New South Wales Central Murray Forests facts for kids

The New South Wales Central Murray Forests are special forests located near the Murray River in a part of New South Wales, Australia, called the Riverina. These forests are very important because they are a wetland area that is recognized around the world. On May 20, 2003, they became a "Ramsar site" under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. This means they are protected because they are so important for nature.

What are the Central Murray Forests?

This special area covers about 840 square kilometers (which is 84,000 hectares!). It's made up of three main parts, even though they are not all connected: the Murray Valley National and Regional Parks, the Werai Forests, and the Koondrook–Perricoota Forests.

Different Kinds of Wetlands

Inside these forests, you'll find many different types of wetlands. These include parts of the Murray River, lakes, natural water channels, and wet, marshy areas called swamps. For a long time, people have managed the water here, mainly for farming. They have also used the land for raising animals and cutting timber.

Plants and Animals of the Forests

The New South Wales Murray Forests are home to a huge variety of life. Over 320 different kinds of native plants have been found here!

Amazing Plants

The forests are mostly covered by tall river red gum trees. You can also find areas with box woodland and special plant communities that grow on sandhills. These forests often get flooded, which is natural and important for the plants that live there. Some of the trees are incredibly old, more than 200 years old!

You might also see plains of moira grass (Pseudoraphis spinescens). This grass grows on higher ground and along river banks.

Threatened Species

Sadly, some plants and animals in these forests are considered threatened, meaning they are at risk of disappearing.

• Fish: Important fish like the Murray cod, trout cod, and Murray hardyhead live here.
• Birds: Rare birds such as the Australian painted snipe, Australasian bittern, and superb parrot also call these forests home.
• Plants: A special type of grass called swamp wallaby grass is also threatened.

Fish Life Cycle and Migration

The forests are super important for native fish. The shaded water provides safe places for them to hide. It's also where many fish lay their eggs, making it a vital "spawning ground."

Fish like the golden perch (Macquaria ambigua), Murray cod, and silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) are amazing travelers. They can swim very long distances, sometimes up to 300 kilometers upstream (against the river flow) and 900 kilometers downstream (with the river flow)!