Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania
A nationally threatened ecological community
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Policy Statement 3.18

This brochure is designed to assist land managers, owners and occupiers as well as environmental assessment officers and consultants to identify, assess and manage the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania. The grasslands are a threatened ecological community listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) - Australia’s national environment law. 
The brochure is a companion document for the listing advice which can be found in the Australian Government’s species profile and threats database (SPRAT). The SPRAT Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community profile can be found at: www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publiclookupcommunities.pl
At this website, click on the Details link to download the documents and map for the ecological community.

Disclaimer
The views and opinions contained in this document are not necessarily those of the Australian Government. The contents of this document have been compiled using a range of source materials and while reasonable care has been taken in its compilation, the Australian Government does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this document and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of or reliance on the contents of the document.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2009
This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney General’s Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 or posted at www.ag.gov.au/cca.

WHAT IS A NATIONALLY THREATENED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY?
An ecological community is a naturally occurring group of plants, animals and other organisms that are interacting in a unique habitat. Its structure, composition and distribution are determined by environmental factors such as soil type, position in the landscape, altitude, climate, and water availability. Species within such ecological communities interact and depend on each other - for example, for food or shelter. Types of ecological communities listed under national environment law include woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, forests, wetlands, ground springs and cave communities.
Together with threatened species, threatened ecological communities listed under the EPBC Act are protected as one of several matters of national environmental significance. Threatened ecological communities can be listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered, categories which represent their decline and potential for extinction across their national extent. Protection through the EPBC Act is vital for some ecological communities because many patches occur outside conservation reserves. It can also complement other conservation measures.
As well as being important because of their unique biodiversity and place within the Australian landscape, threatened ecological communities provide a range of ecosystem services. These can include the natural management of air, water and soil nutrients, the reduction or control of erosion and salinity, and carbon storage. In addition, they provide vital wildlife corridors and habitat refuge for many plant and animal species, including some of which are threatened and listed under national environment law. Threatened ecological communities can also provide a focus for tourism and recreation and contribute to the productivity of our farmlands. Benefits to farmers of protecting ecological communities can include facilitating pollination of agricultural plants, maintaining healthy soils leading to improved crop yields, and supporting soil born microbes that release minerals for plant uptake, as well as managing water tables and run-off.
More information on nationally threatened ecological communities can be found at:www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/index.html

WHAT ARE THE LOWLAND NATIVE GRASSLANDS OF TASMANIA?
The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania is a critically endangered ecological community listed under the national environment law.
Native grasslands are generally defined as areas of native vegetation dominated by native grasses with few or no emergent woody species. Herbaceous plants are the dominant life form in Tasmania’s lowland native grasslands with most of the biomass consisting of a single dominant species e.g. kangaroo grass or silver tussock grass. Despite the dominance of grass species, grasslands can be extremely rich in other plant species. Herbs such as lilies, daisies and orchids often occupy the spaces between native grass tussocks.
There are various types of native grassland in Tasmania but this ecological community is comprised of two major sub-types differentiated by the dominant native tussock-forming perennial grass species: Lowland Poa labillardierei (silver tussock grass) Grassland and Lowland Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) Grassland.
The vegetation of the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community is mostly limited to a ground layer of grasses and other herbs. Trees and shrubs are usually absent to sparse. The grasslands typically occur in areas up to 600 metres above sea level, generally on soils underlain by basalt, dolerite, deep sands or alluvial deposits.
• The remnant Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania is regarded as one of Tasmania’s most threatened and fragmented ecosystems and the most depleted vegetation formation in Tasmania.
• The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community generally exists as small fragmented remnants within its range and by 2009 more than 83 per cent has been lost since European settlement.
• The majority of patches are found on private land. Implementing or continuing sustainable land use practices is encouraged at sites containing this ecological community.
• The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania provides vital support to a diverse range of plants and animals that are important for maintaining and improving biodiversity.

WHERE IS THE ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY FOUND?
The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community typically occurs at elevations up to 600 metres above sea level in the Tasmanian Midlands, Derwent Valley, east coast and southeast Tasmania. Localised areas of the ecological community also occur in northwest Tasmania and on Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in Bass Strait.
The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania is a part of the lowland temperate grassland vegetation group that occurs in fragmented areas throughout southeastern Australia. This vegetation group is broadly associated with particular bioregions or subregions, as defined by the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA). The IBRA bioregions in which the ecological community most commonly occurs are the Northern Midlands and South East bioregions. It can also be found in small patches near the margins of the Ben Lomond, Northern Slopes, King, Flinders, Central Highlands and Southern Ranges IBRA bioregions.
