Note: this dataset decsription is metadata (data about data) which describes the actual dataset in accordance with the ANZLIC Metadata Profile: An Australian/New Zealand Profile of AS/NZS ISO 19115:2005, Geographic information - Metadata.
Abstract:Data forms part of a project undertaken for the Resource and Conservation Assessment Council as part of the regional assessments of western New South Wales - Joint Vegetation Mapping Project (JVMP), Brigalow Belt South Bioregion (BBS). Blackville 1:100K mapsheet was part of the "targeted API" program, whereby information on the structural characteristics and overstorey composition was obtained via aerial photo interpretation (API) of 1:50000 or 1:25000 aerial photography.
Joint Vegetation Mapping Project. NSW Western Regional Assessments. Final Report, Dec 2003. Resource & Conservation Assessment Council. Project No. WRA 24.
Purpose:Targeted aerial photography interpretation (API) was carried out within the BBS bioregion.
Targeted API was essential to the project as it provided overstorey pattern information which
could be used to constrain the vegetation model.Full API coverage of the BBS bioregion could not be achieved due to budget and time
constraints. The JVMP TWG decided to undertake targeted API complementary to the NVMP
API. The NPWS WRA Unit Dubbo, supervised this work.
An audit of existing API datasets and other ongoing API showed gaps in the coverage of API
across the bioregion.
scheduled NVMP and
Aerial photography was sourced from the relevant agencies or from Land Information Centre.
Photographs were 1:50 000 scale or 1:25 000 scale and dated 2000/2001.
The development of the API mapping pathway was based on the specific requirements of the
project brief, namely: to provide full floristic and structural data that met the NVMP
Guidelines for mapping native vegetation.
The API pathway included vegetation cover with more than 10% canopy cover.
The mapping pathway for targeted API within the BBS bioregion was based firstly on
vegetation cover, then overstorey floristic, juvenile canopy cover (growth stage), understorey
type, canopy height, disturbance and land use. Thresholds applied to canopy cover (10% ccp)
and minimum polygon size (10ha), with exception for special features (2ha).
A number of map sheets were already planned for completion under the NVMP API program.
After considering the requirements for additional API within the BBS bioregion, the JVMP
TWG decided to target the Cobbora, Gulgong, Merriwa, Blackville and Murrurundi 1:100 000
map sheets in the south of the BBS bioregion and the Bingara, Yetman and Yallaroi map
sheets in the north. APIData forms part of a project undertaken for the Resource and Conservation Assessment Council as part of the regional assessments of western New South Wales - Joint Vegetation Mapping Project (JVMP), Brigalow Belt South Bioregion (BBS). Blackville 1:100K mapsheet was part of the "targeted API" program, whereby information on the structural characteristics and overstorey composition was obtained via aerial photo interpretation (API) of 1:50000 or 1:25000 aerial photography.
Joint Vegetation Mapping Project. NSW Western Regional Assessments. Final Report, Dec 2003. Resource & Conservation Assessment Council. Project No. WRA 24.
Jurisdiction:NSW, Australia
Custodian organisation:NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH)
Metadata standard name:ANZLIC Metadata Profile: An Australian/New Zealand Profile of AS/NZS ISO 19115:2005, Geographic information - Metadata Metadata standard version:1.1
Joint Vegetation Mapping Project. NSW Western Regional Assessments. Final Report, Dec 2003. Resource & Conservation Assessment Council. Project No. WRA 24.
Appendix 2: API mapping pathway
Polygon Attribution
Polygon Labels and Edge-matching. Every polygon delineated on the overlays was labelled with a unique identifier (ie polygon number) and cross-references to an API code sheet to record details of vegetation cover, floristics, growth stage, land use, special features and disturbance. Details of each of these API attributes are discussed in turn below. API linework was edge-matched for all photo overlays to ensure that polygons spanning more than one photo had continuous linework and that the unique identifier was consistent.
Vegetation Cover. Vegetation cover classes were based on the crown separation ratio (CSR) described by McDonald et al. (1984). These classes were used to identify areas which are considered cleared of native vegetation (CSR=20), where only scattered native trees remain (CSR=10-20), where the native vegetation if fragmented (CSR=1-10), or where native vegetation is contiguous (CSR=0-1). Descriptions of each of these vegetation cover classes are provided below in Table A1.1
Table A1.1: Vegetation Formation
Vegetation Formation CODE
Open woodland 10-20% ccp CSR <0 1
Woodland 20-50% ccp CSR 0 - 0.25 2
Open forest 50-80% ccp CSR 0.25 - 1 3
Closed forest >80% ccp CSR 1 - 20 4
Understorey Type. The understorey –midstratum type is divided into eight categories as set out in table A1..2. This attribute can be difficult to assign in areas where the density of the canopy obscures the understorey.
