The Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) monitors woody vegetation extent and changes in Queensland using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery as its primary tool. This dataset provides annual summaries of woody vegetation clearing and regrowth from the 2018–19 reporting period onward, aligning with an updated Sentinel-2-based methodology introduced in 2018. The data is presented as annual time series summaries, with each year’s data corresponding to a nominal August-to-August reporting period. Summary statistics are provided at the state-wide scale, as well as for administrative boundaries, natural resource management regions and divisions, and other authoritative datasets. This multi-year dataset includes data from the 2018–19 onwards SLATS reporting periods. It supersedes and is not directly comparable with SLATS data published for reporting periods up to and including 2017–18, due to a methodological change. Note that regrowth was not reported in 2018–19; values for regrowth in that year are represented as zero in the dataset.

The Statewide Landcover And Trees Study (SLATS) is a scientific monitoring program which monitors, maps and reports on woody vegetation change in Queensland. Since the 1990's and up to the 2017-18 reporting period, SLATS has been monitoring woody vegetation loss due to land clearing, applying a methodology which used Landsat satellite imagery. From 2018 onwards, woody vegetation change is mapped using Sentinel-2 imagery. The vegetation change has been attributed to change classes representing human induced woody clearing or regrowth.

The statewide landcover and trees study (SLATS) has been analysing and reporting on change (loss) of woody vegetation since 1988 using Landsat imagery. The vegetation change has been attributed to change classes representing what the replacement land cover is or if the vegetation change was due to natural causes.

These layers show woody vegetation change based on the analysis of multi-date Sentinel2 imagery for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Woody change is detected though a combination of automated and manual interpretation of the differences between images captured during summer of each year. Satellite images are selected as close as possible to the 1st of January each year with minimal smoke or cloud. This requirement can result in a range of image dates for each SLATS year. To reflect this, SLATS data naming previously included both years (the era of change) in which imagery was captured, for example era 2015-16 (e1516). For clarity data is now named using the year in which the majority of the clearing has taken place for example 2015, some files contain the old naming convention. The woody vegetation change is mapped using the SLATS (Statewide Land and Tree Survey) method which applies an automated change analysis process followed by visual interpretation of the results by experienced image interpretation staff. Landcover classes reflect the interpreted cause of woody vegetation change. The woody change data is also used for vegetation compliance analysis. Change statistics are available. Links to reports, factsheets and other information below: Landcover monitoring and reporting https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/landcover-monitoring-and-reporting Current NSW Vegetation clearing report (2021) https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/landcover-science/2021-nsw-vegetation-clearing-report#:~:text=Statewide%20vegetation%20clearing%20by%20landcover%20class&text=In%202021%20across%20the%20state,clearing%20has%20occurred%20for%20agriculture. Previous reports and data https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/landcover-science Woody vegetation change: Statewide Landcover and Tree Study method https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/landcover-science/statewide-landcover-tree-study Remotely sensed imagery is routinely collected by DPE and used to map vegetation clearing. This data is spatially explicit and can be used with other datasets to identify activity on individual lots. Please read the privacy collection notice for more information.

This layer shows woody vegetation change based on the analysis of multi-date SPOT5 and Sentinel2 imagery. This analysis was done for the period 2015 and 2016. Woody change is detected though a combination of automated and manual interpretation of the differences between images captured during summer of each year. Satellite images are selected as close as possible to the 1st of January each year and must have a clear view of the ground not impacted by smoke or cloud cover. This requirement can result in a range of imagery dates being selected for each SLATS year. To reflect this, SLATS data naming previously included both years in which imagery was captured, for example 2015-16. For clarity data is now named using the year in which the majority of the clearing has taken place for example 2015 The woody vegetation change is mapped using the SLATS (Statewide Land and Tree Survey) method which applies an automated change analysis process followed by visual interpretation of the results by experienced image interpretation staff. Landcover classes reflect the interpreted cause of woody vegetation change. The woody change data is also used for vegetation compliance analysis. Change statistics are available. Remotely sensed imagery is routinely collected by DPE and used to map vegetation clearing. This data is spatially explicit and can be used with other datasets to identify activity on individual lots. Please read the privacy collection notice for more information.

This dataset was derived from the primary "SLATS Landsat woody change data (25m) for 1988 - 2010" raster (grid) layers used to generate the annualised woody vegetation change rates for the 2010 NSW Annual Report of Native Vegetation.(http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/vegetation/reports.htm); ; This data describes the areas and type of woody vegetation change (loss) based on the analysis of multi-date Landsat imagery covering NSW. This data is based on a biennial LANDSAT coverage between 1988-2006 and annual coverage 2006-2010. LANDSAT Imagery 1988-2008 was processed by Geosciences Australia at 25m resolution. 2008 onwards is based on USGS processed LANDSAT at 30m resolution.; ; Note, this vector data may generate slightly different aerial statistics to those generated from the source raster data. This is due to variation caused by the data transformation and vector cleaning processes applied in generating the vector data. Remotely sensed imagery is routinely collected by DPE and used to map vegetation clearing. This data is spatially explicit and can be used with other datasets to identify activity on individual lots. Please read the privacy collection notice for more information.