The grasslands are generally concentrated where rainfall is low and the soils are heavy, deep, mineral and fertile. The ecological community is typically absent from rocky or highly infertile sites. The grasslands generally occur on soils underlain by basalt, dolerite, deep sands or alluvial deposits. There may be considerable variation in the composition of individual patches of the listed community within any given bioregion due to influences of climate, topography, fire and land use.
Today, the majority of the ecological community is on private property, with some small remnants along roadsides, in local reserves and in some cemeteries. The total area of the lowland native grasslands in conservation related land tenure is approximately 1900 hectares (as at June 2008). This represents only nine per cent of the remaining ecological community.
Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania is found in the South, North and North West Natural Resource Management Regions.
Figure 1 in the printed or PDF versions of this document shows the areas where the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community is likely to occur. Any mapped vegetation units should only be used as a guide. It is not possible to prepare a precise map which shows all remnants of the grasslands. Native grasslands are difficult to map using aerial photography or satellite imagery. Grassland mapping is also difficult because many remnants are now limited to very small, disparate and fragmented patches that cannot be shown on a map at this scale. Mapping is also problematic because the condition of the grassland can change over time.
On site assessment is required to determine if the ecological community is present at a particular site. The following section and the flowcharts on pages 12 and 13 in the printed or PDF versions of this document provide guidance when assessing a site.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM STANDING IN A PATCH OF THE LOWLAND NATIVE GRASSLANDS OF TASMANIA?
This section is designed to help you determine if a native vegetation remnant could be part of the listed Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community. The description and condition thresholds of the ecological community in the EPBC Act listing advice provide the definitive source of information for identifying the nationally threatened ecological community. The description in the listing advice is summarised and further explained in the following pages.
A patch of the listed ecological community is defined as a discrete and continuous area that comprises the ecological community. It does not include substantial elements of other ecological communities, such as nearby woodlands and other types of grasslands. However, a patch of the listed ecological community may include small-scale disturbances, such as tracks or breaks that do not alter its overall functionality, for instance, the easy movement of wildlife or dispersal of plant spores and seeds.
If a native vegetation remnant meets all of the criteria that follow, then you are likely to be standing in the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania listed ecological community. Assistance with identification of species may be obtained from your local council, community Landcare group, Natural Resource Management group or state agency. The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (the department) can also provide advice.
There are more than 100 species of plants that may be part of the ecological community and more than 35 species of animals that may be found in or near the grasslands. Species lists can be found in the listing advice in SPRAT. 
What is the native vegetation like?
The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community is comprised of two grassland sub-types:
• Lowland Poa labillardierei (silver tussock grass) Grassland
• Lowland Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) Grassland
These sub-types can be distinguished by the dominant native grass species and, sometimes, their position in the landscape.
Lowland Poa labillardierei (silver tussock grass) Grassland
This sub-type is relatively species-poor and consists of grasslands dominated by tussocks of silver tussock grass. Other herbs such as lilies, daisies and orchids occupy the inter-tussock spaces. Tussocks may be large and spreading or small and tufty depending on the situation and site history. The grass tussocks may form a closed sward or an open layer with smaller grasses, forbs and lichens in the inter-tussock spaces. Weed species are generally more common in this sub-type of the ecological community. It is usually less floristically diverse than the Lowland Themeda triandra Grassland sub-type.
The Lowland Poa labillardierei Grassland sub-type is generally treeless and often occurs adjacent to, or intermixed with, Eucalyptus ovata (black gum) grassy woodland. Where trees are present the tree cover is typically very low (e.g. less than five per cent) and species may include black gum, E. viminalis (white gum) or E. pauciflora (cabbage gum). 
Lowland Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) Grassland
This sub-type is dominated by kangaroo grass and typically is floristically diverse. Other common grasses include species of Austrodanthonia (wallaby grasses), Austrostipa (spear grasses) and Poa genera. The sub-type is often characterised by a rich variety of lilies, orchids, daisies and other herbs in patches between grass tussocks although it can occur where kangaroo grass dominates almost to the exclusion of other species. 
The Lowland Themeda triandra Grassland sub-type is generally treeless but scattered, low trees (e.g. black gum, white gum, cabbage gum, E. rubida (candlebark) and E. amygdalina (Tasmanian black peppermint)) can occur at low densities. Acacia dealbata (silver wattle), A. mearnsii (black wattle), A. melanoxylon (blackwood), Allocasuarina spp., Bursaria spinosa (prickly box) and Dodonaea viscosa (hop bush) can form a scattered small-tree or tall shrub layer, especially on slopes. 
