thackway national cond

VAST-2 – Condition assessment method

Richard Thackway

Presentation to National Condition Workshop, Adelaide

11-13 June 2014

Outline

• Concepts• Drivers of information native vegetation information• VAST a framework • Why was VAST-2 developed?• Overview of VAST-2• Example of assessment• Where to next

Definitions - Condition and transformation

• Change in a plant community (type) due to effects of land management practices (LMP):

– Structure

– Composition

– Regenerative capacity

• Resilience = the capacity of a plant community to recover toward a reference state following a change/s in land management

• Transformation = changes to vegetation condition over time• Condition, resilience and transformation are assessed relative

to fully natural a reference state

Vegetation condition

Regulation of hydrological regime Generation of food and fibre Regulation of climate / microclimate Generation of raw materials Recycling of organic matter Creating and regulating habitats Controlling reproduction and dispersal

Land management changes ecological function to derive multiple benefits (ecosystem services)

landscape

transformation

Drivers of info on native veg condition

• Design and implement NRM policy and programs e.g.– Protecting threatened plant communities under the EPBC ACT– Guidelines for enhancing over-cleared landscapes– Setting thresholds for environmental flows

• Resource condition of native vegetation e.g.– Tracking status, change and trend in, natural resources e.g. SoE, SoFR,

connectivity – Environmental accounting e.g. native veg account Wentworth Group

• Monitoring and reporting e.g.– Outcomes of investment incl. performance reporting e.g. envt flows– Long term transformation of vegetated landscapes

Information on condition is needed for the following steps in NRM

Vegetation Assets States and Transitions (VAST) framework

VIVIVIIIIII0

Native vegetationcover

Non-native vegetationcover

Increasing modification caused by land management

Transitions = trend

Vegetation thresholds

Reference for each veg type (NVIS)

VAST - A framework for assessing & reporting vegetation condition

Condition states

Residual or unmodified

Naturally bare

Modified Transformed Replaced -Adventive

Replaced - managed

Replaced - removed

Thackway & Lesslie (2008) Environmental Management, 42, 572-90

Diagnostic attributes of VAST states:• Vegetation structure• Species composition• Regenerative capacity

NVIS

Vegetation condition – a snapshot (2010)

Thackway & Lesslie (2008) Environmental Management, 42, 572-90

NB: Input dataset biophysical naturalness reclassified using VAST framework

/ replaced

/ unmodified

Naracoorte Coastal Plan

Reporting change in condition

using Vegetation

Types (NVIS/MVG),

and vegetation condition

(VAST)

Source: ABARES 2013

Veg condition

derived fr

om effects

of land m

anagement

practice

s

Veg type (NVIS/MVG)

NVIS: National Vegetation Information SystemMVG: Major Vegetation Groups

VAST

To enable improved national assessment and reporting of change and trend over time using the VAST framework by

Tracking the effects of land management on core attributes of• Vegetation structure• Species composition• Regenerative capacity

To help answer key questions:• What is this landscape’s story of change to native veg?

• past and present• Can we use that knowledge to help land managers restore and or

enhance their native vegetation?

Why was VAST-2 developed?

Occupation

Relaxation

Anthropogenic change

Net gain/benefit

Time

1800 1850 1900 1950 2000

Veg

etat

ion

mod

ifica

tion

scor

e

Reference

VAST-2 transformation pathway - model

Based on Hamilton, Brown & Nolan 2008. FWPA PRO7.1050. pg 18Land use impacts on biodiversity and Life Cycle Analysis

VAST-2 assesses effects of land management on attributes of native veg condition over time

Land managers use land management practices (LMP) to influence ecological function at sites and across landscapes by:• Modifying • Removing and replacing• Enhancing• Restoring• Maintaining• Improving

The effects of these practices can be observed /measured in changes in variables/attributes:• Vegetation structure• Species composition and • Regenerative capacity

LUMIS

LUMIS = Land Use and Management Information System

VAST-2 focuses on tracking effects of land management on 10 attribute groups/criteria

Soil

Vegetation

Regenerative capacity/ function

Vegetation structure & Species composition

1. Soil hydrological status2. Soil physical status3. Soil chemical status4. Soil biological status5. Fire regime6. Reproductive potential7. Overstorey structure8. Understorey structure9. Overstorey composition10. Understorey composition

LUMIS = Land Use and Management Information System

Generate total indices for ‘transformation site’ for each year of the historical record. Validate using Expert Knowledge

