Scabby Range Nature Reserve facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Scabby Range Nature Reserve New South Wales
IUCN Category Ia (Strict Nature Reserve)
Scabby Range Nature Reserve Location in New South Wales
Nearest town or city	Yaouk
Established	3 December 1982
Area	48.72 km2 (18.8 sq mi)
Managing authorities	National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)
See also	Protected areas of New South Wales

The Scabby Range Nature Reserve is a special protected area in New South Wales, Australia. It's like a natural park where plants and animals are kept safe. This reserve is found near Yaouk and is an important part of the larger Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves.

It was officially created on 3 December 1982. Later, it was added to the Australian Register of the National Estate in 1992. In 2008, it became part of the Australian National Heritage List. This means it's recognized as a very important natural place for all of Australia.

What is the Scabby Range Nature Reserve Like?

The Scabby Range Nature Reserve covers about 48.72 square kilometers (that's about 18.8 square miles). It's located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) northeast of Yaouk. This reserve is right next to Namadgi National Park in the Australian Capital Territory. They both share a similar wild and untouched feel.

The area has rugged mountains and valleys, formed from ancient rocks like granite. It rises high above the nearby plains, reaching about 1800 meters (5900 feet) in some spots. It gets a lot of rain, about 1400 millimeters (55 inches) each year, and snow often falls in winter. Snow can stay on the ground for months, especially around the giant rock formations called tors.

Plants and Trees of the Reserve

The plants here are typical of subalpine areas, meaning they grow in cool, high-altitude places just below the treeline. Lower down, you'll find thick forests.

• Tall Trees: The main trees are alpine ash (Eucalyptus delegatensis) and mountain gum (Eucalyptus dalrympleana). These can grow up to 30 meters (100 feet) tall! Other trees include various peppermints (Eucalyptus radiata, Eucalyptus dives), manna gum (Eucalyptus viminalis), and snowgum (Eucalyptus pauciflora).
• High-Up Plants: In the more exposed, higher areas, you'll see smaller plants. There are low woodlands of snowgum and tall shrubs. You might also find open heathland with plants like common shaggy pea (Oxylobium ellipticum) and alpine plum pine (Podocarpus lawrencii).
• Wetland Plants: In wet, lower areas, you'll find snowgrass fields (mostly Poa spp.) and sedgelands.
• Rare Plants: The reserve is home to some rare or special plants. These include the Australian anchor plant (Discaria pubescens) and an undescribed daisy bush (Olearia sp.2). Other unique plants found here are Acacia alpina, Bossaiea procumbens, Epacris robusta, Grevillia diminuta, Viola improcera, and a special form of Montia australasica. Many of these rare plants grow in the rocky parts of the reserve.

Animals Living in the Reserve

While not many studies have been published specifically about the animals here, we know quite a few live in the reserve.

• Mammals: You'll find many wombats (Vombatus ursinus hirsutus). Other mammals include small marsupials like antechinus (Antechinus stuartii, Antechinus swainsonii), and different types of rats like the southern bush rat (Rattus fuscipes) and the uncommon broad-toothed rat (Mastacomys fuscus). You might also spot common ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus peregrinus), eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), and red-necked wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus).
• Birds: More than 200 types of birds live in the nearby Namadgi National Park, and many of these also visit or live in Scabby Range. You can see birds of prey (raptors), flycatchers, honeyeaters, and parrots. This includes the vulnerable glossy black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami) and the yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus). Many birds move to higher areas like Scabby Range in the summer.
• Reptiles and Frogs: The reserve has a small number of reptiles and frogs that can handle cold, high-altitude conditions. These include snakes, different types of skinks, and ground-dwelling frogs like the spotted grass frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis).

How Healthy is the Reserve?

The Scabby Range Nature Reserve is mostly in a natural state. However, it faces challenges from introduced animals. Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and pigs (Sus scrofa) are present and can harm the ecosystem. Sometimes, wild horses (Equus caballus) can also damage wet areas. Despite these issues, the reserve, along with Namadgi National Park, is a very important wilderness area.

Why is Scabby Range Nature Reserve Important?

This reserve is highly valued for its wild nature and beautiful scenery, with many peaks and ridges. It protects excellent examples of untouched mountain forests, especially those with mountain gum and alpine ash trees. The alpine ash trees here grow in a unique way, with different ages of trees mixed together, which is unusual for this species.

At higher elevations, the reserve protects special subalpine plant communities. These include snowgum woodlands, open heathlands, and wetlands. The rocky areas, like rock shelves and boulder fields, are particularly important because they support many rare and uncommon plant species.

The reserve is also the only known place where a specific type of daisy bush (Olearia sp. 2) is found. It also has populations of the rare Australian anchor plant (Discaria pubescens). Other notable plants include Acacia alpina, Bossaiea procumbens, Epacris robusta, Grevillea diminuta, a special form of Montia australasica, and Viola improcera.

Because of its amazing scenery and rich variety of plants and animals, Scabby Range Nature Reserve is a very important natural area.

It was first listed on the Australian Register of the National Estate on 30 June 1992. Although this register is now mainly for historical records, the reserve was also added to the Australian National Heritage List on 7 November 2008, as part of the larger Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves. This shows its lasting importance to Australia's natural heritage.