The aim of this project is to compile land use and management practices and their observed and measured impacts and effects on vegetation condition. The results provide land managers and researchers with a tool for reporting and monitoring spatial and temporal transformations of Australia’s native vegetated landscapes due to changes in land use and management practices. Following are the details about South Brooman State Forest, NSW. Pre-European reference-analogue vegetation: The site was originally eucalypt tall open forest, multi-aged open, dry sclerophyll forest. The main overstorey species were spotted gum (Corymbia maculata), Eucalyptus muelleriana, E. paniculata, E. pilularis. The main understorey species were Acacia spp., Acmena spp. Brief chronology of changes in land use and management: 1830: Unmodified 1880: Area picked over for high quality sawlogs 1945: Area picked over for high quality sawlogs 1949: Sawlog harvesting - 85% of area 1959: Sawlog harvesting - 85% of area 1968: Commercial Thinning - 25% of area 1969: Area left to rehabilitate 1994: Wildfire - 100% of the area 1996: Pole harvesting - 5% of area 1998: Sawlog harvesting - 20% of the area 1999 and 2003: Hazard reduction 1997: Site was burnt (prescribed fire) followed by drought 2004-2011: Area left to rehabilitate

This layer shows state-wide SLATS Non-Woody data based on the analysis of multi-date Sentinel2 and Planet Maps imagery for 2018, 2019 & 2020. Non-woody disturbance (removal of grasses, small shrubs and groundcover) is identified by interpreters by comparing two high-resolution satellite images and analysing changes using a range of additional data and imagery products. NWD eras are defined by the year that the majority of clearing took place. Interpreters assign a replacement landcover class that indicates the likely purpose for which the vegetation was disturbed. A summary of the method is as follows: Non-woody disturbance across the state is detected in areas that have low disturbance from 1990. State forest and National Park are excluded from this analysis. Visual assessment is done at a scale of 1:20,000 across the state using pre and post imagery sources and ancillary datasets. Where disturbance is identified, it is captured and mapped a scale of 1:10,000 (or finer scale). Data is available as a raster at 10m cell Non-woody disturbance data is combined with State-wide Land and Tree Study data and the Native Vegetation Regulatory Map to produce the Rural Regulated Landcover Monitoring Report. Analysis is undertaken to prevent double counting across clearing events. For greater accuracy, SLATS non woody clearing mapping occurs over 2 mapping seasons. The data packages on SEED combine both into a single year of clearing. Non-woody disturbance is provided as a raster with the following data key: Natural Agriculture Infrastructure Forestry Links to the relevant landcover change on rural regulated land reports and spreadsheets are shown below: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/landcover-science/2021-nsw-vegetation-clearing-report#:~:text=In%202021%2C%204%2C724%20hectares%20were,a%2041%25%20increase%20on%202020. https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/landcover-science/2020-landcover-change-reporting https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/landcover-science/2019-landcover-change-reporting https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-vegetation/landcover-science/2018-landcover-change-reporting Remotely sensed imagery is routinely collected by DPE and used to map vegetation clearing. This data is spatially explicit and can be used with other datasets to identify activity on individual lots. Please read the Privacy collection notice (PDF 50KB) for more information.

The aim of this project is to compile land use and management practices and their observed and measured impacts and effects on vegetation condition. The results provide land managers and researchers with a tool for reporting and monitoring spatial and temporal transformations of Australia’s native vegetated landscapes due to changes in land use and management practices. Following are the details about the Cumberland State Forest, compartments 8b, 9a and 9b, NSW, Australia. Pre-European reference-analogue vegetation: the site was originally a wet sclerophyll forest found on Wianamatta group Ashfield Shale. Brief chronology of changes in land use and management: 1788: Area managed by indigenous Darug people 1788-1824: Region explored - un-modified native forest blue gum/ironbark on shale 1825: Parcel selected by shepherd 1826-1907: Grazing cattle on native pastures 1860: Tree cover likely to have been thinned - selective logging 1908: Commenced clearing patches of trees for improved pasture, chooks, orchards 1909-1937: Managed as improved pasture for grazing 1937-38: Purchased by NSW Forestry Commission 1941-42: Area cleared of remaining native forest trees 1946-73: Area managed for education and demonstration - regenerating native forest 1974-84: Area increasing managed for recreation - regenerating native forest 1985-2012: Area managed for recreation - regenerating native forest.