There are a number of floristic variants of the Lowland Themeda triandra Grassland sub-type. These include: sub-coastal grasslands co-dominated by kangaroo grass and Poa rodwayi (velvet tussock grass) in northwest Tasmania; and, the grasslands dominated by kangaroo grass in areas exposed to a high incidence of salt spray in northeast Tasmania. 
Where is a grasslands patch usually located in the landscape?
Remnants of the Lowland Poa labillardierei (silver tussock grass) Grassland sub-type are typically found on alluvial flats in valley bottoms and on gentle slopes. Where water inundation of sites is common, the tussocks are often interspersed with flood-scoured and water-filled hollows. 
Remnants of the Lowland Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) Grassland sub-type occur on sites that are generally drier than those occupied by the Lowland P. labillardierei Grassland sub-type. They occur on valley flats and well-drained slopes on basalt, dolerite and deep sands. 
The coastal grasslands co-dominated by kangaroo grass and velvet tussock grass occur on stable calcareous dunes of the near coastal zone in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area, northwest Tasmania. Locations on fertile soil and areas exposed to a high incidence of salt spray such as Waterhouse, Cape Portland and Butlers Point in northeast Tasmania also support some coastal grasslands dominated by kangaroo grass. 
Patches of both sub-types and all variants generally occur at elevations less than 600 metres above sea level, although can occur up to 700 metres above sea level. The grasslands are often used as native pasture in agricultural land, and can also occur as small remnants on roadsides, country cemeteries and utilities reserves.
Condition Thresholds
Condition thresholds were established when the ecological community was listed to determine which patches of grassland are of greatest value and which therefore receive full protection as a matter of national environmental significance under the EPBC Act. The decision flowcharts on pages 12 and 13 of the printed and PDF versions of this document present the condition thresholds in a way that can be used on site to assess a patch of native vegetation and determine if it is part of the listed grassland community. 
The condition thresholds are designed to protect those vegetation remnants in good to excellent condition. Many patches of native grassland are in a significantly degraded state and will not meet the condition thresholds. 
Appropriate management of patches that do not meet the condition thresholds is recommended as they may still play an important ecological role, especially where they are providing valuable habitat or connectivity. For example, patches that link native vegetation remnants in the landscape are particularly important as wildlife habitat and to the viability of listed patches of the ecological community. Other native grasslands in Tasmania, for example those dominated by spear grasses and/or wallaby grasses, are also important, especially where they occur adjacent to, or near, patches of the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community. They provide similar benefits to native fauna by providing food and shelter and contribute to local and regional biodiversity.
The listing of an ecological community can also lead to funding opportunities. Both patches that meet the condition thresholds and those that do not should be considered in recovery and other management actions, including through the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country initiative (see funding section below). Patches that do not currently meet the condition thresholds may be eligible for funding to help restore them to good condition. 
Assessment Considerations
The species composition and appearance of the ecological community, and its position in the landscape, are driven by the influences of precipitation, soils, temperature and historical and current land use. These influences may vary the appearance of the ecological community over even small distances or from year to year and among seasons. It is difficult to distinguish the difference between natural grasslands and those derived through the removal of woodland trees from grassy woodland communities. These derived, or human-induced, grasslands can be similar in vegetation composition and structure to natural grasslands. They can also be extremely rich in native species and contain numerous threatened species. Derived grasslands are included in the listed ecological community where the description and condition thresholds are met.
Not all species can be seen year round. Most are evident in spring when warmth and moisture tend to coincide. Inter-tussock spaces can be occupied in favourable parts of the year by lilies and orchids, which in inhospitable seasons survive as roots, bulbs or tubers and give way to lichen crusts that cover the soil.
The condition thresholds are based on features that apply all year round, with the exception of the cover of native wildflowers. This feature is best assessed during spring and summer because it is only during this time when many native species with bulbs or tubers (e.g. lilies, orchids) occur aboveground and when most species are flowering. Assessments should be made at this time to best ascertain the biodiversity value of a grassland patch. In addition, the site must not have been excessively disturbed by, for instance fire, heavy grazing or mowing, for at least two months prior to assessment. This approach is recommended because many plant species may not be visible immediately after a disturbance. In addition, the area of a patch with the most apparent diversity of native species should be selected to determine estimates of native species richness and cover. The cover of weed species can also be very variable according to the time of year, the type of season, recent management and disturbance events, and climate conditions.
The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania may also intergrade with grassy woodland communities and the wetter vegetation communities in riparian zones and share species composition and structural affinities with these other ecological communities. These other vegetation types are excluded from the national ecological community in their own right. See the section on ‘How does the listed ecological community relate to known vegetation classification systems?’ for more information on this issue.
