Appendix 12: Description of threatened ecological communities 
In the Region, there are 3 endangered ecological communities listed federally and 17 listed in NSW. The following information—obtained from Australian and NSW government species, populations and ecological communities websites—presents a brief description of these communities and provides weblinks to more detailed information.

Byron Bay Dwarf Graminoid Clay Heath Community

Description: 
Byron Bay Dwarf Graminoid Clay Heath Community is found only at Bryon Bay and is disjunct from other known graminoid clay heaths. It is a heathland with occasional emergents of Pink Bloodwood Corymbia intermedia and Swamp Box Lophostemon suaveolens.

Habitat: 
Located on gentle sloping clay ridges of low relief.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act).	

Location/Landscape: Coastal plains	Distribution: Restricted

Further Information:
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10115>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/ByronBayHeathEndComListing.htm>

Coastal Cypress Pine Forest in the NSW North Coast Bioregion

Description: 
Coastal Cypress Pine Forest has a closed canopy dominated by Coastal Cypress Pine Callitris columellaris with a mix of eucalypts, wattles, banksias and/or rainforest trees, and an open to sparse understorey of shrubs, sedges and herbs. The community structure may vary from woodland, open forest and closed forest. 

Habitat: 
The vegetation community occurs on sandy soils, loam or clay soils with basalt or fine-grained sedimentary rock within 35 km of the coast in areas with rainfall between 1000 to 1800 mm and below 100 m elevation. 

Status:     	Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.	

Location/Landscape:   Coastal plains	Distribution: Restricted

Further Information:   N/A

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/coastalcypresspinefd.htm>

Coastal Saltmarsh in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions

Description: 
Coastal Saltmarsh community is located within the intertidal zone on the landward side of mangrove stands of estuaries and lagoons. Mature mangroves, tall reeds and salt pans may occur at some sites.

Habitat: 
Above the upper-intertidal zone of coastal waterways.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.		

Location/Landscape: Coastal plains	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10866>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/CoastalSaltmarshEndSpListing.htm>

Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions

Description:
Freshwater wetlands on coastal floodplains are associated with periodic or semi-permanent inundation by freshwater, although there may be minor saline influence in some wetlands. They typically occur on silts, muds or humic loams in depressions, flats, drainage lines, backswamps, lagoons and lakes. Their structure may vary from sedgelands and reedlands to herb fields, and woody plant species are generally scarce.

Habitat: 
Areas subject to periodic or semi-permanent inundation by freshwater on coastal floodplains below 20 m elevation.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.		

Location/Landscape: Coastal plains	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information: 
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10929>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/FreshwaterWetlandsEndSpListing.htm>

Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Vine Thickets of Eastern Australia

Description: 
This federally-listed ecological community represents a complex of rainforest and coastal vine thickets, influenced by its proximity to the sea. 

Habitat: 
The ecological community occurs along the east coast of Australia from Gippsland Lakes in Victoria to Princess Charlotte Bay in Queensland. It prefers warm temperate, subtropical and tropical climate zones. This vegetation community is associated with a range of landforms derived from coastal processes and can grow on a variety of soil types.

Status:     Listed as critically endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).		

Location/Landscape: Coastal plains	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicshowcommunity.pl?id=76&status=Critically%20Endangered>

Final Determination:
N/A

Littoral Rainforest in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions

Description: 
Littoral Rainforest has a closed forest structure that is dominated by rainforest species with evergreen mesic or coriaceous leaves. 

Habitat: 
Occurs on sand and on soil derived from underlying rock in areas within 2 km from the ocean.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.	

Location/Landscape: Coastal plains	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10867>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/LittoralRainforestEndSpListing.htm>

Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain in the NSW North Coast Bioregion

Description:
Small remnants of Lowland Rainforest on Floodplain are scattered throughout the coastal plains landscape. Its dense canopy blocks most light, creating a cool and moist understorey environment. This vegetation community type supports a high diversity of plant and animal species.

Habitat: 
Occurs on fertile soils in lowland river valleys.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.	

