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Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual
The Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual describes the application of the habitat hectares method for assessing native vegetation quality. It provides a step-by-step approach to conducting assessments in the field and useful tips for ensuring consistency of application. The method involves the assessment of a number of site-based habitat and landscape components against a pre-determined EVC benchmark.
The habitat hectares method described is the result of an on-going research and development phase that has been implemented by DSE over a number of years. The described approach has been developed following user-feedback on previous versions and as a result of a research project undertaken by DSE Arthur Rylah Institute that recommended a number of options for refining the approach described by Parkes et al. (2003).
Version 1.3 described in the manual supercedes all previous versions including Parkes et al. (2003) and is the DSE-recognised method for assessing native vegetation in accordance with Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management Framework: A Framework for Action, NRE 2002. Link to VQA field sheet.
Wetland Vegetation Assessment
The Wetland Vegetation Assessment (WVA) method is similar in approach to the Vegetation Quality Assessment for terrestrial vegetation but uses some different attributes unique to wetlands. The method has been developed as part of the Index of Wetland Condition, which assesses a range of wetland components. However, the WVA can also be applied in situations where only the wetland vegetation quality is being assessed, for example as part of a native vegetation investment proposal. Link to WVA field sheet.
Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual
Chapters 1 -11
1. Glossary
2. Introduction
3. Information Requirements
4. Useful Field Tools
5. Site Inspection
6. Habitat Hectares Scoring System
7. Assessing 'Site Condition' Components
8. Assessing ‘Local Landscape Context’ Components
9. Assessing Treeless Vegetation
10. Final Habitat Score
11. References
Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual V1_3 Chapters 1-11 (PDF - 960 Kb)
Appendix 1-6
Appendix 1: Expertise Level of Assessors
Appendix 2: Development of the habitat hectares approach and its application in various projects
Appendix 3: Vegetation Quality Assessment – Quick Reference Guide
Appendix 4: Proportion of expected healthy cover present
Appendix 5: Canopy projective foliage cover guide
Appendix 6: Understorey life form categories applied in vegetation quality assessments
Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual V1_3 Appendix 1-6 (PDF - 1.1 Mb)
Appendix 7-9
Appendix 7: Examples of vegetation quality assessment life forms
Appendix 8: Vegetation Quality Field Assessment Sheet
Appendix 9: Worked example of a Vegetation Quality Field Assessment Sheet.
Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual V1_3 Appendix 7-9 (PDF - 1.7 Mb)
Vegetation Quality Field Assessment Sheets
DSE Vegetation Quality Field Assessment Sheet - October 2004 (PDF - 284 Kb)
DSE Wetland Vegetation Quality Field Assessment Sheet - March 2006 (PDF - 53 Kb)