Description: This raster dataset 'NVIS6_0_AUST_PRE_MVG_ALB' (or 'aus6_0p_mvg' in GRID format) provides the latest summary information on Australia's Pre-1750 (pre-European, pre-clearing) native vegetation, which has been classified into Major Vegetation Groups. It is in Albers Equal Area projection with a 100 m x 100 m (1 Ha) cell size. A comparable present (extant) raster dataset is available: - 'NVIS6_0_AUST_EXT_MVG_ALB' (or 'aus6_0e_mvg' in GRID format). For this update, Version 6.0, the extant datasets for Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Western Australia have been updated. An automated, data-driven procedure, followed by thorough manual checks, was undertaken to make any necessary updates to MVG/MVS assignments for WA, VIC, NT, SA and NSW, with any changes being verified by the corresponding state/territory contacts. For Version 5.1 the extant dataset for Tasmania was updated, with gapfilling work being completed for the NSW extant dataset. Some of the rulesets underpinning the assignment of MVGs and MVSs were also updated to improve consistency for their allocation. Version 5.0 substantially standardised the lookup tables (NVIS5_0_LUT_DETAILxxxx and NVIS5_0_LUT_AUST_FLATxxxx). Previously, Version 4.2 updated NSW. For version 4.1 most agencies supplied data to the update. For more detail refer to the associate lookup tables. Summaries were derived from the best available data in the NVIS pre-1750 theme. This product is derived from a compilation of data collected at different scales on different dates by different organisations. Please refer to the separate Key Dataset map showing scales of the input datasets 'NVIS6_0_KEY_DSET_xxx'. Gaps in the NVIS database were filled by non-NVIS data, notably parts of South Australia and small areas of New South Wales such as the Curlewis area. The data represent on-ground dates of up to 2006 in Queensland, 2001 to 2005 in South Australia (depending on the region) and 2004/5 in other jurisdictions, except NSW. NVIS data was partially updated in NSW with 2001-09 data, with extensive areas of 1997 data remaining from the earlier version of NVIS.
Major Vegetation Groups were identified to summarise the type and distribution of Australia's native vegetation. The classification contains different mixes of plant species within the canopy, shrub or ground layers, but are structurally similar and are often dominated by a single genus. In a mapping sense, the groups reflect the dominant vegetation occurring in a map unit where there are a mix of several vegetation types. Subdominant vegetation groups which may also be present in the map unit are not shown. For example, the dominant vegetation in an area may be mapped as dominated by eucalypt open forest, although it contains pockets of rainforest, shrubland and grassland vegetation as subdominants.
A number of other non-vegetation and non-native vegetation land cover types are also represented as Major Vegetation Groups. These are provided for cartographic purposes, but should not be used for analyses. The (related) Major Vegetation Subgroups represent the dominant vegetation groups in the dominant stratum, along with the dominant shrub or ground layer,and are available as separate raster datasets:
- NVIS6_0_AUST_EXT_MVS_ALB
- NVIS6_0_AUST_PRE_MVS_ALB
Descriptions of the column headings where features are identified in WMS format are as follows:-
PixelValue: The value assigned to the identified category, equivalent to the MVG_NO.
OBJECTID: A sequential number generated for each unique category.
COUNT: The total number of pixels that make up the corresponding MVG category.
MVG_NAME: The name of the identified Major Vegetation Subgroup.
MVG_COMMON_DESC: A generic description of the identified Major Vegetation Group.
SORT_ORDER: The preferred sort order for MVG_NO.
MVG_NO: The assigned number for the identified MVG.
EXTANT_KM2: The extant (present) total area covered by the identified MVG across Australia in square kilometres.
PRE1750_KM2: The Pre-1750 total area covered by the identified MVG across Australia in square kilometres.
PERCENT_REMAINING: The percent remaining of the identified MVG in the present day across Australia when compared to its Pre-1750 extent.
CAPAD_EXT_AREA_PROTECTED_KM2: The extant (present) total area of the identified MVG occurring in CAPAD (2018) in square kilometres.
CAPAD_PERCENT_PROTECTED: The percentage of the identified MVG presently occurring in CAPAD (2018) relative to the total area of the MVG.
For further background and other NVIS products, please see the links at:
http://www.environment.gov.au/land/native-vegetation/national-vegetation-information-system.
Copyright Text: This raster product is modelled from data originally supplied by the states and territories. The department acknowledges the following departments/organisations: Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, ACT; Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW; Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Northern Territory; Queensland Herbarium, Department of Environment and Science; Department for Environment and Water, South Australia; Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania; Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria; Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Agriculture and Food, Western Australia; Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western Australia; Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland; Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE, Australian Government); Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES); Geoscience Australia.