Biodiversity
The Resort comprises of highly diverse and sensitive flora and fauna communities. Baw Baw Plateau has been recorded as a site of national botanical significance with 189 indigenous flora species present across 11 Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) located within the Resort boundaries. The Resort is home to 30 Victorian listed rare vascular plants, in addition to two plant communities listed as threatened and protected under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. The Alpine Leafy Liverwort (Pseudocephalozia paludicola) is the only EPBC listed flora species within the Resort and is classed as vulnerable both nationally and in Victoria.
Disturbances to natural vegetation communities in the Resort generate appropriate conditions for the spread of pest plant species. Common disturbances within the Resort are caused by drainage lines, earth works, carpark run off and surface disturbance by vehicles, humans or animals. Across two previous studies completed in the Resort there have been 43 pest species identified to be present. These risks are managed by the implementation of appropriate permitting and monitoring of works and development within the Resort boundary.
Mt Baw Baw is home to a large array of indigenous fauna species. Two significant species have a focus of research conducted by Zoos Victoria and Parks Victoria, the endangered Leadbeater’s Possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) that rely on old hollow trees and a dense understorey and the critically endangered Baw Baw Frog (Philoria frosti). You can find a vast array of bird species when visiting the Resort including the Flame Robin, Grey Currawong, White-eared Honeyeater and Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo!
Want to learn more? Join our citizen science project to track and document flora and fauna that call the Victorian Alpine Resorts home! This is also an excellent platform to use for plant ID while you’re exploring the village or trail network. Peaking Interest In Our Mountain
By submitting your observations, you are contributing to a broader database of citizen science observations that will be utilised by scientists, researchers and land managers to conserve our unique alpine environment. Have fun discovering the nature of Victoria’s Alpine Resorts!
Communities across the Victorian Alpine Resorts are invited to participate by sharing their environmental discoveries on the peaks of Mt Baw Baw, Lake Mountain, Mt Buller/Stirling, Mt Hotham and Falls Creek.
Victoria’s Alpine Resorts are located within the highest elevation parts of the state with habitat that includes tree-less peaks and sub-alpine woodlands. These areas are home to a number of threatened flora and fauna species.
By recording plants and animals, whether they be native or introduced, we can increase our understanding of natural values within the resorts and track any changes that may be occurring, such as changing flowering times with climate change.