Decision Flowcharts
The flowcharts on pages 12 and 13 of the printed and PDF versions of this document represent the lowest condition at which patches of vegetation are included in the listed ecological community. This is not the ideal state of the ecological community. Large patches, those that link remnants in the landscape, those that have high native species richness, those that occur in highly modified agricultural or urban regions and those that contain rare, declining or threatened species, are important for the long-term future of the ecological community.
The flowcharts can be used to determine if the listed ecological community is present at a particular site. Separate flowcharts are provided for the different grassland sub-types. The appropriate flowchart will depend on whether silver tussock grass or kangaroo grass is the dominant native grass species.

KEY SPECIES
Flora
The native grass species that dominate the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania are Poa labillardierei (silver tussock grass) and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). A large number of other species are typically found in the grasslands although sometimes Poa and Themeda can dominate to the exclusion of other species. Lists of characteristic species for each of the grassland sub-types can be found in the listing advice in SPRAT. Photographs of some of these species are presented below and opposite.
Some key species that may occur in good quality patches of the Lowland Themeda triandra Grassland sub-type include:
• Native Asteraceae (native daisies) particularly Leptorhynchos squamatus (scaly buttons) and Chrysocephalum apiculatum (common everlasting); 
• Short or prostrate shrubs – including Pimelea humilis (dwarf rice flower), Hibbertia species (guinea flowers);
• Native Fabaceae (native peas) – including Bossiaea prostrata (creeping bossiaea), Glycine species (native clovers);
• Epacridaceae species (native heaths) - including Lissanthe strigosa (peachberry heath), Astroloma humifusum (native cranberry);
•  Orchid species (native orchids) – including Pterostylis species (greenhoods); and
• Lily species (native lilies) – including Arthropodium species (vanilla lilies).
Fauna
The lowland native grasslands fulfil particular ecological roles for a number of animals. For example, the native grasses and other herbs produce large quantities of seed, which is an important food source for many insects and several bird species (e.g. Gallinula mortierii (Tasmanian native hen)). The dense grass tussocks also provide habitat for many smaller vertebrates and invertebrates. Insects and lizards can avoid predation in the dense grass sward and can hibernate during the colder months by burrowing deeply into the base of the tussocks. A number of marsupials graze on the native grasses and some use the tussocks for shelter.
Some animals are also important for the function and health of the grasslands. Native birds consume large numbers of leaf-eating insects and pasture grubs, and are important for the pollination and seed dispersal of many plants. Aerial-feeding species of birds and bats take many flying insects from above and within the grasslands, and raptors help to control introduced mammal and bird populations (e.g. such as European rabbit and common blackbird).
Small ground-dwelling native mammals help with the formation of healthy topsoils through their constant diggings and scratching and interactions with soil biota. This, in turn, can improve water infiltration, nutrient cycling, seed dispersal and germination and seedling establishment. In Tasmania, the common digging marsupials and monotremes are Bettongia gaimardi gaimardi (Tasmanian bettong), Potorous tridactylus (long-nosed potoroo), Isoodon obesulus affinis (southern brown bandicoot), Perameles gunnii gunnii (eastern barred bandicoot), Vombatus ursinus (common wombat) and Tachyglossus aculeatus (short-beaked echidna). 
Bandicoots and some insects (e.g. native wasps) also play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of insect pests. Bandicoots are known to feed on pasture pests (e.g. corbie moth larvae (Oncopera intricata) and cockchafer beetle larvae (Family Scarabaeidae)) in the soil of grasslands, while some insect larvae parasitise these same pests.
Marsupial grazers (e.g. forester kangaroos, wombats, pademelons and wallabies) influence the height and density of the grass swards through grazing and therefore affect the diversity of plant species found at grassland sites. 
Some photographs of animals found in the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania are presented on page 20 of the printed and PDF versions of this document.

SPECIES OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE
The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community is home to many Tasmanian-endemic and threatened plant and animal species. At the national level, 25 species associated with the ecological community are listed as threatened under the EPBC Act. Approximately 60 flora and fauna species associated with the grasslands are also listed under state environment law, the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. 
Table 1 lists those plant and animal species that are listed under the EPBC Act and which may be found in or near the ecological community. Photographs of some of these species are also presented on page 20 of the printed and PDF versions of this document. 

Table 1. Nationally threatened species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 likely to occur in or near the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community. Known occurrences of some species may be in landscapes or vegetation communities near to the national ecological community. Current as at July 2009.

