Australian Native Vegetation Assessment 2001
Maria Cofinas, Colin Creighton
National Land and Water Resources Audit, 2001
ISBN 0 642 37128 8
Guidelines for the interpretation of vegetation mapping products
Pterygopappus lawrencii, Abrotanella forsterioides, Ben Lomond National Park, Tas
Photo: Murray Fagg
The information products presented in Australian Native Vegetation Assessment 2001 represent a subset of the potential applications for data held in the National Vegetation Information System. The National Vegetation Information System can be used for (but not limited to):
- Mapping and describing the distribution of native vegetation types (including Levels I to VI in the information hierarchy and the major vegetation groups). See comments on vegetation types; mosaics; vegetation remnants; reliability; edge-matching; vegetation cover.
- Structured analyses: the hierarchical structure of the National Vegetation Information System database allows for comparative analysis within and across the levels. By definition each level is a generalisation of the level below (e.g. Level 1 is a generalisation of Level 2). See comments on vegetation mosaics, ecological dominance, reliability; edge-matching.
- Management association: when combined with other data (e.g. land use, tenure/protection status), the National Vegetation Information System data sets become a variable characterisation and management tool. See comments on vegetation remnants; ecological dominance.
- Change analysis: when linked to vegetation change data, the National Vegetation Information System becomes a point of reference and description of the type of change. See comment on pre-European; vegetation remnants, revegetation; vegetation condition.
- Data quality and lineage: the extensive metadata accompanying the quantitative and descriptive vegetation data provide users with context information that helps determine the fitness for purpose (e.g. data currency, scale and coverage). See comment on vegetation types; reliability; edge-matching.
The following points should be noted as a guide to readers of this report and users of the National Vegetation Information System data and its products.
Data documentation
The extensive data set documentation embedded in and linked to the National Vegetation Information System add considerable value to the underlying vegetation data and derivative products. They provide information to users that will assist in understanding the history of the data, its appropriate use and potential application. Metadata can be found through the Australian Spatial Data Directory.
Data quality
The issues of data quality and availability, reporting scale and sources need to be recognised and acknowledged where the information is used in particular applications. An understanding of:
- the original purpose and methods of data collection and mapping;
- the completeness of the data coverage;
- the scale of the mapping; and
- the currency of mapping (older data may be useful if the features are unlikely to change rapidly, use of old data in areas experiencing rapid land use change would be inappropriate), will enhance the application of the data.
The spatial extent of the vegetation data, scale, currency, classification level and mapping methods is presented for:
- pre-European vegetation data with Figures 6 and 7, Table 43 and Appendix 8; and
- present vegetation data with Figures 9 and 10, Table 44 and Appendix 8.
The analysis of gaps in the National Vegetation Information System (see Knowledge, data and information gaps section) provides additional information.
Dominant vegetation types
The dominant vegetation descriptions in Levels I to VI in the hierarchy, the major vegetation groups and major vegetation subgroups may not reflect the complexity of vegetation types observed on the ground.
The first vegetation types described in each mapped vegetation unit for Levels I to VI mainly reflect the dominant vegetation in the mapped area. Where the vegetation is heterogeneous or a mosaic, the additional vegetation descriptions should be considered.
Major vegetation groups and major vegetation subgroups were derived by aggregating vegetation information according to a grouping of major vegetation types from Levels I to VI. The major vegetation groups classification contains different mixes of plant species within the canopy, shrub or ground layers, but are structurally similar and are often dominated by a single genus. Using the major vegetation groups therefore limits the capacity to describe the natural variation and diversity within vegetation types.
Vegetation mosaics
Mapped vegetation units in the National Vegetation Information System contain mosaics of vegetation unable to be delineated at the scale of data capture (e.g. 1:1,000,000 scale mapping is far more generalised and less able to delineate between complex vegetation than at the 1:100,000 scale). This issue applies across all scales and is not only limited to the small scale mapping.
Defining native vegetation and ecological dominance
Different thresholds of vegetation height, cover and species composition are used to define 'native vegetation'. In some cases these variations may reflect government policy or legislation. Data custodians have not agreed on a consistent definition of ecological dominance for use in translating data sets from their 'native' formats into the National Vegetation Information System vegetation attribute framework. This may result in variations in the way dominance is ascribed to a vegetation unit.
Vegetation remnants/fragments
Small inlier patches (e.g. riparian vegetation), small remnants and fragments of native vegetation may not be mapped. This will depend on the purpose, the methods and scale of data capture. In general, finer scale data is more likely to capture small remnants either within other extensive vegetation types or occurring as isolates or fragments within the cleared areas.
