An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region

Authors

P A. Waddell
A K. Gardner
P HennigFollow

Publication Date

2010

Series Number

97

Abstract

The inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region, undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) between 2005 and 2007, describes and maps the natural resources of the region. This survey report provides a baseline record of the existence and condition of the area's natural resources, to assist with the planning and implementation of land management practices. The report identified and described the condition of soils, landforms, vegetation, habitat, ecosystems, and declared plants and animals. It also assessed the impact of pastoralism and made land management recommendations. The Nullarbor region has unique, extensive, gently undulating stony plains of limestone karst that form the Bunda Plateau. As well as vast treeless plains through the region's centre, the Bunda Plateau is Australia’s largest karst and the world’s largest arid karst region (~250 000km²). An area of about 118 358km² was covered in the Nullarbor survey. The northern survey limits are defined by pastoral lease boundaries. The southern limits of the survey area are bounded by the Southern Ocean. The western limits of the survey area are defined by the western-most Nullarbor pastoral lease boundaries. The eastern limit of the survey is defined by the Western Australian–South Australian border. Pastoralism is the most extensive land use. Twenty pastoral leases fall wholly within the survey area and collectively occupy about 57 673km² (49% of the area). Eighteen soil groups are identified within the survey area. The most common soil group is calcareous shallow loams, occurring on all but coastal and sub-coastal land systems. In comparison with other biogeographic regions in the State, the flora of the Nullarbor area is not particularly diverse, with 426 vascular species recorded during the survey.

Number of Pages

413

Keywords

Western Australia, Rangelands, Nullarbor Plain (WA), Soil surveys, Vegetation, Geology, Geomorphology, Karst, Limestone, Range condition, Hydrogeology, Climate, Wind deflation

Disciplines

Agricultural and Resource Economics | Agricultural Economics | Agricultural Science | Agriculture | Desert Ecology | Environmental Education | Environmental Health | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Geology | Geomorphology | Natural Resource Economics | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Physical and Environmental Geography | Sedimentology | Soil Science | Sustainability | Systems Biology | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

Comments

Replaces Technical Bulletin 47

Recommended Citation

Waddell, P A, Gardner, A K, and Hennig, P. (2010), An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia, Perth. Technical Bulletin 97.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/tech_bull/10

Maps

Maps are not included as part of the complete document download. If this bulletin contains a map, it will be available in the Individual Parts list below.