Location/Landscape: Coastal plains	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10497>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/LowlandRainforestNorthCoastEndComListing.htm>

Lowland Rainforest in NSW North Coast and Sydney Basin Bioregion

Description: 
Lowland Rainforest is a form of subtropical rainforest and some related, structurally complex forms of dry rainforest. Structurally, it has a closed canopy, characterised by a high diversity of trees that occur in three major strata: emergents, canopy and subcanopy.

Habitat: 
Lowland Rainforest is located in areas up to 600 m above sea level on high nutrient geological substrates such as basalt.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.		

Location/Landscape: Coastal plains, midland hillsDistribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=20073>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/LowlandRainforestEndCom.htm>

Montane Peatlands and Swamps of the New England Tableland, NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin, South East Corner, South Eastern Highlands and Australian Alps Bioregions 

Description: 
Montane Peatlands and Swamps consist of either a dense, open or sparse layer of shrubs with a ground cover of soft-leaved sedges, grasses or forbs. This vegetation community type is similar to Upland Wetlands but may be distinguished by a greater component of shrubs and fewer aquatic herbs. 

Habitat: 
This vegetation community type is associated with accumulated peaty or organic-mineral sediments on poorly drained flats in the headwaters of streams. It occurs on undulating tablelands and plateaus, above 400 to 500 m elevation, generally in basic volcanic, fine-grained sedimentary and occasionally granite catchments.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.		

Location/Landscape: Escarpment tanges, tablelands	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10936>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/MontanePeatlandsEndSpListing.htm>

New England Peppermint (Eucalyptus nova-anglica) Woodland on Basalts and Sediments in the New England Tableland Bioregion

Description: 
New England Peppermint Woodlands on Basalts and Sediment lack a substantial shrub layer, have a dense grassy ground layer, and the tree canopy is dominated by New England Peppermint Eucalyptus nova-anglica and occasionally Mountain Gum E. dalrympleana subsp. heptantha.

Habitat: 
This vegetation community occurs in valley flats composed of basaltic soils, fine-grained sedimentary and acid volcanic substrates with poorly drained loam-clay soils. 

Status:     Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.	

Location/Landscape: Tablelands	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10558>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/NewEnglandPeppermintWoodlandNewEnglandEndComListing.htm>

Ribbon Gum, Mountain Gum, Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of the New England Tableland Bioregion

Description: 
Ribbon Gum, Mountain Gum, Snow Gum Grassy Forests are tall open forests in which tree height varies from 20 to 30 m with a sparse shrub layer and a dense to very dense ground cover dominated by grasses.

Habitat: 
They are mainly confined to high, undulating basalt plateaus with deep, loam soils.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.	

Location/Landscape: Tablelands	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=20040>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/RibbonGumGrassyForestEndSpListing.htm>

Sub-tropical Coastal Floodplain Forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion

Description: 
An undisturbed Sub-tropical Coastal Floodplain Forest is a tall open tree layer of eucalypts of up to 40 m. Dominant trees include Forest Red Gum Eucalyptus tereticornis, Grey Ironbark E. siderophloia, Pink Bloodwood Corymbia intermedia and Swamp Turpentine Lophostemon suaveolens north of the Macleay floodplain.

Habitat: 
This vegetation community is found below 50 m where flooding is periodic and soils are rich in silt, sand, clay and sandy loams. It occurs on alluvial flats, drainage lines and river terraces associated with coastal floodplains.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.	

Location/Landscape: Coastal plains	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10944>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/SubtropicalCoastalFloodplainEndSpListing.htm>

Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions

Description: 
Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest structure varies from open forests to low woodlands, scrubs or reedlands with scattered trees.

Habitat: 
It is associated with grey-black clay-loams and sandy loams, where the groundwater is saline or subsaline, on waterlogged or periodically inundated flats, drainage lines, lake margins and estuarine fringes.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.	

Location/Landscape: Coastal plains	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10945>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/SwampOakFloodplainEndSpListing.htm>

Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions

Description: 
Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains is typically an open forest, but in some areas the tree stratum is low and dense, so that the community takes on the structure of scrub. The community also includes some areas of fernland, tall reedland or sedgeland, where trees are very sparse or absent.