• Compile and collate effects of land management on criteria (10) and

indicators (22) over time. • Evaluate impacts on the plant

community over time

Transformation site• Compile and collate effects of

land management on criteria (10) and indicators (22)

Reference state/sites

Score all 22 indicators for ‘transformation site’ relative to the ‘reference site’. 0 = major change; 1 = no change

Derive weighted indices for the ‘transformation site’ i.e. regenerative capacity (58%), vegetation structure (27%) and species composition (18%)

by adding predefined indicators

General process for tracking change over time using the VAST-2 system

Data synthesis and hierarchySite

Transformation score/site /year 1

Diagnostic attributes 3

Criteria i.e. attribute groups

10

Indicators / attribute

22

1

3

10

22

Dia

gn

ost

icat

trib

ute

s

Regenerativecapacity

Vegetationstructure

Speciescomposition

VegetationTransformation

score

reprodpotent

understoreyoverstoreyfire soil

structure nutrients biology

overstorey understorey

Att

rib

ute

gro

up

s

hydrology

Data synthesis and hierarchy

Ind

icat

ors

/at

trib

ute

s

Diagnostic attributes (3)

[VAST]

Attribute groups /criteria

(10)Indicators/attributes of vegetation and ecological processes

(22)

Regenerative capacity

Fire regime 1. Area /size of fire foot prints

2. Number of fire starts

Soil hydrology 3. Soil surface water availability

4. Ground water availability

Soil physical state

5. Depth of the A horizon

6. Soil structure

Soil nutrient state

7. Nutrient stress – rundown (deficiency) relative to soil fertility

8. Nutrient stress – excess (toxicity) relative to soil fertility

Soil biological state

9. Recyclers responsible for maintaining soil porosity and nutrient recycling

10. Surface organic matter, soil crusts

Reproductive potential

11. Reproductive potential of overstorey structuring species

12. Reproductive potential of understorey structuring species

Vegetation structure

Overstorey structure

13. Overstorey top height (mean) of the plant community

14. Overstorey foliage projective cover (mean) of the plant community

15. Overstorey structural diversity (i.e. a diversity of age classes) of the stand

Understorey structure

16. Understorey top height (mean) of the plant community

17. Understorey ground cover (mean) of the plant community

18. Understorey structural diversity (i.e. a diversity of age classes) of the plant

Species Composition

Overstorey composition

19. Densities of overstorey species functional groups

20. Relative number of overstorey species (richness) of indigenous :exotic spp

Understorey composition

21. Densities of understorey species functional groups

22. Relative number of understorey species (richness) of indigenous :exotic spp

Importance of dynamics

Rainfall is assumed to be main driver of ecosystem dynamics• Period 1900 - 2014• Average seasonal rainfall (summer, autumn, …)• Rainfall anomaly is calculated above and below the mean• Two year running trend line fitted

WA Wheatbelt BOM rainfall anomaly 1900-2010(modelled 5 km resolution)

Derived from monthly modelled rainfall data obtained from http://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/

Rainfall anomaly relative to mean

http://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/



Method: VAST-2

Species

composition

LMP = Land Management Practices

Effects on attributes, attribute groups and diagnostic attributes

LMPYear

Time

Vegetation structure Regenerative

capacity

Cause

Certainty level standards used to compile historic record

Certainty level standards

Spatial precision(Scale)

Temporal precision(Year of observation)

Attribute accuracy(Land use, land

management practices, effects on condition)

HIGH "Definite”

Reliable direct quantitative data.

Code: 1


Code: 4


Code: 7

MEDIUM "Probable

"

Direct (with qualifications) or strong

indirect data.

Code: 2


indirect data.

Code: 5


indirect data.

Code: 8

LOW "Possible"

Limited qualitative and possibly contradictory

observations. More data needed.

Code: 3



Code: 6



Code: 9

VAST-2 key attribute groups Reference state

Transformationsite

Fire regime * *Soil hydrology * *Soil physical state * **Soil nutrient state ** *Soil biological state * *Reproductive potential *** ***Overstorey vegetation structure *** **

Understorey vegetation structure *** ***

Overstorey species composition *** ***

Understorey species composition *** ***

*** Quantitative data /info * Qualitative data /info

Example: Bridge Hill Ridge- post mining restoration

Predictions of mature forest (Bunning’s Enquiry 1974)

Example: Bridge Hill Ridge- post mining restoration

Where to next?

