Metadata: Northern Savanna Vegetation Fuel Types Spatial Dataset (Map) (Version 1.0.1) Title: Northern Savanna Vegetation Fuel Types Dataset (version 1.0.1) Abstract: This spatial dataset (map) has been developed to cover vegetation fuel types described in the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative Emissions Abatement through Savanna Fire Management) Methodology Determination 2015 (http://www.comlaw.gov.au/details/f2015l00344). Its purpose is to enable hypothetical abatement forecasts for potential projects under the current and proposed Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) methodologies (as enabled by the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011). Specifically the map was developed for inclusion in any minor version of the Savanna Burning Abatement Tool major version two (SavBAT 2.0 onwards). The map describes the different vegetation fuel types across Australia s northern savannas in two regions of different average seasonal rainfall. This Determination covers the high and low rainfall zones shown on the Savanna Fire Management Rainfall Zone spatial data layers as published on the Department of the Environment s (the Department) website. The seamless dataset (map) is a compilation of six map zones differentiated by State/Territory jurisdiction and rainfall zone. Queensland vegetation fuel type mapping is a re-classification of Regional Ecosystems (RE) mapping available from QLD Government. Both Northern Territory zones and the low rainfall zone of Western Australia were created from Persistent-Green-Vegetation Fraction and Wooded Mask (PG - a Landsat (30 m pixel) derived product available from Auscover), the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)-derived digital elevation model (DEM) and supplementary ancillary land resource mapping (Land Systems). In place of the PG layer, the mapping for the high rainfall zone of WA was created using a vegetation index derived from an Early Dry Season MODIS image from 2012, in 2012. In each case, the data were processed using ecognition (Object-Based Image Analysis software) to create vector polygon segments that represent similar areas of vegetation cover. Layers of elevation, slope, and land systems (describing geomorphology, soils and substrate) were used for the initial stratification into land types. Resultant mean polygon attributes of vegetation were used in a supervised method for classification into vegetation fuel type classes, including ineligible areas. Each zone was separately validated using independent field data made available by State and Territory government and non-government agencies, including sample site data used in the development of the CFI emissions abatement methodology. Sites were re-classified with vegetation fuel type according to the descriptions in the Determination, appropriately re-scaled, and intersected with the mapping to provide an accuracy assessment for each mapping zone. Keywords: vegetation fuel type, Australia s northern savannas Page 1 of 5
Data custodian: Department of the Environment Organisation: The Department of the Environment Position: Methods Development Team, Land Sector Abatement Branch Phone: 1800 057 590 Email: emissions-reduction@environment.gov.au Address: GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia Credits: The dataset and associated map was created by: Auricht Projects, South Australia and; The Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research (DCBR), Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory Australia. Status of the data: Version 1.0 Complete 20140630 This version was not distributed but used for testing in SavBAT2. Updated versions will be provided through SavBAT 2 and/or the Department of the Environment website as the data becomes available. Version 1.0.1 Complete 20141105 Testing of the vegetation fuel types dataset (version 1.0) within SavBAT 2 prior to the public release of the tool identified 198.59 Km 2 (approximately 0.016 %) of miscoded cells within the total dataset area of 1,182,865.25 Km 2. These cells primarily occurred along the boundary between the high and low rainfall zones and were caused by the fact it wasn t possible to assign two values to one 250 M pixel. The miscoded cells were assigned to a unique rainfall zone (i.e. high or low) and recoded using the following steps: 1. clipping master vegetation fuel types shapefile to the two rainfall zones this creates two datasets (high and low rainfall) 2. selecting mis-coded cells according to the rainfall zone and recoding them as 0 (ineligible) 3. updating the attributes 4. merging the two datasets to create a new master shapefile 5. recalculating areas for the new shapefile 6. creation of new tif file in SavBAT2 format Page 2 of 5
