River-flat Eucalypt Forest on coastal floodplains was listed as critically endangered at a national level in 2020 and has been predicted to exist in Victoria.

In late 2024, EGCMN partnered with the Australian Government, the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, DEECA and Parks Victoria to run a project on the ‘Threatened Ecological Community’.

This project commenced in 2025 and is:

Identifying and confirming the community’s distribution and extent in East Gippsland.

Producing a regional management plan to build capacity and understanding of how the community can best be looked after and enhanced.

Establishing long-term monitoring to track health through time and guide future investment.

We are proud to announce a major ecological milestone — River-flat Eucalypt Forest on coastal floodplains has been officially confirmed to occur in Victoria, and for the first time, right here in East Gippsland.

Found on fertile floodplains and river flats, these majestic eucalypt woodlands provide vital habitat for koalas, gliders, waterbirds, frogs, and native fish. They also play a crucial role in flood mitigation, water filtration, and carbon storage.

Over 80% of the River-flat Eucalypt Forest’s original extent has been lost through land clearing, changes to river flows, and weed invasion. The small, scattered remnants that remain are now among the most valuable patches of habitat in the landscape.

This project marks an exciting turning point — linking science, community, and investment to protect a newly recognised piece of Victoria’s natural heritage.