Environmental Account Northern Agricultural Region (WA)

CONTENTS Region overview Challenges Successes and benefits Using expert opinion Bird account Future direction Questions Kalannie

NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL REGION (NAR)

CHALLENGES WITH THE TRIAL Data access and quality Scale Variations in both the age of the survey and its capture scale. Vegetation surveys used different methodologies Vegetation was assessed using varying classification schemes for both vegetation type and condition. Asking the right questions Heal’s breakaway

SUCCESSES AND BENEFITS Closer partnerships with other agencies Linkages with Department of Water and the Department of Environment and Conservation Identification of knowledge gaps Data compilation Standardised methodologies Identification of areas to target for investment Access to researchers and scientists

USING EXPERT OPINION Native vegetation account

CALCULATING VEGETATION CONFIGURATION Assessment of difference between Pre-European and current configuration Expert panel assigned each vegetation association with a value out of 5, based on a visual comparison between the current and Pre-European extent. This value was then converted to a value out of 100 to be incorporated in the account. Vegetation associations that were totally fragmented when compared to the Pre-European extent were given a 0 Configuration = 0 Configuration = 100

CALCULATING VEGETATION COMPOSITION Hakea open shrubland Configuration = 60

CALCULATING VEGETATION COMPOSITION Available survey data was compiled and standardised Survey data from 5 different surveys was compiled together and standardised to the same Keighery Scale for vegetation condition. Survey points were then intersected with the vegetation association layer. Vegetation survey data Survey score Conditio n score Keighery scale PristineExcellent Very GoodGoodDegraded Completely Degraded Trud scale 1 - Pristine Condition 2 - Minor weeds or disturban ce vegetatio n 3 - Weeds dominate understor y (stock grazing) 4 - Tree or shrub cover only 5 - Very sparse tree cover 6 - Completely Degraded

CALCULATING VEGETATION COMPOSITION Where survey data was available, the median value was taken Aerial interpretation was used where no other survey data existed Panel looked for signs of disturbance, surrounding land use and reserve status. Aerial photos used for analysis

FINAL NATIVE VEGETATION ACCOUNT Final Econd values for native vegetation Mapped using natural breaks Final Econd values

BIRD ACCOUNT Complied by Denis Saunders

DATA USED IN THE ACCOUNT Presence / absence surveys collected by volunteers Two long-term studies: Woopenatty ( ) and Koobabbie ( ) where data was collected weekly by land owners over four weeks each month. Bird Atlas data 12 species lists from 1903 to 1979 Conservation status Carnaby's Cockatoos

MAKING THE ACCOUNT Residential status Species defined as either residents, regular visitors, irregular visitors and vagrants. Presence rating Calculated out of 1 for each species for each of the different recording periods/sources. Assigned conservation value Based on vulnerability status and regional significance, out of 100. Mallee fowl Reference condition = 100 Common, but declining = 70 Regionally threatened = 30 Regionally vulnerable = 10 Regionally endangered = 5 Regionally extinct = 0

WHERE TO NEXT?

IMPROVING THE NATIVE VEGETATION ACCOUNT On ground surveys / ground truthing Updates of datasets Investigation of using SPOT imagery Patch metrics Shark Bay Photo:

SUPPORT TO INCREASE THE ACCOUNT Not just a matter of money Investigate a coastal account The community has identified the coast as a priority asset in the NAR, how can it be valued using the new LiDAR and hyperspectral imagery it acquired. Using the Econd to set management targets NACC is in the process of updating its NRM Plan, the rigours process of the account is a good framework to provide substance to our targets.

THANK YOU for your time