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A number of authors have emphasised the importance of areas outside nature reserves in the maintenance of biodiversity. A study of the vegetation of the Scotia country of western New South Wales on pastoral properties grazed for 70 years supported the view that biological refugia can exist under a conservative grazing regime. A survey revealed the presence of 290 plant species, of which nine either had not previously been recorded or have a very restricted distribution in western NSW. Twenty plant communities were identified, of which two, Halosarcia lylei low open shrubland and Hemichroa diandra low open shrubland, were dominated by species not previously recorded from NSW. These studies have highlighted the ecological significance of the area and that in certain circumstances biodiversity may be maintained under a conservative pastoral regime.