The Southeast Queensland Bioregion
Southeast Queensland comprises a biogeographic region for which scientists have developed a classification of different ecosystems, known as Regional Ecosystems or REs. These REs are based on a combination of geology, landform, soils and dominant vegetation types. REs are described and identified by the composition of the dominant vegetation layer, usually the tree layer.
Although the system of REs was devised to map Queensland’s vegetation for the purpose of the Vegetation Management Act 1999, they also provide a convenient system to use as a basis for planning revegetation projects. RE descriptions and maps of a subject site can be easily obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency website (http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/biodiversity/regional_ecosystems). An enquiry can be made online using the real property description and an RE map of the site and surrounds will be emailed to the enquirer.
Having an RE map of a site is useful even when the site has been previously cleared, since the surrounding areas that may contain remnant vegetation are most likely to be similar to that on the subject site. Full descriptions of REs can also be downloaded from the EPA website. These descriptions include lists of dominant and common species occurring in each RE. REs can then be used as the basis for planting design elements in the revegetation documentation.
Vegetation structure
Greenstock Nurseries recommends that revegetation projects include, where possible, plant species from each stratum of the natural vegetation structure. Some species may be found naturally in more than one stratum, but have been allocated here according to their most common occurrence.
The species in our list are separated in ‘upper, mid and lower’ stratum, in accordance with the strata recognised by the Queensland Herbarium, EPA. The Upper Stratum may include more than one layer, such as Emergents, T1 (i.e. the tallest tree stratum), T2 or T3 layers. Similarly, the mid stratum may include more than one shrub layer, S1 and S2, but the lower stratum usually contains one layer. The latter may be divided into herbs, grasses and sedges or other clumping species.
Revegetation designers should consider the density of each stratum when specifying the distance between plants.
Species lists
Although the description of REs on the EPA website provides a list of dominant and common trees, there is very little information on the floristic composition of the mid and lower strata. Therefore the revegetation designer will need to refer to published accounts of vegetation, or undertake species inventories in nearby remnants.
In some areas, the Local Government may provide guidance in this respect. Alternatively, NGO (non government organisations) such as Greening Australia Queensland and the Society for Growing Australian Plants may also provide useful information. Some references are provided on the last page of this catalogue.
