Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287:reg:3:p39
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 39/276)
Character Range: 144714–147652

synonym.
d Considered endemic at time of listing, but also now reported from New Zealand (Renner & Beadel 2011).).

1.2.7        Plant communities
The distribution of plant species and communities on Norfolk Island is influenced by altitude, aspect, topography and proximity to the sea. Resulting patterns of precipitation (rainfall, fog and mist) influence plant distributions, and there is a significant difference between the mountains and the southern part of the island, which is drier.
A detailed study of the distribution of the natural vegetation on Norfolk Island—both as it is currently known and as it is best understood to have existed in 1750 (Figure 2) —identified 14 plant communities, each of which supports assemblages of threatened plant species (Table 12): eight forest communities and six non-tree communities (Invasive Species Council & TierraMar 2021). This work built upon previous investigations of the vegetation (Gilmour & Helman 1989a, 1989b; Mills 2007a). In 1750 the vegetation on the island was primarily dense subtropical rainforest, with the endemic Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) particularly abundant on the lower elevations and along the coast. The extent of all native plant communities has been substantially reduced since European settlement (Map 11 and Map 12).
The largest remnant of native forest today occurs in the Mt Pitt section of the national park, spreading down the slopes of the mountain and into the valleys between Mt Pitt and Mt Bates. There are also smaller remnant forest patches in lower areas on the island. Moist palm valley forest and moist upland hardwood forest occur largely in the national park, while most of the coastal non-tree communities occur in public reserves and on private land. Many parts of the island are now covered by non-remnant vegetation including large patches of woody weeds, pastures and exotic gardens. Some of this non-remnant vegetation may be significantly disturbed but still contain native plant assemblages. Such patches may have high conservation potential if restored.
At the time of European settlement, Phillip Island probably supported six plant communities including moo-oo (Cyperus lucidus) sedgeland, shrub thickets on exposed areas and forest in the valleys, with emergent pines throughout (Cogger 2004; Mills 2009b); however, there is no record of the exact communities that originally existed (see Table 13). Phillip Island was severely eroded by grazing by goats, pigs and rabbits, which were introduced by the early British colonists. These introduced mammals almost completely removed the native vegetation, which was followed by the loss of virtually all topsoil on the island. Pigs and goats were eradicated in the early 1900s, while the last rabbit was eradicated in 1986 (Mills 2009b). There has since been a significant regeneration of vegetation on the island, particularly in the gullies where accumulated eroded