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Rainforests and vine thickets have a present extent of 36,469 km 2, of which 22,694 km 2 is in protected areas. [1] Rainforests and vine thickets are present in 36 of Australia's bioregions. The largest extent of rainforest in Australia is in the Queensland tropical rain forests ecoregion (Wet Tropics bioregion).
Rainforests are forests characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforests can be generally classified as tropical rainforests or temperate rainforests, but other types have been described.
"Littoral rainforests and coastal vine thickets of eastern Australia". Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) policy statement – Nationally threatened species and ecological communities guidelines. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government. March 2009
Dry rainforest or vine thickets; Sedgelands, rushes or reeds; Other grasslands; Regrowth or modified forests and woodlands; Regrowth or modified shrublands; Regrowth or modified graminoids; Regrowth or modified chenopod shrublands, samphire or forblands; Unclassified native vegetation; Cleared, non-native vegetation, buildings; Unknown/No data
[17] [15] [16] Western Vine Thickets, another dry closed forest biome is found inland of New South Wales near Moree and Narrabri. [18] Warm temperate rainforest are closed forests with far less diversity than the dry or subtropical rainforests, growing on low-nutrient soils.
[2] [7] In total there are thirty one different vegetation types including extensive Palm vine forests, [14] thirteen are listed as ‘of concern’ including gallery rainforests (notophyll vine forests) and semi-evergreen vine thickets which are listed as endangered. [1] [15] [16] Richmond Birdwing Butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondius)
Only 3% exceed 20 ha, and the largest is 200 ha. Monsoon rainforest is composed of semi-deciduous or deciduous trees which lose their leaves towards the end of the dry season ("raingreen"). Woody vines are common, and they climb into the tree canopies; lower-canopied monsoon rainforests are also known as monsoon vine thickets.
Rainforests and vine thickets cover smaller areas, concentrated along the east coast, and represent 20% of Australia's total. [11] Rainforests and vine thickets are of several different types, which vary with climate and soils.