Ben Lomond (24809)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Ben Lomond
Central coordinates: Latitude: -41.5655, Longitude: 147.6625
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 600 to 1572
Area of KBA (km2): 183.00881
Protected area coverage (%): 99.37
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is identical to Ben Lomond National Park, which is located approximately 45 km south-east of Launceston in north-eastern Tasmania. This IBA is chosen as the north-eastern representative of a series of protected areas that support populations of most of Tasmania's endemic birds across a wide altitudinal range. Ben Lomond is the largest upland massif supporting a large area of native forest in the north-east of Tasmania. The national park experiences a maritime periglacial climate with cold to mild temperatures, heavy rainfall and regular snowfalls in winter. The terrain consists of a rocky plateau composed predominantly of dolerites surrounded by steep escarpments. The plateau supports patches of low and often stunted vegetation (mostly grassland, grassy shrublands and herbfield), but a variety of floral communities, ranging from alpine moorlands to dense forests, are found elsewhere on the mountain. The slopes of the mountain, below the escarpments, are dominated by tall eucalypt forests.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: The restricted-range (endemic) Tasmanian Thornbill and biome-restricted Pink Robin and Striated Fieldwren are likely to occur in the IBA but have not been documented in the few bird surveys completed. Non-bird biodiversity: A total 222 species of plants have been recorded on Ben Lomond plateau including Colobanthus curtisiae, which is classified as vulnerable under federal government legislation; the rock cushion plant Chionohebe ciliolata, which is found nowhere else in Tasmania; and Oreomyrrhis sessiflora, a rare endemic. Four of 22 floral communties identified by Davies and Davies (1989) within the IBA are considered to be inadequately represented in conservation reserves in Tasmania. The fauna of the Ben Lomond region is not well described, with only a small number of native invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, and 27 species of native mammals, confirmed to occur in the IBA (Parks and Wildlife Service 1998).
Other site values: The land is state owned. Ben Lomond National Park is managed by the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service but the skifield is managed by a private operator. The park can be accessed on foot or by vehicle.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Forest | 85 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Align fire management practices with the habitat requirements of key bird species where possible. Contain or minimise spread of Phytophthora cinnamomi. Minimise the impact of skifield operations on natural values.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Davies, J.B. and Davies, M.J. (1989) Plant Communities of the Ben Lomond Plateau. Occasional Paper No. 1, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, Tasmania. Parks and Wildlife Service (1998) Ben Lomond National Park Management Plan. Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Primary Industries, Water and the Environment, Hobart.