Remnant vegetation in Queensland

Remnant vegetation is defined in the Vegetation Management Act 1999 as vegetation shown on a regional ecosystem or remnant map.

Woody vegetation

Woody vegetation is mapped as remnant where the dominant canopy has greater than 70% of the height and greater than 50% of the cover relative to the undisturbed height and cover of that stratum and is dominated by species characteristic of the vegetation's undisturbed canopy.

An undisturbed stratum (or layer) is defined as one that shows no evidence of extensive mechanical or chemical disturbance (logging, clearing, poisoning, etc.) evident in field inspections or on the available historical aerial photographic record.

Non-woody vegetation

Non-woody vegetation is vegetation in which the ecologically dominant stratum is composed of grasses and /or other non-woody vegetation. Defining remnant status in non-woody dominated vegetation, such as grasslands, on the characteristics of the height and cover of the canopy (i.e. the grasses and forbs) is not practical.

The dominant layer in these vegetation types is highly variable according to seasonal conditions, and can be rapidly modified by grazing, fire or mechanical mowing. Neither can variations in its composition and condition be readily and consistently recognised from Landsat TM imagery. The department's two-step process for mapping remnant grasslands and other non-woody vegetation types is therfore to:

map extent according to time since cultivation
assess the site based on the composition of the vegetation if required.

Report on remnant vegetation in Queensland

In 2008, the Queensland Herbarium published the report Remnant Vegetation in Queensland. Analysis of remnant vegetation 1997-1999; 2000-2001; 2003-2005, including regional ecosystem information.

The report provides scientific data and statistics on the extent of Queensland's remnant vegetation, and regional ecosystems for 83% of the state.

The report is based on detailed survey and mapping. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the amount of pre-clearing and remnant vegetation in Queensland and the extent of clearing of remnant vegetation, based on individual regional ecosystems. This includes data for bioregions, subregions, local government areas, catchments, natural resource management areas and Queensland electoral districts.

Accessing the report

The report is available in PDF format or as a CD which includes Excel spreadsheets and other files linked to the PDF.

To obtain a copy of the CD, please email the Queensland Herbarium;
Ph: (07) 3896 9325
Fax: (07) 3896 9624.

Purpose of the report

The Department of Environment and Resource Management, through the Queensland Herbarium is the lead agency for surveying and mapping regional ecosystems throughout the state.

The report provides essential information and consolidated maps to support state and local government, natural resource management agencies, business and landholders in biodiversity planning and management.

Tree clearing

DERM produces the State Land and Trees Study (SLATS)—a separate report on the assessment of clearing of woody vegetation (i.e. trees and shrubs), which does not record the clearing of non-woody vegetation nor regional ecosystems.

The Herbarium's report has a broader focus and study parameters, as it measures the clearing of regional ecosystems, including grasslands, heathlands and mangroves.

Summary of key points

The clearing rate of remnant vegetation and regional ecosystems in the 2003–05 period was 243,000 hectares per year.
The average annual clearing rates for remnant vegetation from 1997 to 2005 were:
- 1997–99 414,000 hectares per year
- 1999–2000 642,000 hectares per year
- 2000–01 251,000 hectares per year
- 2001–03 365,000 hectares per year
- 2003–05 243,000 hectares per year
In 2003–05, most (52%) remnant regional ecosystem clearing occurred on leasehold tenure, with 46% on freehold tenures.
The majority of the remnant vegetation clearing between 2003 and 2005 occurred in the Mulga Lands (49%), Brigalow Belt (26%), Desert Uplands (10%) and Mitchell Grass Downs (7%) bioregions.

Further information

Last updated: 27 February 2009