Biodiversity Assessment and Mapping Methodology (BAMM)
The Biodiversity Assessment and Mapping Methodology (BAMM) has been prepared to provide a consistent approach for assessing biodiversity values at the landscape scale in Queensland using vegetation mapping data generated or approved by the Queensland Herbarium as a fundamental basis. It is being used by the department to generate Biodiversity Planning Assessments (BPAs) for each of Queensland's bioregions. The BPAs can be used by Agency staff, other government departments, local governments or members of the community to advise a range of planning or decision-making processes. However, the BPAs do not presuppose a conservation outcome through these processes.
The methodology has application for identifying areas with various levels of significance solely for biodiversity reasons. These include threatened ecosystems or taxa, large tracts of habitat in good condition and buffers to wetlands or other types of habitat important for the maintenance of biodiversity or ecological processes. However, natural resource values such as dryland salinity and soil erosion potential are not dealt with explicitly, nor are cultural heritage, scenic amenity or wilderness values. For this reason, the method is described as a biodiversity assessment tool, not a conservation assessment tool in its broadest sense.
One objective of the methodology is its spatial application. Assessments are compiled and integrated for mapping using databases and geographic information systems (GIS). This approach allows the known biodiversity values in an area to be presented in a clear and transparent manner for use by decision-makers. Automated procedures for information management ensure that each regional BPA is reproducible with significant updates in base information (e.g. herbarium mapping, flora/fauna inventory) or enhancement of the methodology. It is intended that the information from flora and fauna records be progressively refined in subsequent iterations by incorporating advice from expert panels and the output of habitat models.
Approved Biodiversity Planning Assessments
| Bioregion | Release version | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Queensland | 2.2 | February 2001 |
| Southeast Queensland | 3.1 | 16 January 2002 |
| Southeast Queensland | 3.2 | 1 May 2002 |
| Southeast Queensland | 3.3 | 15 October 2002 |
| Southeast Queensland | 3.4 | 7 March 2005 |
| Southeast Queensland | 3.5 | 3 December 2007 |
| New England Tableland | 2.1 | 17 June 2002 |
| New England Tableland | 2.2 | 1 April 2004 |
| New England Tableland | 2.3 | 18 May 2007 |
| Brigalow Belt | 1.1 | 17 December 2002 |
| Brigalow Belt | 1.2 | 31 March 2003 |
| Brigalow Belt | 1.3 | 22 September 2008 |
| Mulga Lands east | 1.1 | 30 June 2003 |
| Mulga Lands east | 1.2 | 1 November 2003 |
| Mulga Lands | 1.3 | 26th July 2004 |
| Central Qld Coast | 1.1 | 1 August 2003 |
| Central Qld Coast | 1.2 | 10 June 2005 |
| Central Qld Coast | 1.3 | 29 January 2007 |
| Desert Uplands | Interim 1.1 | 4 January 2005 |
| Desert Uplands | 1.2 | 30 September 2005 |
Please note that the Use-by Date is no longer applicable. Each BPA is current until the next version is released. Updated BPAs are released intermittently.
Please check this website for updates or contact data.coordinator@epa.qld.gov.au for more information.
Last updated: 01 October 2008