Habitat: 
It is associated with humic clay loams and sandy loams, on waterlogged or periodically inundated alluvial flats and drainage.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.		

Location/Landscape: Coastal plains	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10786>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/SwampSchlerophyllEndSpListing.htm>

Themeda Grassland on Seacliffs and Coastal Headlands in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions

Description: 
Themeda Grassland on Seacliffs and Coastal Headlands is typically closed tussock grassland where Kangaroo Grass Themeda australis is the dominant species in the community. This community type may also be open shrubland or open heath with a grassy matrix between the shrubs.

Habitat: 
Occurs on a range of substrates including sand, sandstone and basalt.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.

Location/Landscape: Coastal plains	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=20042>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/ThemedaGrasslandSeacliffsEndSpListing.htm>

Upland Wetlands of the Drainage Divide of the New England Tableland Bioregion

Description: 
This vegetation community is composed of a series of high altitude wetlands that consist of a combination of sedges, rushes, spike-rushes, grasses and aquatic plants.

Habitat: 
Upland Wetlands occur in shallow-temporary to near-permanent wetlands naturally restricted to altitudes above about 900 m and are found on a range of geological formations, although they are most common on landscapes associated with Tertiary basalt flows.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.	

Location/Landscape: Escarpment, tablelands	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10824>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/UplandWetlandsewEnglandEndComListing.htm>

No Photo Available

Upland Wetlands of the New England Tablelands and the Monaro Plateau

Description: 
This vegetation community consists of sedges and grasses that grow on the shores of open water, or extend across shallow or dry wetlands. No shrubs or trees occur naturally within this community type.

Habitat: 
Upland Wetlands are not connected to rivers or streams but occur in deep depressions in the landscape between 700 to 1400 m in altitude. They occur mainly on basalt-derived substrate, within a temperate climate zone with an annual rainfall of less than 1000 mm. The absence, or small respresentation, of peat underlying the vegetation distinguishes this wetland community type from other wetlands.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the EPBC Act.

Location/Landscape: Escarpment, tablelands	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicshowcommunity.pl?id=39&status=Endangered>

Final Determination: N/A

White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland

Description: 
This ecological community in its natural or undisturbed state contains a ground layer dominated by tussock grasses, a sparse or patchy shrub layer and an overstorey dominated or co-dominated by White Box, Yellow Box, Blakely’s Red Gum or Grey Box.

Habitat: 
The Box-Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Grassland ecological community occurs in an arc along the western slopes and tablelands of the Great Dividing Range from Southern Queensland through NSW to central Victoria. 

Status:     Listed as critically endangered under the EPBC Act,	

Location/Landscape: Tablelands	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicshowcommunity.pl?id=43&status=Critically%20Endangered>

Final Determination:
N/A

White Box Yellow Box Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland

Description: 
Box–Gum Woodland is open woodland. An intact site contains the main tree species White Box Eucalyptus albens, Yellow Box E. melliodora and Blakely’s Red Gum E. blakelyi with some shrubs, several climbing plants, many grasses and a very diverse herbaceous layer.

Habitat: 
Occurs on relatively fertile soils in areas with rainfall between 400 and 800 mm at altitudes up to and above 1200 m.

Status:     Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.		

Location/Landscape: Tablelands	Distribution: Scattered

Further Information:
<http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10837>

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/BoxgumWoodlandEndComListing.htm>

White Gum Moist Forest in the NSW North Coast Bioregion

No Photo Available

Description: 
It consists of a tall open canopy of White Gum Eucalyptus dunnii either in pure stands or with Sydney Blue Gum E. saligna, Tallowwood E. microcorys and Brush Box Lophostemon confertus with a structurally complex understorey of rainforest trees and shrubs, vines, palms and ferns.

Habitat: 
Occurs on fertile soils derived from basalt, fine-grained sediments, colluvium or alluvium in areas between 400 and 650 m elevation, where mean annual rainfall exceeds approximately 1000 mm.

Status:     	Listed as endangered under the TSC Act.

Location/Landscape: Escarpment	Distribution: Disjunct

Further Information:
N/A

Final Determination:
<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/whitegummoistfd.htm>