Biodiversity

How are Regional Ecosystems Identified?

The Queensland Herbarium has developed a system for classifying vegetation and habitat types known as the Regional Ecosystems mapping. This mapping underpins vegetation management laws in Queensland.

Regional Ecosystems are given a 3 digit number such as 12.3.5:

• The 1st number shows what region the vegetation is located within (e.g. 12 stands for South East Queensland).
• The 2nd number indicates the type of geology and land zone.
• The 3rd number is for the different vegetation types (or combination of native plants).
• The three numbers together give the Regional Ecosystem number.
  
  

For example, an area designated as 12.3.5 means:

12 - Bioregion:

• The Sunshine Coast is located within the South East Queensland bioregion so all regional ecosystems on the Sunshine Coast will start with the number 12;

3 - Substrate type:    

• Quaternary alluvial plains (coastal flood plain)

5 - Dominant Species:   

• Melaleuca quinquenervia tall open-forest to woodland with an understorey dependent on period of inundation.

Find What Regional Ecosystem Communities Are In Your Area

The Queensland Herbarium and the Department of Environment and Natural Resource Management have mapped the entire state using the Regional Ecosystem methodology. This methodology also allows a comparison to be made between areas of retained remnant vegetation and cleared areas to determine the type and extent of vegetation cover that may have been present in the past.

The Department of Environment and Resource Management offers a great mapping tool that you can use to find out what regional ecosystems map be on your property or within the surrounding area.  

The Sunshine Coast Biodiversity Strategy 2010-2020, identifies all of the Regional Ecosystems on the Sunshine Coast.

What does it mean to you?

The Regional Ecosystem Description Database lists the status of regional ecosystems as gazetted under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 (their Vegetation Management Status) and their biodiversity status.

Endangered
A regional ecosystem is listed as endangered under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 if:

• Remnant vegetation is less than 10% of its pre-clearing extent across the bioregion; or 10-30% of its pre-clearing extent remains and the remnant vegetation is less than 10,000 hectares.
• In addition to the criteria listed for an endangered regional ecosystems under the Vegetation Management Act 1999, for biodiversity planning purposes a regional ecosystem is listed with a Biodiversity Status of endangered if:
• Less than 10% of its pre-clearing extent remains unaffected by severe degradation and/or biodiversity loss; or
• 10-30% of its pre-clearing extent remains unaffected by severe degradation and/or biodiversity loss and the remnant vegetation is less than 10,000 hectares or
• It is a rare regional ecosystem subject to a threatening process.
  
  

Of Concern
A regional ecosystem is listed as of concern under Vegetation Management Act 1999 if:

• Remnant vegetation is 10-30% of its pre-clearing extent across the bioregion; or more than 30% of its pre-clearing extent remains and the remnant extent is less than 10,000 hectares.
• In addition to the criteria listed for an of concern regional ecosystems under the Vegetation Management Act 1999, for biodiversity planning purposes a regional ecosystem is listed with a Biodiversity Status 'of concern' if: 10-30% of its pre-clearing extent remains unaffected by moderate degradation and/or biodiversity loss.
   

Of Least Concern/Least Concern at Present
A regional ecosystem is listed as Not of concern under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 if:

• Remnant vegetation is over 30% of its pre-clearing extent across the bioregion, and the remnant area is greater than 10,000 hectares.
• In addition to the criteria listed for Not of concern regional ecosystems under the Vegetation Management Act 1999, for biodiversity planning purposes a regional ecosystem is listed with a Biodiversity Status of No concern at present if the degradation criteria listed above for endangered or of concern regional ecosystems are not met.

Clearing of vegetation mapped as a regional ecosystem may require permits under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 dependent on the purpose required for clearing.  For further information, visit Department of Environment and Resource Management website.

For Further Information

Links and Other Resources.