Table A1.2: Understorey-midstratum
Understorey/Mid-stratum
Use up to 2 codes only (affect >20% of polygon)
g grassy
h heath
s dry shrubby
y mid stratum
c Callitris sp.
a Acacia sp.
o Forest oak (Alloc/Cas sp.)
r rock
Growth Stage. The growth stage or Juvenile Crown Cover Percentage is determined by the height differential between crowns of the same species in relative proximity, the perceived difference between mature and juvenile crowns and the lack of definition of a crown form (appearing as a mat of foliage without a defined crown).
Crowns which contribute to juvenile proportion must be clear of understorey and midstratum components, for example, thickets of juvenile Callitris sp. in the understorey will not contribute to the Juvenile percentage or growth stage (refer, TableA1.3)
Table A1.3: Growth Stage
Growth Stage
Juvenile % CCP
t <10%
s 10-30%
e >30%
Special Features. Special features may be applied where the polygon is composed entirely of the vegetation/landform class, but also where it forms a mosaic with a Eucalypt (or related) community. All special features are delineated to a minimum size of 2 ha and 10%ccp. Certain categories of special features (eg Allocasuarina luehmannii) may be coded when occurring with Eucalypt forest, as a mid stratum, mosaic or intermixed. If the special feature is larger than 2ha it should be delineated from the Eucalypt forest and coded outright. The special features pathway was split into two levels of information, firstly the class which was a broad category such as Allocasuarina/Casuarina (O) and then the subformation level 2 which would categorise that further to River oak (OR) or Bull oak (OB) as set out in table A1.4 below.
Table A1.4: Special Features
Special Features
Class Code Subformation Level 2 Code
Rainforest (Vine thicket) R Vine thicket RV
Ooline RO
Warm temperate RT
Dry rainforest RD
Allocasuarina / Casuarina O River Oak OR
Bull Oak OB
Acacia sp. W A. harpophylla WH
A. triptera WT
A. salicina WS
A. cheelii WC
Ficus F
Kurrajong K
River Complex RC (eg. River red gum, Casuarina, willow)
Exotic forest E
Heath / Swamp / Sedge S Various species
Leptospermum brevapis SL
Floodplain SF
Upland SU
Gully Complex GC Various species
Grassland G Native GN
Grass + Shrubs GS
Grass trees GT Xanthorrhea sp.
Rock/Plateau Complex RO Various species RP
Granite outcrop RG
Rock (no veg) RR
Native Remnant NR
Water Bodies WB
River X
Bare ground BG
Land Use. Polygons were coded according to the dominant land use occurring within them as set out in the table A1.5. If the land use was a combination of Cropping and Pasture-Grazing they were given a double label, but in all other cases a single category was attributed to each polygon.
Table A1.5: Land use
Land use
Features Code
Timber Plantation P
Recreation RC
Mining/Quarrying MQ
Urban UR
Animal Production AP
Grass with scattered native trees Gt
Dams D
Pasture-Grazing P
Cropping CR
Native Vegetation N
Horticulture HC
Pasture-Grazing, Cropping PG,C
Disturbance.
This attribute provides an indication of disturbance. Only one category could be tagged to a polygon and it must affect greater than 50% of the polygon. There were five disturbance indicators to choose from as set out in TableA1.6 below.
Table A1.6: Disturbance indicators
Disturbance indicators
Use one indicator only: must affect >50% of polygon
n No evidence of disturbance
c Cleared/ logged
b Buildings/Rural Infrastructure
r Road
d Disturbed
API Floristics.
API floristics includes key indicator species rather than all of the canopy species which may be present at a site There are two levels of API for these indicator species: Level 1 is a broad group (eg Box, Stringybark, Gum, Ironbark) whilst Level 2 is the species level (eg Eucalyptus sideroxylon),(refer, Figure A1.7). At a minimum, Level 1 floristics have been assigned to all polygons where the CSR is <20, or alternatively, Level 2 where the species could be reliably discerned on the photos.
