This study aimed to map the changes in the distribution of 9 tree species in the Macquarie Marshes from 1949 to 1991. VIS_ID 820

This is DRAFT metadata and will be updated in 2011. Vegetation communites of the Macquarie Marshes floodplain in 2008 were mapped by updating the linework and attributes of the 1991 Macquarie Marshes vegetation map (Wilson 1992) using digital aerial photography (50cm pixels) taken from March to May 2008 and field surveys conducted in May, October and November 2008. VIS_ID 3920

Vegetation community mapping for Macquarie Nature Reserve by Cathy Mardell, 1995. VIS_ID 441

Mapping of the vegetation occurring on the Lower Macquarie River Floodplain between Gin Gin Weir (Trangie), Marebone Weir, Colane and Belah Dam (Nyngan) (approximately 3561km2) was conducted from air photo interpretation. Areas comprising predominantly natural vegetation was mapped at a scale of 1:50, 000, with a resolution of approximately 20 metres. Twenty different vegetation types, including wetland, floodplain and drier-country types were identified from analysis of floristic data collected from 90 quadrats. (VIS_ID 1032)

This wetland vegetation map is produced from air photo interpretation techniques and imagery acquired in June 2022. Map development began with the collection of high-resolution aerial colour (Red-Green-Blue) imagery. The imagery was provided as an orthographic mosaic (ie a straight down view) with a 40 cm ground sampling distance covering the whole study area. This formed the primary input of information for vegetation extent mapping. Several interpreters were then trained in Aerial Photographic Interpretation (API) to visually analyse the imagery to identify and delineate different vegetation types. The Aerial Photographic Interpretation separated vegetation types using spectral characteristics, colour, texture, shape, spatial patterns and associations with predictive environmental layers (such as flood frequency categories, elevation and geomorphology type). Existing survey data was also used to help identify vegetation types from imagery. This included BioNet species data, floristic data and other grey literature. Oblique aerial handheld photos captured from a helicopter were also sourced from another project to inform the aerial imagery interpretation. A subset of the available oblique handheld photos was selected to correspond to the timing (within two years) of the 40cm aerial imagery acquired for vegetation map development. The subset of oblique handheld photos adopted to inform the air photo interpretation included photos collected between January 2022 to April 2023 at the Macquarie Marshes. A polygon layer divided into small regions was sourced to overlay on the 40cm aerial imagery. This spatial layer was produced using the Definiens eCognition software package. The polygon layer was generated with a computer-based image analysis tool known as segmentation. Inputs to the segmentation tool included a set of raster datasets with a 5m grid cell size. The segmentation tool produced a spatial layer of ‘segments’ or very small polygons based on the combined spectral and textural features of the input rasters (Roff et al., 2022). The segmented layer was overlayed on the 40cm aerial imagery. Interpreters then manually selected groups of segments and assigned classes (‘attributes’) to the polygons to delineate vegetation patterns. The use of the segmented spatial layer enabled more efficient mapping, as interpreters did not have to manually draw polygon linework with a mouse. Vegetation patterns were interpreted from the high-resolution 40cm aerial imagery at a scale of 1:25 000 for non-flood dependent vegetation and at a scale of 1:10 000 for wetland communities. The minimum map unit (smallest polygon) was 2 ha. Selected polygons from the segmentation process were initially assigned to an artificial class referred to as a Vegetation Photo Pattern (VPP), analogous to NSW Vegetation Classes (for more information on NSW Vegetation Classes see https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/biodiversity/nsw-bionet/the-nsw-vegetation-classification-framework ). The VVPs were aligned with plant community types (PCTs) as described in the NSW BioNet Vegetation Classification Database (see https://vegetation.bionet.nsw.gov.au/). The accuracy of the map wetland vegetation functional groups was assessed using 505 independently collected field validation points. The overall accuracy was 0.74 and the Kappa statistic was 0.67. Each wetland PCT was also aligned to a vegetation functional group corresponding to the vegetation objectives in the Macquarie Marshes Long Term Watering Plan. Accuracies and 95% confidence intervals for map individual map classes were: Non woody wetland: 0.89 (0.84 to 0.94) Flood dependent woodland: 0.71 (0.61 to 0.81) River red gum forest: 0.24 (0.00 to 0.41) River red gum woodland: 0.73 (0.64 to 0.81) Terrestrial vegetation: 0.73 (0.65 to 0.81) Non-native or other (includes pasture, cropping, infrastructure, dams): Not assessed. No field survey data. This mapping project was funded by the NSW Water

