Abstract

The aim of the project was to produce fine scale vegetation mapping for the ‘Green Zone’ of the Lismore LGA identifying vegetation communities, endangered ecological communities and koala habitat. The mapping was to be completed using Land and Property Information high resolution digital photography. At the time the project was commissioned, aerial photography available for the study area was limited to the LGA-wide 2009 series (used for the 2011 vegetation mapping project). The project commenced in November 2017 using 2009 aerial photography, along with September 2012 imagery limited to the rural villages of Modanville, Dunoon and Nimbin. From May 2018 onwards, the project used high resolution aerial photography taken in April 2018.

Disclaimer

This vegetation mapping is provided on the understanding that Lismore City Council is not responsible for the results of any action on the basis of any information or for any error in or omission from this information. To the extent permitted by law, Lismore City Council expressly disclaims all and any liability and responsibility to any person. Whether a purchaser of Council’s Geographic Information or not, in respect of loss or damage flowing from anything, done or omitted to be done by any such person in reliance, whether wholly or partially, upon the whole or any part of this information whether such action arises under contract or in negligence.

Presentation form

Map digital

Edition

1

Dataset language

English

Dataset URI

https://datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/dataset/65d043be-1259-487a-b4eb-fd2be22f0c39

Purpose

To produce fine scale vegetation mapping for the ‘Green Zone’ of the Lismore LGA identifying vegetation communities, endangered ecological communities, and koala habitat.

Status

Completed

Spatial representation

Spatial reference system

Spatial resolution

10 m

Additional information source

Use limitations

The project was commenced in late 2017 using 2009 airphotos, prior to the availability of the 2018 aerial photography that the final mapping is based on. A considerable area had already been mapped when the new photos became available. Some areas mapped in 2009 had been cleared by 2018, and some areas not vegetated in 2009 now have 9 years regrowth. Some areas of the mapping therefore may show vegetation which no longer exists and there may also be unmapped regrowth vegetation. We have attempted to rectify this where possible. • Field inspection by traverse was undertaken only occasionally, due to access and resource constraints. Sometimes only the edge of vegetation was visible from a roadside or other vantage point (Section 2.1.2). The edge may not be typical of the whole vegetation polygon. Vegetation condition attributes were not able to be consistently determined due to restricted access and viewpoints at many locations and have been sparsely recorded. • Access limitations restricted sampling of some vegetation communities. For example, most dry rainforest was viewed only from a distance through binoculars. • For the photo sets utilized, it was difficult to distinguish some canopy species, especially for the mixed Eucalypt groups. In API, the exotic Large-leaved Privet Ligustrum lucidum can sometimes be confused with regrowth rainforest and dense patches of Cockspur Maclura cochinchinensis on occasion appeared similar to Camphor Laurel. • Lantana was difficult to consistently detect using API, except where present as large homogeneous patches. The usefulness of Lantana cover estimates as an indicator of condition (Section 2.2.3) is therefore limited. • While woody vegetation has been detected readily from API, wetlands such as freshwater meadows, lagoons, swamps and marshes have not been comprehensively recorded. These were sometimes visible from air photos or added during field work. Wetlands may also be more or less visible depending on recent rainfall history. • Heterogeneous vegetation units were grouped into communities where judged, following consideration of floristic, soil, topographic data and spatial relationships, to be variants of the community. The predominantly early successional and disturbed status of much vegetation contributed to considerable variation within communities. Allocation of vegetation types was affected by the ongoing refinement of the NSW Plant Community Types during the project. The release of the draft Revised Plant Community Types in Eastern NSW at the very end of the project allowed reallocation of the assigned units (RCPs) to the new revised PCTs. In the absence of detailed descriptions for the revised PCTs and quantitative site assessments, the allocation of PCTs in this project remains provisional.

Originating controlled vocabulary

Dataset reference date

Responsible party

Metadata point of contact

Metadata date

2024-02-26T12:46:08.337482

Metadata language