Revegetation activities and regrowth
Revegetation activities and regrowth have not been specifically mapped in Stage I of the National Vegetation Information System database.
Vegetation cover-known issues
Woody cover is over-represented in central and western New South Wales and Tasmania due to the age of the data sets; native and derived grasslands are not well represented in South Australia, New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory; shrublands and sedgelands are not well represented in South Australia.
Vegetation condition
Vegetation condition attributes have not been collated as part of National Vegetation Information System Stage I. However, some data sets include the presence of weeds in the vegetation description. The assignment of a particular vegetation type to a major vegetation groups or major vegetation subgroups should not be interpreted as any measure of the condition of that vegetation. Audit reports that will assist include Australian Dryland Salinity Assessment 2000, Landscape Health in Australia, Rangelands - Tracking Changes (NLWRA 2001a, c, d) and Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity (in prep.).
Pre-European vegetation
Australia's pre-European vegetation has been reconstructed using a variety of interpolation and modelling techniques:
- mapping and information on the present types and extent;
- historical records; and
- early aerial photographs.
It is assumed that Australia had experienced no significant clearing prior to European settlement.
The underlying data used to describe the pre-European vegetation are in many cases the same as those representing the present vegetation. Some jurisdictions have assumed that vegetation types mapped as present vegetation also represent the pre-European vegetation. This presents varying problems in the interpretation of changes in the vegetation as there are very few areas in Australia that have not undergone some modification in species or structure since European settlement. Information on the condition of Australian vegetation would provide a better assessment of change in these areas.
The Australia wide pre-European major vegetation groups data set is an interim product.
Eucalypt woodland over tussock grasslands near Mount Armstrong, Blue Mountains, NSW
Photo: Murray Fagg
Reliability of the vegetation information
The data (including mapped units and attributes) are only as current as the original mapping from which they are derived. The data is collated from data sets that were produced for different purposes, at different times using various methods and scales. This variation may result in an under or over representation of the area of vegetation types. Users are strongly advised to consult the associated data set documentation. See Appendix 8 for a reference list of data sets incorporated in National Vegetation Information System Stage I database.
Edge matching between data sets and jurisdictions
Vegetation types have not been consistently described between jurisdictions and/or between data sets. Caution needs to be exercised in comparing statistics derived for Australia and across jurisdictions given the different scales and mapping methods of the data sets included in the National Vegetation Information System database.
Continuous improvement
The National Vegetation Information System will be improved through the continued updating, addition of new information and data. Data quality and completeness will change over time.
The information presented on the data and information gaps in the National Vegetation Information System section, the data documentation and original vegetation mapping reports for each source data set should be used as a further guide on the limitations of the use of the data.
| National Vegetation Information System data | |
|---|---|
| Data set number | Data set |
| 110 | Pryor's vegetation map of the Australian Capital Territory |
| 201 | Vegetation of south-east forests Region, Eden, NSW |
| 206 | Southern Comprehensive Regional Assessment, NSW |
| 208 | Western Sydney - Cumberland Plain, NSW |
| 211 | Hunter Regional Environmental Management Strategy (REMS), NSW |
| 320 | Vegetation Map of the Northern Territory |
| 322 | Combined coverage of vegetation units of the Northern Territory (Vegetation/Land unit Survey of Gregory National Park, Lancewood Survey, Melaleuca Survey) |
| 402 | Blackall, Queensland (1:250 000) |
| 403 | Central Western Queensland (CWQ) |
| 405 | South Central Queensland (SCQ) |
| 407 | Desert Uplands Queensland (DEU) |
| 408 | South East Queensland (SEQ) |
| 410 | South West Queensland (SWQ) |
| 411 | Cape York Peninsula Queensland |
