The Merri Catchment covers some 39,040 hectares, but it retains only around 3,112 hectares of currently identified native vegetation[1]. This makes up approximately 8% of the catchment. Most of this vegetation is Plains Grassland or Plains Grassy Woodland Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVC's)

 

All of the EVC’s [2] listed for the Victorian Volcanic Plain Bioregion within the Merri Catchment meet the criteria set down in the Native Vegetation Plan for the highest priority protection (see table below).

 

EVC
No
Priority for vegetation protection
Plains Grassland
132
Highest
Plains Grassy Woodland
55
Highest
Grassy Woodland
175
Highest
Plains Grassy wetland
125
Highest
Creekline Grassy Woodland
68
Highest
Swampy riparian complex
126
Highest
Escarpment Shrubland
895
Highest
Streambank Shrubland
Highest*
Herb-rich foothill Forest
23
Highest*
Valley Grassy Forest
47
Highest*
Floodplain Riparian Woodland
56
Highest
Grassy Dry Forest
22
Highest*
Scoria Cone woodland
984
Highest
Grey Clay Drainage-line Herbland-Sedgeland Aggregate
124
Highest
Swampy Woodland
937
Highest*
Riparian Scrub complex
17
Highest
Aquatic Herbfield
653
Highest
Riparian Forest
18
Highest*
Creekline Tussock Grassland
654
Highest
Valley Heathy Forest
127
Highest
Stony Knoll Shrubland
649
Highest

Table 4 - Status of EVCs in Victorian Volcanic Plain Bioregion in the Merri Catchment for reservation and management agreements (based on criteria in the Native Vegetation Plan, p 19). * indicates EVCs having a lower priority in one or both of the other Bioregions
[1] DSE’s website defines Ecological Vegetation Class as meaning a vegetation classification unit defined by a combination of floristics, lifeform, position in the landscape, and an inferred fidelity to particular environments. Each EVC includes a collection of floristic communities (i.e. groups based on co-occurring plant species) that occur across a biogeographic range, and although differing in species, have similar habitat and ecological processes operating. Approximately 300 EVCs have been described for Victoria.
 

[2] Based on DSE data (DSE 2005), but with some additional areas identified by MCMC staff. It is known that more areas remain to be mapped..