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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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WILSON'S PROMONTORY |
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| General Description | The Wilson Promontory Biosphere Reserve is located in the State of Victoria, south east Australia. It comprises a granite massif with prominent peaks, outcrops and headlands flanked by extensive swamps, dune deposits and beaches. Fifteen granite islands are also included. There are a great variety of open-forests (Eucalyptus spp.), heathlands, closed forest (Acmena smithii), coastal scrub and dune vegetation. More than 740 native vascular plant species have been recorded and more than 100 of these are regarded as either rare or threatened. Diverse and abundant mammal fauna (almost 296 species) including the rare swamp antechinus (Antechinus minimus), rat kangaroo (Potorous tridactylus), and new holland mouse ( Pseudomys novaehollandiae) as well as the unique insular population of bushrat (Rattus fuscipes assimilis) and large breeding populations of short-tailed shearwaters (Puffinus tenuirostris) and the little blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor) are reported. Wilson’s Promontory has an early history of Aboriginal occupation dating back at least 6,500 years. The reserve is highly significant to local Aborigines both culturally and spiritually. Local communities are active in establishing cultural and spiritual links with the Biosphere Reserve and in undertaking site based monitoring. More than 400,000 tourists (2003) visit annually for camping, fishing, boating, and research and monitoring. Numerous studies on flora, fauna, geology, geomorphology, archaeology, and history are taking place. | |||
| Major ecosystem type | Evergreen sclerophyllous forests, scrubs, or woodlands; coastal areas; mangrove | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Mixtures of wet and dry Eucalyptus forests; scrublands; rocky heathlands; cool temperate rainforest with Nothofagus cunninghamii and Atherosperma moschatum; warm temperate rainforest with Acmena smithii; coastal heath and scrub; swamp areas with Malaleuca thickets; mangroves with Avicennia marina | |||
| Location | 39°00' to 38°70'S; 146°25' to 146°50'E | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 49,000 | |||
| Core area(s) | ||||
| Buffer zone(s) | ||||
| Transition area(s) when given | ||||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | 0 to +770 | |||
| Year designated | 1981 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Parks Victoria reporting to the State Government of Victoria | |||
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| Brief description |
Rare or threatened species monitoring and research programs Rabbit Calici virus Vegetation communities and structural change Grassland communities and grazing impacts Marine ecosystems, classification and biodiversity programs Ecological use of fire as a management tool Mapping of the different zones of the biosphere reserve Through Parks Victoria, this biosphere reserve is part of an Environmental Information System (EIS) using scientifically recognised methodologies. GIS methodology is also used |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | n.a. | |||
| Biodiversity | Biodiversity, coastal/marine, community studies/communities, ecology, fires/fire ecology, mammals, methodologies, pests/diseases, rare/endangered/threatened species, temperate grassland, vegetation studies/plant cover. | |||
| Socio-economic | Livestock and related impacts/Overgrazing. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Geographic Information System/GIS, impact and risk studies/environmental impact, management issues, mapping, planning and zoning measures/zonation. | |||
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| Contact address |
Jim Whelan Wilson's Promontory National Park Parks Office 3960 Tidal River - VIC Australia |
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| Telephone | (61.03) 568 09531 | |||
| Fax | (61.03) 5680 9516 | |||
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jwhelan@parks.vic.gov.au |
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| Last updated: 3/14/2005 |
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