Tumblong State Conservation Area protects areas of remnant native open forest in a highly cleared and fragmented landscape. It forms a small part of a larger north-south ridge that remains largely naturally vegetated. It is also part of a broader fragmented vegetated link between the extensive moist forests to the east and south, and the drier grassy woodlands of the Riverina plains.
Tumblong State Conservation Area is important because of its high diversity of native forest types. This diversity provides habitat for many native animal populations, including 14 mammal species and over 60 bird species. A number of significant fauna species are known to exist in and around the state conservation area, particularly threatened and declining woodland species such as gliders, parrots, owls and bats. The state conservation area also contains an important population of the brown treecreeper, a bird that is threatened by large-scale habitat loss.
