Biodiversity
Page 257
vegetation, and to support natural diversity and long term viability of plant and
animal species. Limited space is available for natural regeneration. The small
size of the reserve limits natural seeding and reproduction and the capacity of
the habitat to support fauna that require territory or corridors for feeding,
breeding and migration (PAE State of the Environment Report 2007).
River Torrens Linear Park
The River Torrens Linear Park is a major recreational and environmental asset.
In 2006 the River Torrens Linear Park Act 2006 was proclaimed. The Act
provides for the protection of the River Torrens Linear Park by ensuring its
preservation.
The impact of European settlement adjacent to the River Torrens was
significant, with widespread vegetation clearance. Kraehenbuehl (1996)
describes the plant associations that existed in 1836 along the embankments of
the River Torrens as predominantly
Eucalyptus camaldulensis
and
E.leucoxylon
woodland. These were felled and the surrounding understorey plants were
cleared having an impact on the riparian and surrounding ecosystem. The
clearance of vegetation occurred due to channel realignment, quarrying,
clearing for timber and for market gardens. As a result the original ecology and
habitat of the River Torrens no longer exists.
However the Torrens Catchment Management works that occurred in 1982 -
1992 and current planting programs have seen the ecology of the River Torrens
improved. The vegetation that has re-established along the River Torrens
provides habitats for birds, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrate and vertebrate
fauna, stabilises the banks of the River Torrens and plays a vital role in
Adelaide’s wildlife corridor - however the biodiversity value is generally rated as
'poor' (according to the Bushland Condition Monitoring framework) in relation to
other regions within the Adelaide and Mt. Lofty region.
In April 2008 a Bushland Condition Monitoring Survey was undertaken (results
provided in figure 61). The diversity and structure of vegetation was rated 'very
poor' and 'poor' respectively. The survey found that only three out of seven plant
species were native (large trees and small shrubs) with the remaining plant
species being exotic weeds.