Species name	Common name(s)	EPBC Status	
Birds	
Aquila audax fleayi	wedge-tailed eagle (Tasmanian)	Endangered	
Mammals	
Dasyurus maculatus maculatus (Tasmanian population) 	spotted-tail quoll, tiger quoll	Vulnerable	
Perameles gunnii gunnii	eastern-barred bandicoot	Vulnerable	
Sarcophilus harrisii 	Tasmanian devil	Endangered	
Vombatus ursinus ursinus*	Bass Strait wombat 	Vulnerable	
Invertebrates	
Engaeus spinicaudatus	Scottsdale burrowing crayfish	Endangered	
E. orramakunna	Mount Arthur burrowing crayfish	Vulnerable	
Plants	
Austrodanthonia popinensis	roadside wallaby grass	Endangered	
Ballantinia antipoda	southern ballantine	Endangered	
Caladenia anthracina	black-tipped spider-orchid	Critically Endangered	
Carex tasmanica	curly sedge	Vulnerable	
Colobanthus curtisiae	Curtis’s colobanth	Vulnerable	
Dianella amoena	matted flax-lily	Endangered	
Glycine latrobeana	clover soybean	Vulnerable	
Lepidium hyssopifolium	basalt peppercress	Endangered	
Leucochrysum albicans var. tricolor	grassland paper daisy / hoary sunray	Endangered	
Prasophyllum tunbridgense	Tunbridge leek-orchid	Endangered	
Prasophyllum incorrectum	golfers leek-orchid	Endangered	
Prasophyllum olidum	pungent leek-orchid	Critically Endangered	
Pterostylis commutata	Midland greenhood	Critically Endangered	
Pterostylis cucullata 	leafy greenhood	Vulnerable	
Pterostylis rubenachii	Arthur River greenhood	Endangered	
Pterostylis wapstrarum	fleshy greenhood	Critically Endangered	
Pterostylis ziegeleri	grassland greenhood	Vulnerable	
Ranunculus prasinus	Tunbridge buttercup	Endangered	
* Found only on Flinders Island

How does the listed ecological community relate to known vegetation classification systems?
The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania can be related to the vegetation classification systems used at both the national and state level. 
The National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) is a hierarchical system for classifying vegetation across Australia. It ranges from broad Major Vegetation Groups and Subgroups to more fine-scale floristic sub-associations. The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community falls within the NVIS Formations ‘Themeda mid tussock grassland’ and ‘Poa mid tussock grassland’. These are subsets of the Major Vegetation group 19 – ‘tussock grasslands’.
For more information about NVIS go to: www.environment.gov.au/erin/nvis/index.html
TASVEG is a Tasmanian Government classification system used to describe and map vegetation communities across the state. The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community equates with two TASVEG floristic communities.
(1) Lowland Poa labillardierei Grassland (TASVEG code: GPL)
This floristic community includes all natural and disturbance-induced (derived) grasslands dominated by silver tussock grass that occur at elevations of generally less than 600 metres. Two variants of this ecological community, differentiated by landscape position, have been described in TASVEG:
• Lowland Poa labillardierei Grassland on valley bottoms and river banks, and 
• Lowland Poa labillardierei Grassland on slopes.
The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community equates with this TASVEG floristic community in full where the condition thresholds presented in the listing advice have been met.
(2) Lowland Themeda triandra Grassland (TASVEG code: GTL)
This floristic community includes all natural and disturbance-induced grasslands dominated by kangaroo grass, as well as sub-coastal grasslands co-dominated by P. rodwayi in the northwest. The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community equates with this TASVEG floristic community in full where the condition thresholds presented in the listing advice have been met.
Similar ecological communities
The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community may be adjacent to, similar to, or intergrade with, a number of other native vegetation communities. For example, it may intergrade with grassy woodland communities and with wetter vegetation communities in riparian zones. It may also occur as part of a mosaic of other native vegetation communities.
Examples of vegetation types which may be similar to, intergrade with, or occur close to the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania include:
Eucalyptus ovata - Callitris oblonga (Black Gum) Forest (EPBC Act listed)
• Lowland Sedgy grassland (TASVEG code: GSL)
•  Rockplate grassland (TASVEG code: GRP)
• Lowland grassland Complex (TASVEG code: GCL)
• Bursaria-Acacia woodland and scrub (TASVEG code: NBA)
• Highland Poa grassland (TASVEG code: GPH)
These vegetation types are excluded from the national ecological community in their own right. However, where a patch of vegetation meets the description and the condition thresholds of the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania presented in the listing advice then it forms part of the listed national ecological community.
