South East Forests National Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids South East Forests National Park New South Wales
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Black olive berry on a soft tree fern at Devil's Creek, South East Forest NP
South East Forests National Park Location in New South Wales
Nearest town or city	Merimbula
Established	1 January 1997 (1997-01-01)
Area	1,151.77 km2 (444.7 sq mi)
Managing authorities	National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)
Website	South East Forests National Park
See also	Protected areas of New South Wales

The South East Forests National Park is a special national park in New South Wales, Australia. It is located between the Monaro and South Coast regions. This large park covers about 115,177 hectares (284,600 acres). It is found about 378 kilometers (235 miles) southwest of Sydney. The park is famous for its beautiful old eucalyptus forests. It also has small areas of cool, wet temperate rainforest.

History of the Park

The South East Forests National Park was created in 1997. It was formed by joining several smaller national parks. These included Genoa, Tantawangalo, Bemboka, Yowaka, and Coolangubra National Parks. All of these had been made parks in 1994. Before that, Genoa National Park was made from Nalbaugh and Nungatta National Parks, which started in the early 1970s.

For a long time, much of this area was wild forest. It was known as the Wallagaraugh Wilderness. In 1968, scientists suggested protecting about 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) as a national park. However, a company wanted to cut down trees for woodchips. So, most of the land became "state forest," meaning trees could be cut there. Only Nalbaugh and Nungatta National Parks were created at that time.

Logging, which is cutting down trees, began in 1969. It continued for 25 years, even though many people did not want it to happen. In 1988, the government at the time suggested making a large park. But they were not reelected. Later, under a different government, the Genoa, Tantawangalo, Bemboka, Yowaka, and Coolangubra national parks were finally created in 1994.

Today, the South East Forests National Park connects with Coopracambra National Park in Victoria. Together, they form one of the biggest wild areas in southeastern Australia. This huge natural space stretches from Bombala in New South Wales to Cann River in Victoria.

Animals and Plants

This region is well-known for its many types of eucalypt trees. About 42% of the park is covered in wet sclerophyll forests, which are mostly eucalypt trees. You can find temperate rainforests in sheltered, damp spots. Higher up in the mountains, there are also subalpine bogs, which are wet, marshy areas.

Many different animals live in the park. Some of these are threatened species, meaning they are at risk of disappearing. One example is the smoky mouse (Pseudomys fumeus). Other animals, like the olive whistler (Pachycephala olivacea), are vulnerable in New South Wales. The park is also part of an important area for birds. It is especially important for swift parrots, which are a type of bird that travels long distances.

Images for kids

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  Official signage with the word "Forests".

See also

In Spanish: Parque nacional Bosque del Sureste para niños