Monaro Grasslands

The Monaro Grasslands are located in the Monaro region of southern New South Wales, Australia, on the high inland plains east of the Snowy Mountains. These grasslands are characterized by their natural lack of tree cover, shaped by cold temperatures, low rainfall, and specific soil conditions.

The Monaro Grasslands support the threatened grassland earless dragon (Tympanocryptis pinguicolla), a small lizard that depends entirely on native grassland habitat. The grasslands also provide habitat for other threatened native flora and fauna adapted to the treeless plains.

The combination of cold winters, low rainfall, and basalt-derived soils in the Monaro region creates conditions where grasses and herbs dominate and trees cannot establish naturally. This makes them part of Australia's network of native temperate grasslands, which are among the country's most endangered ecosystems.

Like many Australian native grasslands, the Monaro Grasslands have been degraded by pastoral development, invasive weeds, and pasture improvement, which fragment and replace native plant communities. Conservation efforts focus on protecting remaining patches to preserve habitat for species like the grassland earless dragon.