| 412 | Brigalow Belt North Queensland (BBN) |
| 414 | Brigalow Belt South Queensland (BBS) |
| 603 | Reconstructed vegetation, Tasmania |
| 702 | Goldfields, Victoria |
| 703 | North-east RFA, Victoria |
| 704 | East Gippsland RFA, Victoria |
| 705 | Gippsland RFA, Victoria |
| 706 | Central Highlands RFA, Victoria |
| 707 | Midlands/Otways (West RFA), Victoria |
| 708 | Portland/Wimmera (West RFA), Victoria |
| 709 | Grampians, Victoria |
| 801 | Pre-European Vegetation, Western Australia |
| Additional data | |
|---|---|
| Data set number | Data set |
| 3 | The vegetation of the Australian Tropical Savannas (1 million) |
| 4 | Springsure, Queensland (1:100,000) |
| 5 | Central Queensland Coast (CQC), Queensland (1:100,000) |
| 6 | Carnahan Natural Vegetation (1:5,000,000) |
| 501/6 | Boomsma / Carnahan Natural Vegetation derived data (1:5,000,000) |
| 10 | NVIS present vegetation |
| National Vegetation Information System data | |
|---|---|
| Data set number | Data set |
| 102 | Distribution of natural temperate grasslands, Australian Capital Territory |
| 103 | Extent and quality of remnant woodlands, Australian Capital Territory |
| 104 | Ainslie - Majura Reserve vegetation communities, Australian Capital Territory |
| 105 | Murrumbidgee River Corridor Vegetation, Australian Capital Territory |
| 106 | Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Australian Capital Territory |
| 107 | Vegetation of Mount Tennent - Blue Gum Creek, Australian Capital Territory |
| 109 | Vegetation types Cotter Catchment, Australian Capital Territory |
| 201 | Vegetation of south-east forests Region, Eden, New South Wales |
| 202 | NPWS Wheatbelt Remnant Mapping (Series 1), New South Wales |
| 222 | NPWS Wheatbelt Remnant Mapping (Series 2), New South Wales |
| 203 | NPWS Wheatbelt Remnant Mapping (Series 3), New South Wales |
| 204 | NPWS Wheatbelt Remnant Mapping (Series 4 and 5), New South Wales |
| 205 | M305 Floristic Vegetation Mapping of the Murray Darling Basin portion of New South Wales |
| 206 | Southern Comprehensive Regional Assessment, New South Wales |
| 207 | Eastern Bushlands Database, New South Wales |
| 208 | Western Sydney - Cumberland Plain, New South Wales |
| 217 | Royal Botanic Gardens Riverina Mapping, New South Wales |
| 219 | Royal Botanic Gardens north-west New South Wales |
| 220 | Royal Botanic Gardens Hawkesbury-Nepean (Sydney), New South Wales |
| 320 | Vegetation Map of the Northern Territory |
| 322 | Combined coverage of vegetation units of the Northern Territory (Vegetation/Land unit Survey of Gregory National Park, Lancewood Survey, Melaleuca Survey) |
| 401 | Blackall, Queensland (1:250 000) |
| 403 | Central Western Queensland (CWQ) |
| 404 | South Central Queensland (SCQ) |
| 405 | South Central Queensland (SCQ) |
| 406 | Desert Uplands Queensland (DEU) |
| 409 | South East Queensland (SEQ) |
| 410 | South West Queensland (SWQ) |
| 411 | Cape York Peninsula, Queensland |
| 413 | Brigalow Belt North, Queensland (BBN) |
| 415 | Brigalow Belt South, Queensland (BBS) |
| 502 | Midnorth, South Australia |
| 503 | Coongie, South Australia |
| 504 | Flinders Ranges, South Australia |
| 505 | Murray Mallee, South Australia |
| 506 | North Olary Plains, South Australia |
| 507 | Offshore Islands, South Australia |
| 508 | South East, South Australia |
| 509 | South Mt Lofty Ranges, South Australia |
| 510 | South Olary Plains, South Australia |
| 512 | Unnamed Conservation Park (CP049), South Australia |
| 513 | Tallaringa, South Australia |
| 511 | Stony Deserts, South Australia |
| 514 | Western Murray Flats, South Australia |
| 515 | Yellabinna, South Australia |
| 516 | Yumbarra Conservation Park, South Australia |
| 517 | Kangaroo Island, South Australia |
| 601 | Vegetation Management Strategy, Tasmania |
| 602 | World Heritage Area, Tasmania |
| 710 | Mallee, Victoria |
| 720 | Goldfields, Victoria |
| 730 | North-east RFA, Victoria |
| 740 | East Gippsland RFA, Victoria |
| 750 | Gippsland RFA, Victoria |
| 760 | Central Highlands RFA, Victoria |
| 770 | Midlands/Otways (West RFA), Victoria |
| 780 | Portland/Wimmera (West RFA), Victoria |
| 790 | Grampians, Victoria |
| 802 | Present Vegetation Extent, Western Australia |
| Additional data | |
|---|---|
| Data set number | Data set |
| 3 | The vegetation of the Australian Tropical Savannas (1 million) |
| 4 | Springsure, Queensland (1:100,000) |
| 5 | Central Queensland Coast (CQC), Queensland (1:100,000) |
| 7 | Carnahan Present Vegetation (1:5,000,000) |
| 501/6 | Boomsma / Carnahan Natural Vegetation derived data (1:5,000,000) |
| 8 | Kirkpatrick & Dickinson (1: 500 000) |
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