Native vegetation provides the foundation stone that supports much of Australia’s biodiversity and maintains ecological processes. Despite this, nearly 90 per cent of the non-vascular flora is yet to be described. In some regions, we are still in the process of describing and mapping the range of native vegetation types. This is a fundamental gap in our knowledge of the values of native vegetation, as it makes it difficult to describe key measures such as species richness, levels of endemism and the diversity of vegetation types.

A key aspect identified for future development of the National Vegetation Information System is the grouping of threatened ecosystems into finer categories, for improved on-ground interpretation of protection and recovery strategies. The assessment of a range of values associated with eucalypts and acacias demonstrates the need to consider values that are not specifically associated with threatened species issues, especially endemism, richness and irreplaceability. Completion of the identification of wetlands of regional significance and further data on their values, trends and management needs would also be valuable for regional conservation and management initiatives.

At the broader level, our understanding of the ecosystem services provided by native vegetation is still in its infancy. There are still many gaps in our knowledge, for example, about the relationship between clean air and water and the diversity of native plant and animal species. Research on ecosystem services such as pollination and pest control is complex, and while starting to show some promise, will need further investment.