The Eucalyptus ovata - Callitris oblonga (black gum) Forest ecological community is listed as vulnerable under the EPBC Act. This ecological community can occur adjacent to the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania. It occurs along the banks of the St Pauls, Apsley, South Esk, Swan, Brushy, Cygnet and Wye Rivers in Tasmania. There are also two outlying patches (one in Trevallyn near Launceston, and the other near Cranbrook on the east coast).

WHY DOES THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT LIST THREATENED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES?
The Australian Government is responsible for identifying and protecting matters of National Environmental Significance (NES). These include world heritage properties, national heritage places, Ramsar wetlands (internationally important wetlands), listed migratory species, Commonwealth marine areas, nuclear actions and nationally listed threatened species and ecological communities. All of these matters of NES are subject to Australia’s national environment law, the EPBC Act.
The decision to list an ecological community as nationally threatened is made by the Australian Minister for the Environment. It follows a rigorous process of consultation with stakeholders and the public, workshops and discussions with scientific experts, and advice from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC). The TSSC is an independent scientific body that advises the Minister on the conservation status of native species and ecological communities.
The listing of an ecological community under national environment law recognises that its long-term survival is under threat. The aim of listing is to prevent further decline and to promote and assist recovery through landholder and community efforts. Listing may also lead to funding opportunities, such as through the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative, to help with recovery and conservation efforts. See the funding section below for information on funding opportunities or visit www.nrm.gov.au/funding/index.html for further details. 
Why list the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania as critically endangered?
The decision to list the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania as a critically endangered ecological community was made by the Australian Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts in June 2009.
The TSSC found that this ecological community is critically endangered because it has undergone a severe decline in extent and the rate of continuing detrimental change is substantial. It also has a very restricted geographic distribution (as indicated by mostly very small patch sizes) and is subject to significant ongoing threat. There has also been a severe reduction in the ecological community’s integrity, and therefore its capacity to maintain ecosystem function, due to fragmentation, weed invasion and loss of species diversity.
Temperate grasslands are one of the most under-represented ecosystems in Australia’s conservation estate and are recognised nationally as one of the most threatened vegetation types. The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania is regarded as one of Tasmania’s most threatened and fragmented ecosystems and the most depleted vegetation formation in the state. By the beginning of 2009, more than 83 per cent of the grasslands had disappeared since European settlement.
The Tasmanian Midlands, one of the main areas where the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania are found, is one of the 15 national biodiversity hotspots declared by the Australian Government. The grasslands also provide habitat and resources for more than 20 nationally listed threatened species and 60 state listed species.
In addition to their value as habitat for endemic and threatened species, the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania are an economically valuable resource for Tasmania’s agricultural sector. About half of Tasmania’s sheep graze on native grasslands. Native pastures are known to produce some of the finest wool due to their lower nutritional value and more even growth through the year compared to sown pastures. Sustainable grazing practices are vital to ensure that use of the grasslands in this way does not compromise its long-term survival. The ecological community is also relatively resilient to drought.
What does the listing of the ecological community mean for land managers?
If the listed ecological community is present at a particular site, maintaining adequate protection and appropriate land use practices are vitally important if the ecological community is to persist for the benefit of future generations. 
The listing of the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community under the EPBC Act will not prevent land managers from continuing to use land in the same way they were before the EPBC Act came into force in July 2000. This is providing that they do not significantly change or intensify their activities (and the activity is lawful).
National protection means any new or intensified activities that may have a significant impact on one or more patches of the listed ecological community should be referred to the Australian Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts for assessment and approval. 
Those activities likely to require referral under the EPBC Act (if significant) include, but are not restricted to:
• clearing remnants of native vegetation in or near the listed community (e.g. for irrigation or other changes in farming practice);
•  significantly changing drainage and local hydrology;
•  significant and adverse changes in grazing or management regimes (such as changing the fire regime or substantially intensifying stocking rates on the grassland);
• introducing potentially invasive exotic pasture species in or near to remnants; or 
• applying fertilisers or other chemicals to native remnants. 
Land managers should also note that even if their remnant vegetation does not meet the criteria for the listed ecological community, some plants or animal species that occur within the remnant may be otherwise protected under the EPBC Act.
The EPBC Act allows for some exemptions to the requirement for assessment and approval. This means that some activities may not need to be referred for an assessment or approval under certain circumstances. However, failure to refer an action that has a significant impact on the listed ecological community may have legal consequences such as financial penalties and/or remediation orders.
