Description

View larger image An illustration of a eucalypt woodland Enlarge image
An illustration of a eucalypt woodland
Paula Peeters

What are they?

Woodland is a vegetation type with widely spaced trees that let in plenty of light. The ground layer is more likely to be grassy than densely shrubby, which can give woodlands a ‘park-like’ appearance.

Woodlands tend to be named after their dominant canopy trees, so eucalypts are the most common canopy trees in eucalypt woodlands. In these web pages, the term ‘eucalypt’ includes species of Eucalyptus, Corymbia (also known as bloodwoods) and Angophora.

Where are they?

Eucalypt woodlands covered by the management guidelines on this website occur over a large area of eastern Queensland, from the New South Wales border to Cape York Peninsula.

They are mostly found between the forests of high rainfall areas, and the shrublands and deserts of the arid interior.

Carbon potential

The above-ground parts of woody plants in Queensland’s eucalypt woodlands can hold about 70 to 195 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per hectare.

Regrowing eucalypt woodlands will capture atmospheric carbon and store it in woody plant tissues. The peak carbon accumulation rate is likely to be between 1 and 4 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents per hectare per year. This peak rate is expected to occur when the woodland is between 10 and 20 years old.

Read more about farming carbon and limits to carbon accumulation.

Restoration and management

Rainfall and past clearing history have a large influence on the potential for reforestation and carbon accumulation in eucalypt woodlands, but ongoing management is also important.

Continuous high grazing pressure, hot fires and soil degradation will slow and may even prevent the restoration of eucalypt woodlands, as these will inhibit tree establishment and growth.

Livestock grazing can be compatible with reforestation in eucalypt woodlands, as long as grazing pressure is held at low to moderate levels, and there is enough strategic spelling (periods where grazing is stopped) to allow new trees to establish.

In general, increasing the biomass of trees will reduce the carrying capacity for grazing.

Wildlife

Regrowing eucalypt woodlands will benefit wildlife, especially animals such as birds, reptiles and mammals that rely on eucalypt woodlands for habitat.

View larger image A diagram explaining eucalypt woodland structure Enlarge image
Eucalypt woodland structure
Paula Peeters

Features

Generally, eucalypt woodlands in Queensland have the following features:

  • Eucalypts (mostly Eucalyptus and Corymbia species) are the tallest trees, and form the upper canopy layer. They can range in height from 2m to over 30m, but are typically 15–25m tall.
  • Canopy cover can vary from 20% to 50%.
  • The ground layer is more likely to be dominated by grasses and herbs than by shrubs, and it often contains up to 30 or more species.
  • Several species of Eucalyptus and/or Corymbia may be present in the canopy at any one site.
  • Shrubs and small trees may be present, but are usually sparse.
  • There can be wide variation in the species composition and density of shrubs, small trees and canopy trees, which may relate to the local climate, soil type and management history of the site.

Plant species

Some plant species that are common and widespread in eucalypt woodlands:

Canopy trees

Scientific name

Poplar box

Eucalyptus populnea

Silver-leaved ironbark

Eucalyptus melanophloia

Narrow-leaved ironbark

Eucalyptus crebra

Forest red gum

Eucalyptus tereticornis

Mountain coolibah

Eucalyptus orgadophila

Dallachy's gum

Corymbia dallachiana

Cabbage or poplar gum

Eucalyptus platyphylla

Yellow box

Eucalyptus melliodora

Grey bloodwood

Corymbia clarksoniana

Moreton Bay ash

Corymbia tessellaris

Shrubs

False sandalwood

Eremophila mitchellii

Wilga

Geijera parviflora

Currant bush

Carissa ovata

Hop-bush

Dodonaea viscosa

Dogs-balls

Grewia species

Cypress-pine

Callitris species

Wattles

Acacia species

View larger image A map showing the distribution of pre-clearing and remnant eucalypt Enlarge image
The distribution of pre-clearing and remnant eucalypt woodlands in Queensland covered by this guide
Queensland Herbarium

Eucalypt woodlands tend to occur between the forests of high rainfall areas, and the shrublands and deserts of the arid interior.

More information

View the Eucalypt woodland Management Guideline (PDF, 1.7 MB) .