• More sites• Scaling up change to the landscape scale

– Indicators were chosen to scale up– Soil Assets States and Trends (CSIRO) – Modeling/remote sensing

• Narrative – Proposal submitted to Fenner School– Historical – Current– Future

Paddock to national scale assessments

TERN AusCover and its infrastructure is providing the potential to monitor several key ecological indicators across Australia at the paddock scale every month e.g. Ground cover (other colours) and FPC (green)

List of VAST-2 attributes/ indicators (22) Best source spatial data

Time series or modeled Year/ RS source

1. Area /size of fire foot prints TERN AusCover Time series (RS) >2000 MODIS

2. Number of fire starts TERN AusCover Time series (RS) >2000 MODIS

3. Soil surface water availability CSIRO Modeled epochs NA

4. Ground water availability GA & CSIRO Modeled epochs NA

5. Depth of the A horizon CSIRO Modeled epochs NA

6. Soil structure CSIRO Modeled epochs NA

7. Nutrient stress – rundown (deficiency) relative to soil fertility CSIRO Modeled epochs NA

8. Nutrient stress – excess (toxicity) relative to soil fertility CSIRO Modeled epochs NA

9. Recyclers responsible for maintaining soil porosity and nutrient recycling ?? Modeled epochs NA

10. Surface organic matter, soil crusts CSIRO Modeled epochs NA

11. Reproductive potential of overstorey structuring species CSIRO Modeled epochs NA

12. Reproductive potential of understorey structuring species CSIRO Modeled epochs NA

13. Overstorey top height (mean) of the plant community TERN AusCover Snap shot (RS) 2009 Alos/Landsat/ ICESAT

14. Overstorey foliage projective cover (mean) of the plant community TERN AusCover Time series (RS) 2000-10 Landsat

15. Overstorey structural diversity (i.e. a diversity of age classes) of the stand TERN AusCover Snap shot (RS) 2009 Alos/Landsat/ ICESAT

16. Understorey top height (mean) of the plant community TERN AusCover Snap shot (RS) 2009 Alos/Landsat/ ICESAT

17. Understorey ground cover (mean) of plant community (fractional cover) TERN AusCover Time series (RS) 2000-10 Landsat

18. Understorey structural diversity (i.e. a diversity of age classes) of the plant CSIRO Modeled epochs NA

19. Densities of overstorey species functional groups (biomass) CSIRO Modeled epochs NA

20. Relative number of overstorey species (richness) of indigenous :exotic spp CSIRO Modeled epochs NA

21. Densities of understorey species functional groups (biomass) CSIRO Modeled epochs NA

22. Relative number of understorey species (richness) of indigenous :exotic spp CSIRO Modeled epochs NA

Conclusions

VAST-2:• VAST and VAST-2 are integrated • Is a conceptual framework for assessing & reporting effects of

land management on plant communities over time• Has been applied in a wide range of bioregional contexts, to:

– monitor outcomes – evaluate progress towards targets – inform the design of research and experimental programs re adaptive

management – tell the story of landscape transformation

• Has relevance to managing biodiversity• Should be applied at the landscape level

Summary of VAST-2 method (1/2)

• Establishes sites = ~ land unit i.e. homogeneous soil-landform

• Establishes a reference site and transformation site • Change is assessed relative to a reference state• Uses a multi-criteria assessment method• Tracks the effects of LMP on core attributes of veg condition

to build a historical record for a site/s of change • Uses an information hierarchy to assess change

– Level 1 = Single transformation score at a point in time– Level 2 = VAST’s diagnostic attributes (VS, SC & RC)– Level 3 = 10 attribute groups/ key ecological criteria – Level 4 = 22 attributes/ core indicators

• Sources of data /info many and varied • Indicators are populated from qualitative and quantitative data

sources over time• Dynamics are critical to assessing affects of LMP on natural

productivity = long-term average monthly rainfall (5km grid)• Establishes a network of key collaborators for a site/s ecologists

and land managers • Timeline starts ~1750 and assumes an indigenous managed

landscape • Gaps in historical records are filled using expert elicitation• Use peer review to assess the veracity and accuracy of the

assessment • List of attributes derived from lit review and LUMIS• List of attributes selected to operate at site and landscape levels

Summary of VAST-2 method (2/2)

More info & Acknowledgements

More information http://www.vasttransformations.com/

Acknowledgements• TERN ACEAS funded my sabbatical fellowship at the University of

Queensland, Brisbane in 2010-11• CSIRO Ecosystems Sciences for hosting me as a visiting research

scientist, Canberra in 2010-11• Many public and private land managers, land management agencies,

consultants and researchers have provided data and information

http://www.vasttransformations.com/

http://www.vasttransformations.com/

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