If you are considering an action that may have an impact on the ecological community, you are encouraged to contact the department about your options. Further information is available on the department’s website at:
Exemptions: www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/exemptions.html
Referrals: www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessments/referral-form.html 
Approvals: www.environment.gov.au/epbc/approval.html
Enquiries may also be directed to 1800 803 772. 
You should also check that no state or local government approvals are required in addition to EPBC Act requirements before undertaking an activity.
Farmers and land managers who have the listed ecological community on their properties are encouraged to seek assistance from the Environment Liaison Officer at the National Farmers’ Federation. The Environment Liaison Officer can be contacted by phone on 1800 704 520 or via email at: environment@nff.org.au 

GUIDE TO MANAGING THREATS AND SUGGESTED CONSERVATION ACTIONS
The Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania occurs predominantly in the low-lying agricultural lands of Tasmania. Since European settlement, much of the former extent of the lowland grasslands has been cleared and converted into other land uses such as cropping and, in some cases, significantly modified by heavy grazing.
Past and current threats continue to affect the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community today. The main threats include clearing and conversion of land (e.g. to irrigated pasture and cropping) and consequent fragmentation of native vegetation remnants, pasture improvement and fertilisation, invasion by weeds and feral animals, inappropriate grazing, watering and fire regimes, climate change, urban expansion, off-road vehicle disturbance and salinity. The ecological community has a low level of protection in reserves.
To assist in the protection of the listed community, survey work is encouraged to help identify more remnants of the grassland. Monitoring to identify key threats as well as protecting known sites of the listed community through the development of conservation agreements and covenants would also help to protect this ecological community. 
Table 2 summarises some of the key threats to the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community, the likely impacts, as well as possible actions that land managers may take to benefit the conservation of the listed community and their land. This list is not exhaustive. These suggestions are only a guide and some management actions may not necessarily apply to specific land management practices. 
Conservation advice has been prepared for the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community. This document is designed to provide additional management guidance for key threats and is available in SPRAT at the following web address (go to the profile for the ecological community and follow the links): www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publiclookupcommunities.pl

Table 2: Some key threats faced by the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community and suggested management actions.	
Threat	Impact	Management Actions	
Land clearance and conversion (e.g. to irrigated pasture and crops)	• Removes vegetation and seedbank
• Can lead to or increase soil erosion
• Can exacerbate dryland salinity
• Fragmentation of remnants leads to loss of connectivity and exacerbates other threats (e.g. weed invasion)
• Can result in loss of species diversity and their ability to maintain the complex interactions of plants and animals in the natural ecosystem
• Loss of habitat and extent to inundation	• Identify remnants of high conservation priority
• Avoid grassland areas including appropriate buffers
• Regulate land clearance
• Protect known sites on private land through conservation agreements and covenants, and for crown land, include sites in reserve tenure, where possible
• Manage any changes to hydrology (e.g. irrigation and dam building) that may result in changes to water table levels and salinity
• Ensure road widening and maintenance activities (or other infrastructure or development activities) involving substrate or vegetation disturbance do not adversely impact on known patches	
Fertiliser addition	• Fertilisers can kill native grassland plants (they prefer low nutrient soils)	• Ensure fertilisers are not used in or near the native grassland
• Promoting native grassland saves on fertiliser applications	
Herbicide application	• Herbicides can kill native grassland plants
• Chemicals can also injure grassland animals such as insects and frogs
• Broad-cast herbicide use (e.g. aerial spraying) can affect vegetation over large areas due to ‘drift’ (e.g. settles on native vegetation on adjacent properties)	• Take care that chemical applications don’t adversely affect the ecological community
• Use a combination of weed removal techniques, such as spot-spraying, hand removal and burning
• Avoid broad-cast herbicide use	
Exotic plant and animal invasion	• Introduced plants compete with native plants for space, water and nutrients
• May lead to pasture degradation as some noxious weeds proliferate	• Remove key problem species such as gorse and serrated tussock from known grassland sites
• Develop and use long-term management plans for controlling key exotic plant species in the region and preventing new introductions
• Replant with local native grassland species
• Control introduced pest animals to manage threats, especially to threatened species, at known sites	
Heavy grazing	• Vegetation removal
• Soil compaction
• Decrease in water uptake
• Accelerated weed invasion
• Accelerated soil erosion	• Prevent trampling and excessive grazing pressure at known grassland sites
• Develop strategic grazing regimes for public lands or property management plans that ensure appropriate grazing regimes, such as paddock rotation, are applied on private property
• Promoting native vegetation may lead to healthier soils and improved water retention in the long term	
Lack of fire	• Smothering of wildflowers by dense grass cover
• Loss of habitat for native animals	• Develop and implement strategic ecological fire regimes 
• Paddock rotation of livestock after fire to improve regrowth of native vegetation 	

Is funding available to protect the ecological community?