This dataset is the Plant Community Type (PCT) mapping for the Crinolyn and Windella Ramsar sites of the Gwydir wetlands based on from the tree demographic and full floristic plot vegetation surveys undertaken by Eco Logical Australia from 12 April to 16 April 2023 under the NSW Department of Planning and Environment Gwydir Reconnecting Watercourse Country Program. Within Crinolyn, three PCTs were recorded, two of which (PCT 40 and 53) occur in two distinct forms and form the dominant vegetation communities within the site. A total of four PCTs were recorded within Windella, one of which (PCT 53) occurs in two distinct forms. Coolabah woodland (PCT 40a and 40b) occupied a considerable extent (33.02 ha combined) of Crinolyn and the presence of dead Coolabah throughout areas of PCT 53a, indicate a greater previous extent of Coolabah woodland within and surrounding the site. The extent of Coolabah woodland (PCT 40b) across Windella is less extensive, consisting mostly of patches featuring one mature tree and surrounding saplings and seedlings. PCT 182, characterised by dense stands of Typha domingensis (Narrow-leaved Cumbungi), dominates the central and southern portions of Windella. Following recent inundation, Narrow-leaved Cumbungi is widespread across the majority of the site, featuring as a measurable component of the remaining three other PCTs. A total of two tree demographic / full floristic plots and four full floristic monitoring plots were established in both the Crinolyn and Windella Ramsar sites. A total of 70 flora species (comprising 50 native and 20 exotic species) were recorded within Crinolyn full floristic plots, whilst a total of 48 flora species (comprising 33 native and 15 exotic species) were recorded within Windella full floristic plots. Condition class schemas developed for flood-dependent PCTs were applied to Crinolyn and Windella full floristic plot data. Condition class results were consistent for PCTs across both Crinolyn and Windella, with PCT 40 plots (PCT 40a and 40b) assessed as either Intermediate/Poor or Intermediate, whilst PCT 53a plots ranged from Intermediate to Good or Excellent/Benchmark and PCT 182 plots were assessed as Intermediate. A total of 45 trees were assessed within the two tree demographic plots (CRIN_3 – PCT 40b and CRIN_6 – PCT 40 a) established and surveyed within Crinolyn Coolabah woodland patches. Despite the two plots occurring in the two different forms of Coolabah woodland (PCT 40a and PCT 40b), major differences in tree condition between the two sites were not apparent. A total of 65 trees were assessed within the two tree demographic plots (WIND_2 and WIND_3 – both PCT 40 b) established and surveyed within Windella Coolabah woodland patches. Both plots recorded consistent results, reflective of the similar structure of the Coolabah woodland patches present within Windella. Landscape features or structures present within and surrounding the Crinolyn and Windella Ramsar sites which may influence inundation and hydrological regimes were noted during the field survey, most evidently drainage channels that have been constructed within both sites. Both drainage channels influence the flow of water across both sites and in doing so, also influence the distribution and composition of vegetation within the sites. Away from site boundaries, and apart from Phyla canescens (Lippia) which was widespread across both sites, weed cover was generally low and no listed weed species for the region were recorded during field surveys (Local Land Services 2017). Crinolyn and Windella Ramsar sites contain vegetation reflective of functioning wetland systems which vary in form and condition across their extent, and in addition to their individual ecological value, are an important part of the wider Gwydir Wetlands. At a broader scale, the separation of the sites from one another and surrounding wetlands is apparent, as is the influence of external factors such as the scale and intensity of

