Long Forest Nature Conservation Reserve

Long Forest Nature Conservation Reserve is a 600 hectare protected area in the Australian state of Victoria situated 50 kilometres to the west of the state capital of Melbourne, between Melton and Bacchus Marsh. It is managed by Parks Victoria.[2] [3]

Long Forest Nature Conservation Reserve
Victoria
IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)
Long Forest Nature Conservation Reserve
Nearest town or cityBacchus Marsh
Coordinates37°38′40″S 144°29′50″E
Area6 km2 (2.3 sq mi)
Managing authoritiesParks Victoria
WebsiteLong Forest Nature Conservation Reserve
FootnotesIUCN[1]
See alsoProtected areas of Victoria

Flora

The nature conservation reserve has over 400 native plant species. It contains a Rocky Chenopod Scrub community that includes the bull mallee, the only occurrence of a mallee species south of the Great Dividing Range. Other tree species found in the nature conservation reserve include grey box, Werribee blue box, yellow gum and moonah. Shrub species include turkey bush and sixteen species of saltbush including fragrant saltbush.[2]

Fauna

Mammal species in the nature conservation reserve include eastern grey kangaroo, black-tailed wallaby, koala, brush-tailed possum and short-beaked echidna. Over 160 bird species have been sighted in the nature conservation reserve including the barking owl, crested bellbird, diamond firetail, jacky winter, red-capped robin and speckled warbler.[2]

Access and facilities
Coimadai Creek

The nature conservation reserve is accessed via Long Forest Road which runs northwards from the Western Highway. Car parks with information boards are located at the entrance to the Happy Valley Track and on Canopus Circuit. These provide access to walking tracks that lead to Coimadai Creek. Walking tracks leading to Djerriwarrh Creek are accessed from parking areas at Djerriwarrh Track to the south and Moonah Drive to the north.[2] There are also several sites in which you can access to other walking tracks on Long Forest Road[4] and in Canopus Circuit.

References
  1. "Terrestrial Protected Areas of Victoria (see 'DETAIL' tab)". CAPAD 2014. Australian Government, Department of the Environment (DoE). 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  2. "Long Forest Nature Conservation Reserve" (PDF). parknotes. Parks Victoria. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  3. Taylor, Robin (1 November 1999). Wild Places of Greater Melbourne. CSIRO Publishing. pp. 166–169. ISBN 978-0-643-10288-0. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  4. "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
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