Wet Tropics Vegetation Maps

What do the vegetation maps tell me?

The Wet Tropics vegetation maps include a description of the vegetation community including the structure of the vegetation as determined by dominant canopy trees. Additional structural attributes including canopy height, macroclimates, topography and geology are also described.

Development of the vegetation maps and reports

Digitisation and data verification of the 1:50,000 Vegetation of the Wet Tropics of Queensland Bioregion (Stanton & Stanton 2005) was completed in February 2006. The mapping is the culmination of over eight years work and is the most comprehensive vegetation mapping ever undertaken in the region. Peter and David Stanton interpreted about 4000 aerial photographs and undertook numerous field trips to provide the primary mapping data for 38 map sheets. The Authority's Planning and Research program digitised some 90,000 vegetation polygons, including a description of their condition and conservation values. The Stantons also provided a report for each map sheet which included recommendations for conservation planning and management of specific areas or vegetation types. Both the mapping and reports have already become a valuable resource for planning and decision-making at regional, local and individual property levels.

Data from the Vegetation of the Wet Tropics of Queensland Bioregion (Stanton & Stanton 2005) was also used by the Queensland Herbarium to derive the certified Regional Ecosystem mapping for the bioregion under the Vegetation Management Act 1999.

Interactive Wet Tropics vegetation mapping is currently being developed.