Table A1.7: Floristics
Species Name Common Name Species Name Common Name
Acacia Corymbia (Bloodwood)
Acacia aneura Mulga Corymbia dolichocarpa Long fruited bloodwood
Acacia burrowii Burrow's Wattle Corymbia gummifera Red Bloodwood
Acacia cheelii Corymbia terminalis Western Bloodwood
Acacia doratoxylon currawang,spearweed Corymbia tessellaris Carbeen
Acacia harpophylla Brigalow Corymbia trachyphloia Brown Bloodwood
Acacia homalophylla Yarran Corymbia maculata
Acacia jucunda Callitris (Cypress Pine)
Acacia leiocalyx ssp. leiocalyx Callitris endlicheri Black Cypress
Acacia pendula Myall Callitris glaucophylla White Cypress
Acacia pilligaensis Callitris endlicheri/ Callitris glaucophylla Cypress combination
Acacia salicina Gum
Acacia sparsi Eucalyptus andrewsii New England Blackbutt
Acacia stenophylla River Cooba Eucalyptus blakelyi Blakely's Red Gum
Acacia triptera Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red gum
Angophora Eucalyptus chloroclada Dirty Gum
Angophora costata Smooth barked Apple Eucalyptus chloroclada / Eucalyptus blakelyi
Angophora floribunda Rough Barked Apple Eucalyptus dealbata / E. dwyeri
Angophora leiocarpa Eucalyptus coolabah Coolibah
Box Eucalyptus cypellocarpa Mountain Grey Gum
Eucalyptus albens White Box Eucalyptus dalrympleana Mountain Gum
Eucalyptus bridgesiana Apple Box Eucalyptus dealbata Tumbledown Red gum
Eucalyptus dawsonii Slaty Box Eucalyptus dwyeri Dwyers Red Gum
Eucalyptus conica Fuzzy Box Eucalyptus elliptica Bendemeer White Gum
Eucalyptus largiflorens Black Box Eucalyptus fastigata Brown Barrel
Eucalyptus melliodora Yellow Box Eucalyptus intertexta Gum barked Coolibah
Eucalyptus microcarpa Western Grey Box Eucalyptus nubila
Eucalyptus moluccana Grey Box Eucalyptus pauciflora Snow Gum
Eucalyptus nortonii Long-leaved Box Eucalyptus prava Moonbi Red Gum
Eucalyptus pilligaensis Pilliga Grey Box Eucalyptus punctata Grey Gum
Eucalyptus populnea Poplar Box Eucalyptus rossii White Gum
Eucalyptus volcanica -Warrumbungle Box Eucalyptus siderophloia
Casuarina (Oak) Eucalyptus sparsifolia
Allocasuarina diminuta Eucalyptus sphacelata
Allocasuarina gymnanthera Eucalyptus stellulata Black Sally
Allocasuarina luehmannii Bull Oak Eucalyptus viminalis Manna Gum or Ribbon Gum
Allocasuarina torulosa E.viminalis\ E.dalrympleana\ E.nobilis
Allocasuarina verticillata Drooping Sheoak
Casuarina cristata Belah
Casuarina cunninghamiana River Oak
Ironbark Non-Eucalypt Trees
Eucalyptus beyeriana Beyer's Ironbark Alectryon oleifolius
Eucalyptus caleyi Caley's Ironbark Alphitonia excelsa Red ash
Eucalyptus crebra Narrow leaved Ironbark Atalaya hemiglauca Whitewood
Eucalyptus fibrosa Red Ironbark Atriplex vesicaria Bladder Saltbush
Eucalyptus nubila Blue leaved Ironbark Banksia serrata
Eucalyptus melanophloia Silver leaved Ironbark Banksia spinulosa
Eucalyptus panda Brachychiton populneus Kurrajong
Eucalyptus sideroxylon Red Ironbark Cadelia pentastylis Ooline (scrub myrtle)
E. nubila / E. fibrosa / E. crebra / E. sideroxylon Mixed Ironbarks Cassinia cunninghamii
Mallee Cryptocarya dorrigoensis Dorrigo laurel
Eucalyptus bakeri Baker's Mallee Ficus coronata Sandpaper Fig
Eucalyptus dumosa Dumosa Mallee Ficus rubiginosa Port Jackson Fig / Rusty Fig
Eucalyptus socialis Red Mallee Geijera parvifolia Wilga
Eucalyptus viridis Green Mallee Melaleuca bracteata
Peppermint Melaleuca uncinata Broom Honey Myrtle, Broombush
Eucalyptus acaciiformis Wattle leaved Peppermint Notelea microcarpa var. microcarpa
Eucalyptus andrewsii New England Blackbutt, Gum topped Peppermint Salix babylonica Weeping Willow
Eucalyptus exserta Queensland Peppermint Santalum lanceolatum Sweet Quandong
Eucalyptus nova-anglica New England Peppermint, Black Peppermint Schinus areira Pepper Tree
Eucalyptus radiata Narrow leaved Peppermint
Stringbark
Eucalyptus agglomerata Blue leaved Stringbark
Eucalyptus apothalassica Inland white Mahogany
Eucalyptus cameroni Diehard Stringybark
Eucalyptus conjuncta Murrurundi Stringybark
Eucalyptus globoidea White Stringybark
Eucalyptus laevopinea Silver topped Stringybark
Eucalyptus macrorhyncha Red stringybark
Eucalyptus obliqua Messmate
Eucalyptus oblonga Thin leaved Stringybark
Eucalyptus youmanii Youman's Stringybark