Regardless of whether the ecological community exists on private property, council land or public land, land managers or community groups may be eligible for funding to help preserve or restore remnants.
National
Funding through the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative may be available for activities that are undertaken which have an environmental benefit, such as improving land management practices, increasing native habitat and/or providing essential ecosystem services. 
For more details visit:www.nrm.gov.au/index.html 
The National Reserve System (NRS) has an important role in protecting biodiversity values on private land in agricultural and pastoral regions. Building the NRS is one of the priorities under Caring for our Country. Funding is open to farmers and others who seek financial support to either purchase land or establish protected areas on private land for inclusion in the NRS. 
For more details visit:www.nrm.gov.au/funding/2008/nrs.html 
You can also contact a Caring for our Country Facilitator based in Tasmania who may be able to provide advice on natural resource management policies and programs. For contact details visit: www.nrm.gov.au/contacts/ausgovt.html 
State 
There may be state government initiatives to help protect the ecological community. The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment in Tasmania and Regional Natural Resource Management Groups may all be able to provide farmers and other land managers with information about any current programs in place to support conservation efforts.
The Midlandscapes project is a joint initiative between the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, Bush Heritage Australia and the Department of Primary Industry, Parks, Water and Environment to help protect and maintain native grasslands and important natural ecosystems across the Tasmanian Midlands. A range of long term conservation incentive programs for landowners may be available through this initiative including payments for covenants and stewardship contracts. 
For more information please contact: Midlandscapes coordinator Tasmanian Land Conservancy (Launceston)Phone 03 6331 9295 www.tasland.org.au 
Bush Heritage Australia (Hobart)Phone 03 6234 9607www.bushheritage.org.au
Department of Primary Industry, Parks, Water and EnvironmentPhone 1300 368 550 www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au
Where to go for further information
• The Listing Advice and Conservation Advice for the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community are the definitive source of information on the listing of this ecological community. These documents can be downloaded from SPRAT:www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publiclookupcommunities.pl
• Further information on Tasmania’s TASVEG vegetation community benchmarks can be found at: www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/ThemeNodes/LJEM-6PE7J4?open
Other guides for identification and management of the ecological community include:
Barlow T (1999). Grassy Guidelines. How to Manage Native Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands on your Property. Trust for Nature Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria.
Bryant SL and Jackson J (1999). Tasmania’s Threatened Fauna Handbook: what, where and how to protect Tasmania’s threatened animals. Threatened Species Unit, Parks and Wildlife Service. Hobart.
Dorrough J, Stol J and McIntyre S (2008). Biodiversity in the Paddock: a Land Managers Guide. Future Farm Industries CRC.
Gilfedder L, Kirkpatrick J, Wapstra A and Wapstra H (eds) (2003). The Nature of the Midlands’. Midlands Bushweb, Northern Midlands Council, Longford, Tasmania.
Harris S. and Kitchener A. (Editors) (2005). From Forest to Fjaeldmark: Descriptions of Tasmania’s Vegetation. Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Hobart. 
Kirkpatrick J, Gilfedder L and Fensham R (1988). City Parks and Cemeteries: Tasmania’s remnant grasslands and grassy woodlands. Tasmanian Conservation Trust Inc. Hobart, Tasmania.
Lowland Grassland Review Expert Group (2008). A review of the conservation status of lowland Themeda and Poa Grassland Native Vegetation Communities. An unpublished report to the Lowland Grassland Review Steering Committee, Resource Management and Conservation, Department of Primary Industries and Water, Hobart. 
Mokany K, Friend D, Kirkpatrick J and Gilfedder L (2006). Managing Tasmanian Native Pastures - a technical guide for graziers. Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, Hobart.
Useful websites
•  EPBC Act website: www.environment.gov.au/epbc/index.html
• EPBC Act Administrative Guidelines on Significance: www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessmentsapprovals/guidelines/index.html
• Information about nationally threatened ecological communities and species: www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl
• Caring for our Country – What can I do? www.nrm.gov.au/do/landholders/index.html
• Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment: www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au 
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry:www.daff.gov.au
•  National Farmers’ Federation:www.nff.org.au/
• Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association:www.tfga.com.au/home.aspx 
Additional copies
Enquiries and requests for further copies of this brochure may be directed to the Community Information Unit of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts on:
Freecall: 1800 803 772 or 
Email: ciu@environment.gov.au