW South Western Slopes and South Eastern Highlands Bioregions (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Coolibah-Black Box Woodland in the Darling Riverine Plains, Brigalow Belt South, Cobar Peneplain and Mulga Lands Bioregions (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Dry Rainforest of the South East Forests in the South East Corner Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Duffys Forest Ecological Community in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains of the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Fuzzy Box Woodland on alluvial soils of the South Western Slopes, Darling Riverine Plains and Brigalow Belt South Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Genowlan Point Allocasuarina nana heathland (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Grey Box—Grey Gum Wet Sclerophyll Forest in the NSW North Coast Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Halosarcia lylei low open-shrubland in the Murray Darling Depression Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Howell Shrublands in the New England Tableland and Nandewar Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act published in the Gazette on 2 December 2011) | |
| Hunter Floodplain Red Gum Woodland in the NSW North Coast and Sydney Basin Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Hunter Lowland Redgum Forest in the Sydney Basin and New South Wales North Coast Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Hunter Valley Vine Thicket in the NSW North Coast and Sydney Basin Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Illawarra Lowlands Grassy Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Illawarra Subtropical Rainforest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Inland Grey Box Woodland in the Riverina, NSW South Western Slopes, Cobar Peneplain, Nandewar and Brigalow Belt South Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Kurnell Dune Forest in the Sutherland Shire and City of Rockdale (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Kurri Sand Swamp Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Littoral Rainforest in the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Low woodland with heathland on indurated sand at Norah Head (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Lower Hunter Spotted Gum Ironbark Forest in the Sydney Basin and NSW North Coast Bioregions (as described in the notice of, and reasons for, the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Lowland Rainforest in the NSW North Coast and Sydney Basin Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain in the New South Wales North Coast Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Maroota Sands Swamp Forest (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt Open Forest in the Nandewar and New England Tableland Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Melaleuca armillaris Tall Shrubland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Milton Ulladulla Subtropical Rainforest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Moist Shale Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Montane Peatlands and Swamps of the New England Tableland, NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin, South East Corner, South Eastern Highlands and Australian Alps Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Mt Canobolas Xanthoparmelia Lichen Community (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Mount Gibraltar Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Mount Kaputar high elevation and dry rainforest land snail and slug community in the Nandewar and Brigalow Belt South Bioregions (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Myall Woodland in the Darling Riverine Plains, Brigalow Belt South, Cobar Peneplain, Murray-Darling Depression, Riverina and NSW South Western Slopes bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Native Vegetation on Cracking Clay Soils of the Liverpool Plains (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamp in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| O’Hares Creek Shale Forest (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Pilliga Outwash Ephemeral Wetlands in the Brigalow Belt South Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Pittwater and Wagstaffe Spotted Gum Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Quorrobolong Scribbly Gum Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Ribbon Gum—Mountain Gum—Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of the New England Tableland Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Robertson Rainforest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Sandhill Pine Woodland in the Riverina, Murray-Darling Depression and NSW South Western Slopes Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| * | Semi-evergreen Vine Thicket in the Brigalow Belt South and Nandewar Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) |
| Shale Gravel Transition Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Southern Highlands Shale Woodlands in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Southern Sydney sheltered forest on transitional sandstone soils in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Subtropical Coastal Floodplain Forest of the New South Wales North Coast Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest of the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Sydney Freshwater Wetlands in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Tableland Basalt Forest in the Sydney Basin and South Eastern Highlands Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| The Shorebird community occurring on the relict tidal delta sands at Taren Point (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Themeda grassland on seacliffs and coastal headlands in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Upland Wetlands of the Drainage Divide of the New England Tableland Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Warkworth Sands Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Western Sydney Dry Rainforest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| * | White Box Yellow Box Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) |
| White Gum Moist Forest in the NSW North Coast Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) |
Part 3 Vulnerable ecological communities
| Blue Mountains Swamps in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) | |
| Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Hunter Valley Footslopes Slaty Gum Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (as described in the final determination of the Scientific Committee to list the ecological community) | |
| Lower Hunter Valley Dry Rainforest in the Sydney Basin and NSW North Coast Bioregions (as described in the determination of the Scientific Committee under Division 5 of Part 2 of the TSC Act) |
Restoring habitat