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Australian Journal of Botany Australian Journal of Botany Society
Southern hemisphere botanical ecosystems
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Aligning quantitative vegetation classification and landscape scale mapping: updating the classification approach of the Regional Ecosystem classification system used in Queensland

Eda Addicott https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4806-9205 A B C D , Victor John Neldner https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4233-4549 A and Timothy Ryan A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Queensland Herbarium, Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, Department of Environment & Science, Queensland Government, Qld 4066, Australia.

B Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia.

C Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: eda.addicott@des.qld.gov.au

Australian Journal of Botany 69(7) 400-413 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT20108
Submitted: 22 August 2020  Accepted: 15 February 2021   Published: 11 May 2021

Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2021 Open Access CC BY

Abstract

Vegetation classification systems form a base for conservation management and the ecological exploration of the patterns and drivers of species’ distributions. A standardised system crossing administrative and geographical boundaries is widely recognised as most useful for broad-scale management. The Queensland Government, recognising this, uses the Regional Ecosystem (RE) classification system and accompanying mapping as a state-wide standardised vegetation classification system. This system informs legislation and policy at local, state and national levels, underpinning decisions that have wide-ranging implications for biodiversity and people’s livelihoods. It therefore needs to be robust from a scientific and legal perspective. The current approach in the RE system for identifying vegetation communities relies on expert-based class definition procedures. This is in contrast to best practice, which is based on quantitative procedures. This paper discusses the RE system in a global context and outlines the updated approach that incorporates quantitative class definition procedures, synthesises the research behind the updated approach and discusses its implications and implementation.

Keywords: Queensland, Qld, mapping, class definition procedures, vegetation communities, plant association, conservation management, classification system.


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