Vegetation Survey and Assessment

This manual is designed to help you investigate and assess the condition and habitat value of vegetation. Describe plant communities, survey and assess vegetation, and collect and identify plants. The manual will be useful for land managers, landholders, farmers, weeds and vegetation officers, consultants, land carers and students who want to know more about the vegetation on any site they are investigating.


This guide will help you develop knowledge and skills to:

• determine the need for survey and assessment

• describe plant communities

• choose vegetation survey and assessment methods

• collect and identify plants

• record field data

• map vegetation

• apply legislation and policy

• assess vegetation condition and habitat value

• develop quality vegetation survey reports.


This guide will assist you in choosing the best survey method for your site and help you understand the value of the vegetation you are assessing.



This manual supports courses in Vegetation Survey and Assessment delivered by NSW Department of Primary Industries, Tocal and other registered training providers. It covers the national unit of competency AHCNAR502A Conduct biological surveys. Assessment for this unit is based on submitting an individual vegetation survey report.



CHAPTERS

Introduction

SECTION 1: How to survey vegetation

Chapter 1 Why conduct vegetation surveys?

Chapter 2 Define the purpose and area of your survey

Chapter 3 Describing plant communities

Chapter 4 Some basic rules to consider

Chapter 5 Vegetation survey and assessment methods

Chapter 6 Collecting and identifying plants

Chapter 7 Recording field data

Chapter 8 Mapping to assist management

Chapter 9 Legislation and policy

SECTION 2: How to assess native vegetation

Chapter 10 Guidelines for assessing vegetation condition and habitat value

Chapter 11 Putting it together: Assessing the condition of bushland

Chapter 12 Monitoring

SECTION 3: Reporting on vegetation surveys

Chapter 13 Preparing quality reports

Appendices

Botanical keys for plant identification, by state

Glossary

References and further reading



AUTHORS

Darren Bayley is currently manager of adult education programs in agriculture and related industries for Tocal College, NSW DPI. He has written Vegetation Survey and Assessment, Managing Weeds, and Weather and climate in farming: managing risk for profit.



David Brouwer lectured in Agronomy at Tocal College for 15 years before developing a course in Conservation and Land Management for external students. He has run external diploma studies in agriculture and land management for almost 20 years. He has authored and co-authored over 50 books for students as well as running courses in property planning for farmers.