Bimberamala
(Upper Clyde)
Bimberamala covers the upper catchment of the Bimberamala river, itself a major part of the upper Clyde River catchment.
Lying inland from Batemans Bay, Bimberamala covers part of Currowan and Yadboro State Forests.
Bimberamala covers 10,016 ha of state forest.
Some of the conservation values of Bimberamala are listed below:
Bimberamala is the upper catchment for the Clyde River, the only river left in NSW which flows uninterrupted from its source to the sea. It is one of the only rivers left in NSW with a completely forested catchment, and is important for fisheries, oyster farms, tourism, recreation and aquatic biodiversity conservation. Protecting the upper catchment for the Clyde River is important for maintaining its exceptional quality, and scientific and environmental value.
Bimberamala adjoins the Budawangs Wilderness, in the Morton National Park. It is important for increasing the size and viability of this thin southern stretch of the Budawang National Park and wilderness area.
Bimberamala contains almost 3,000 hectares of old-growth forest, according to the NSW and Commonwealth Governments' Interim Assessment Process. At 29% of its area, this is around twice the regional average.
Bimberamala is important for achieving JANIS scientific targets for a Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative reserve system. It is important for three different types of rainforest, and is the only place to make a major contribution to rainforest ecosystem 81 (achieving 47% of its target on State Forest estate). It provides for the entire old-growth forest target for old-growth forest ecosystem 11 and 74% of old-growth forest ecosystem 150. It gives an enormous contribution to the target for the threatened Sooty Owl, and almost 50% of the target for the threatened Stuttering Barred Frog. Bimberamala contains a record of the threatened Koala.
Bimberamala contains two forest reserves, a testament to its already recognised high conservation values. These reserves Wallaby Forest Preserve and Lyons Creek Forest Preserve are not formal reserves, and so do not offer secure protection; reservation of Bimberamala would secure their future.
Bimberamala helps provide a link connecting the Budawang National Park to community reserve proposals and national parks to the south