Reliable information on the status of Australia’s vegetation, which includes both the extent and the condition of native vegetation cover and introduced pastures and crops, is essential if ecologically sustainable development objectives are to be met at the catchment and regional scale. Carefully selected indicators of vegetation extent and condition are intended to be used to monitor native vegetation at a catchment and regional level in order to assist sustainable land management.

The extent of native vegetation can be defined by the geographic coverage of vegetation types within specific regions such as a bioregion or catchment. The condition of native vegetation refers to the level of naturalness or ‘health’ of vegetation, and is a major indicator of the capacity of ecosystems to produce goods and services. The condition of native vegetation may be assessed from a number of perspectives (e.g. vegetation structure, plant species composition, ecological functionality) using many attributes (e.g. degree of tree crown dieback, presence of weed species, provision of quality habitat for threatened animals).

Information on the types and condition of vegetation that occur across different properties, land tenures, catchments and regions is essential for managers. This information can be used to:

• evaluate the values and benefits that different vegetation types of varying condition may support at a catchment or regional level;
• identify threats specific to native vegetation and to prioritise management responses;
• more reliably address catchment and regional management goals such as the formal protection of biologically-significant vegetation, and the implementation of revegetation initiatives to reduce fragmentation of native vegetation and meet regional targets;
• promote revegetation with appropriate species and mixes for each set of conditions.

The integrity of native vegetation communities has been identified as one of the ‘Matters for Targets’ in the National Framework for Natural Resource Management Standards and Targets 103. These targets are designed to help focus natural resource planning and investment and regional bodies are required to consider them when setting regional targets for those matters relevant to their region. The relevant national outcome sought in this instance is that: Biodiversity and the extent, diversity and condition of native ecosystems are maintained or rehabilitated (see Sections 2.2b and 2.2c). The two indicator headings associated with meeting this outcome are the extent and distribution of native vegetation and its condition. For regionally significant native vegetation that is the subject of targets in regional plans, a further set of indicators has been identified. In this context alone, questions about the extent and condition of native vegetation become critical.

Information on the extent, diversity and condition of native vegetation in production areas is essential for the prudent management of soil and water resources that underpin agricultural production. Changes can be important indicators of land capability, productivity, undesirable agricultural impacts and overall catchment health. Reliable information on the extent and condition of native vegetation is therefore central to integrated approaches to catchment and regional management.