This polygon dataset contains areas of maritime grasslands identified by satellite imagery and ground truthing in 2018. This mapping was produced by Dr. John T. Hunter as part of a self-led project to produce hierarchical classification of grasslands on coastal headlands of New South Wales in eastern Australia. Original mapping was based on 50cm and 1m resolution satellite imagery and later ground truth. Not all grassland sites were visited for ground truth. Regarding the presence of Themeda triandra, Hunter stated in email correspondence that "there are patches down to Bega that are Themeda dominant but they are not whole headlands. As you move north the headlands are almost entirely Themeda (except Little Broughton Island which is Poa dominated like most of those in the south)." In mapped grasslands not dominated by Themeda, "other grassland types, particularly Poa, Microlaena, Cynodon may be the more common type". Areas not found to be Themeda dominated were also noted by Hunter to be rare and worthy of legislative protection. Further information on the methodology and the survey's findings can be found in the paper "Grasslands on Coastal Headlands in New South Wales, south eastern Australia" included in the resources. For internal users paper is stored in: P:\Corporate\Products\Vegetation\VegClassification\GrasslandsCoastalHeadlands NB. Because this vegetation layer contains a Threatened Ecological Community (Themeda Grassland) an additional layer file sits under P:\Corporate\Layers\Biodiversity\EcologicalCommunities for discoverability. VIS ID 5134

Port Macquarie Hastings Shire Council Vegetation Mapping undertaken by Biolink Ecological Consultants from Nov 2012 to March 2013. The Port Macquarie Hastings Local Government Area encompasses an area of approximately 368,610ha between Taree and Kempsey on the mid-north coast of NSW. Field survey commenced in May 2010 and was completed in November 2012, the latter period also allowing for ground-truthing and further refinement of mapped communities. Collectively, a total of 457 field sites were sampled, comprising 219 sites conforming to requirements of Modules 1 & 2 of the NVTS and 238 Rapid Assessment sites; converted data from a further 138 field sites associated with earlier studies was also utilized. A total of 611 plant species from 131 Families were recorded from the field sites. The mapping project captured approximately 115,922ha of vegetation in 12,967 discrete polygons. Vegetation mapping was undertaken in two stages and involved polygon capture down to a minimum patch size of 0.25ha (0.1ha for littoral rainforest) using task-specific software and a combination of satellite, aerial and digital imagery. Excluding National Park and State Forest estate approximately 115,922ha of remnant vegetation was captured for purposes of the mapping project. Once captured, polygons were internally partitioned by hand. Field survey involved a combination of formal 0.04ha floristic plots sampled in accord with Modules 1 and 2 of the NSW Government’s Native Vegetation Type Standard. Less detailed but similarly quantitative “rapid” assessments were also undertaken in other areas, supported by foot-, vehicle- and air-based traverses for ground truthing purposes. Available data from other studies was also employed to assist the mapping process. The vegetation dataset also includes field attribute classifications for the PMHC Koala Habitat Management Plan. Data were reviewed by Darkheart Eco-Consultancy in 2014. These data supersede VIS_ID 3925. Two updated datasets: PortMacquarieLGA_2014_E_4205: vegetation communities PortMacquarieLGA_EEC_2014_E_4206: EEC data VIS_ID 4205 VIS_ID 4206

Freemantle Nature Reserve vegetation mapping conducted in 1999-2000. This mapping was part of the vegetation survey of Mullion Range State Recreation Area, Wambool Nature Reserve, Freemantle Nature Reserve, Girralang Nature Reserve and Eugowra Nature Reserve undertaken for the Central West District of NSW by Marianne F. Portners in 2000. Report for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. The composition and extent of the present vegetation within Wambool, Freemantle, Girralang and Eugowra Nature Reserves and Mullion Range State Recreation Area (SRA), in the Central West region of NSW, is described and mapped at 1:25 000 scale (1:50 000 scale for Eugowra) from intensive quadrat samples, field traverses and aerial photograph interpretation. Eleven vegetation communities are described and 302 species (308 taxa) of vascular plants recorded from 70 families, several of which are at their geographical limits or regionally restricted. A significantly high proportion of species (19%) are exotic. VIS_ID 1011