Ben Halls Gap National Park Sphagnum Moss Cool Temperate Rainforest Community - endangered ecological community listing

The Scientific Committee established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act has made a Final Determination to list the Ben Halls Gap National Park Sphagnum Moss Cool Temperate Rainforest Community, as an ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY under Schedule 1 Part 3 of the Act. The Listing of endangered ecological communities is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. The Ben Halls Gap National Park Sphagnum Moss Cool Temperate Rainforest Community is a community of cool temperate rainforest with a ground layer dominated by sphagnum moss (Sphagnum cristatum Hampe 1874: Sphagnaceae).

2. The sphagnum moss community is located within Ben Halls Gap National Park.

3. The largest sphagnum moss community comprises large hummocks of moss, and other notable cool temperate rainforest species. It is a low closed forest on a sheltered permanent creek line. Sphagnum cristatum is a conspicuous component of this association. There are many plant components of this association; in addition to sphagnum moss, other important species are  Elaeocarpus holopetalus (black olive berry),  Quintinia sieberi (rough possumwood),  Banksia integrifolia var. compar.,  Callistemon sp. nov. Leptospermum polygalifolium ssp montanum,  Dicksonia antarctica,  Todea barbara,  Blechnum nudum and  Microsorum diversifolium. The community is quite distinct from other cool temperate rainforest remnants found at Barrington Tops and on the northern tablelands, as indicated by the presence of a new species of Callistemon, a new taxon of orchid (Corybas sp.) and by the complete lack of  Nothofagus moorei (Antarctic Beech). The Ben Halls Gap National Park  Sphagnum Moss Cool Temperate Rainforest is also the known northern limit of the  Atherosperma moschatum.

4. Ben Halls Gap National Park, where the sphagnum moss cool temperate rainforest community occurs, has been shown to support a wide variety of birds, mammals, frogs and invertebrates.

5. The occurrence of sphagnum communities beneath a mix of cool temperate rainforest species represents communities which were formerly widespread on the northern tablelands but are now considered to be rare. The Ben Halls Gap National Park Sphagnum Moss Cool Temperate Rainforest Community also represents an unusual westerly location which is biogeographically interesting because it represents a remnant of a habitat that may have been more extensive during a wetter period. However, the modern day decline of sphagnum moss communities on the northern tablelands is directly linked to human interference. The conservation status of the community is poor because of a restricted and patchy distribution. This community has a high conservation value because it is a remnant community, containing an undescribed species of Callistemon, and is at the known northern limit of southern cool temperate rainforest.

6. The Ben Halls Gap National Park Sphagnum Moss Cool Temperate Rainforest Community has survived thus far because of its isolation and inaccessibility to the public. However, gazettal as a National Park, has greatly increased the desirability of visitation and access to Ben Halls Gap.

7. Greater accessibility, following formalisation of access to Ben Halls Gap National Park may result in a number of threats to the community:

• (a) The sphagnum moss-rainforest elements are vulnerable to increased visitor pressure which may disturb the community and destroy the sphagnum moss.
• (b) Sphagnum moss is much sought after for home gardens, and opening up of Ben Halls Gap to the public may place the ecological community at risk from illegal collection. This is particularly of concern, if further access becomes formalised.
• (c) The cool temperate rainforest microclimate is particularly susceptible to disturbance from an increased fire frequency, and from prescribed burns.
• (d) Increased public access to Ben Halls Gap, may result in English Broom weed invasion (given that it has invaded similar habitats in Barrington Tops and the Mount Royal Range) and threaten ground flora, including the Ben Halls Gap National Park Sphagnum Moss Cool Temperate Rainforest Community.

8. In the light of 7 (a - d) above, the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the Ben Halls Gap National Park Sphagnum Moss Cool Temperate Rainforest Community is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate and thus meets the criteria of Section 12 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act, for listing as an endangered ecological community.

Proposed Gazettal Date: 24/7/98
Exhibition period: 24/7/98 to 28/8/98