Sydney Harbour Foreshore Vegetation Report Now Available

Assessment, Planning and Management Guidelines Now Available

Saltmarsh and Seagrass Reports Now Available

A riverine corridor or riparian zone is where the land meets a river or creek.  The plant communities in these areas are called riparian vegetation.  These zones are important to both the land and the water as they reduce soil erosion and loss of nutrients from the land but also regulate the movement of sediments and nutrients entering the waterway.

Riparian vegetation, at suitable densities, provides bank stability and is a key habitat for both terrestrial and aquatic species, providing a food source and refuge for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.  For example, a significant portion of the diet of Australian bass includes insects dropping from riparian trees.  Vegetation overhanging a waterway provides temperature regulation, allowing aquatic animals and plants to survive through long, hot summers.  In addition, riparian trees provide a source of woody debris within the waterway which is key fish habitat.

The degradation of riparian vegetation is listed as a key threatening process under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 due to the importance of this habitat for many fish species.

The protection of riparian areas is of upmost importance to protect our waterways, protect and enhance terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity and to protect our fisheries.  The Sydney Metro CMA has commenced with a mapping programme to determine where the remaining habitats occur in Sydney Harbour and a process to determine how best to protect and manage these areas.

Stage 1 of this NHT funded project has resulted in a comprehensive inventory, database and map of the riparian vegetation surrounding Sydney Harbour and associated estuarine waterways:

Stage 2 of this project will take the data, mapping and modelling and collaboratively develop processes and products to guide strategic planning and day to day planning and management decisions.  This will assist local councils and agencies to protect and enhance Sydney Harbour's riparian vegetation.  A Consultative Committee has been formed, including local council and agency officers, to develop site assessment and data management protocols, an approach to long-term monitoring and agreed guidelines or alternative products.

Partners: NSW Maritime; Royal Botanic Gardens 

Coordinator: NSW Maritime

Status: Consultative Committee process underway, trila products being developed

Environmental Outcomes: Protection and enhancement of existing riparian areas

For more information on riparian vegetation check out the following links:

Fisheries, riparian vegetation

DPI, native-riparian vegetation

answers.com, riparian zone 

To obtain the GIS data layers please go to the "Contact Us" page of this website and enter your contact details (telephone, email and postal address) and in the message field say that you would like the "Sydney Harbour Vegetation Data" and note how you intend tol use this data.