Access and conditions of use: This dataset has been prepared for use within SavBAT2 for hypothetical abatement forecasting and to assist in the creation of validated vegetation fuel type maps in accordance with of the Carbon Credits (Emissions Abatement through Savanna Fire Management) Methodology Determination and the current approved methodology (available on COMLAW: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/series/f2015l00344). This dataset (map) is not certified as meeting the requirements of the methodology determination and cannot be submitted in an offsets report to the Clean Energy Regulator. The base map is provided to assist proponents with estimates of abatement potential only. Calibration and validation of the subset of the map pertaining to the proponent s project area is required, as stipulated and outlined in the Determination and the accompanying Explanatory Statement. Logistical consistency: Six map zones were defined due to the availability of the base data for classification in each zone, the primary stratification data source being Land Systems mapping. The map zones represent a pragmatic and practical solution for handling three jurisdictions and two rainfall zones within which different datasets provided the best available consistent and comprehensive sources for each map zone. The map of vegetation fuel types for Australia s northern savannas comprises six separate map zones, each with a consistent classification and mapped vegetation fuel types which has been variously assessed for map accuracy. Each zone was subsequently merged into a final seamless dataset and map. Data set limitations: Due to the map scale, the dataset and map accounts for some, but not all, ineligible areas including larger hydrological features, regularly grazed systems, current extent of exotic plants (weeds) and clearing of native vegetation. The dataset and resultant map output have been calibrated under time constraints using available data and expert knowledge. Data reference: Type raster Format Geotiff (*.tif) Version 1.0 Spatial resolution 250m * 250m pixel Pixel depth 8 bit Pixel type unsigned integer Geographic Coordinate System: GDA94 / Australian Albers (EPSG: 3577) Projection Albers Datum GDA94 False Easting 0.00 False Northing 0.00 Central meridian 132.0 1 st standard parallel -36.0 2 nd standard parallel -18.0 Prime Meridian Greenwich Angular Unit Degree Linear Unit metre Page 3 of 5
Geographic coverage Mapping boundary extent: north savanna fuel type map (6 map zones). Top -9.141333 dd Left 121.729660 dd Bottom -22.629595 dd Right 150.703085 dd The map extent for each zone is bounded by state and territory borders and rainfall zone boundaries as available from DotE http://www.climatechange.gov.au/reducing-carbon/carbon-farminginitiative/methodologies/methodology-determinations/savanna-burning Temporal coverage NT and low rainfall zone WA created in 2014 using Persistent-Green-Vegetation Fraction and Wooded Mask Landsat 2000-2010 median image (Auscover 2013) and Land Systems mapping. High rainfall zone north WA created in 2012 using NDVI derived from 2011 07 07 MODIS image and Land Systems mapping. Qld mapping derived from Regional Ecosystems mapping acquired from Queensland Herbarium, last updated on 28 February 2014. Downloaded from the internet on 4 June 2014 1 1 Refer: https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/biodiversity-status-of-pre-clearing-and-remnant-regional-ecosystemsseries Page 4 of 5
Data Quality Accuracy was assessed on each of the six map zones and each vegetation fuel type in each map zone. The assessment confirmed that the data will not meet the validation requirements of the current or draft methodology at an ERF project level. The accuracy is suitable for preliminary assessments of ERF project potential, noting that abatement estimates generated using this map may be materially different from those generated using a map validated in accordance with the methodology. You should seek your own professional, independent advice about the dataset and any of your entitlements or obligations that relate to any Commonwealth program. Data description Column Header Data type format Resolution Descriptor Raster GeoTIFF *.tiff 250 metre * 250 metre LUT value CFI vegetation fuel type category High rainfall zone 1 hofm (Open Forest with Mixed grasses (Tussock and Hummock)) 2 hwmi (Woodland with Mixed grasses (Tussock and Hummock)) 3 hwhu (Woodland with Hummock grass) 4 hshh (Shrubland (Heath) with Hummock grass) Low rainfall zone 11 lwhu (Woodland with Hummock grass) 12 lwmi (Woodland with Mixed grasses (Tussock and Hummock)) 13 lwtu (Woodland with Tussock grass) 14 lowm (Open Woodland, with Mixed grasses (Tussock and Hummock)) 15 lshh (Shrubland (Heath) with Hummock grass) References: AusCover (2013). Persistent Green Vegetation Fraction and Wooded Mask - Landsat, Australia coverage, Landsat 2000-2010 Persistent Green Vegetation Fraction. http://www.auscover.org.au/xwiki/bin/view/product+pages/persistent+green-vegetation+fraction Murphy BP, Edwards AC, Meyer CP, Russell-Smith J (Eds) (2015) Carbon accounting and Savanna fire management. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne Page 5 of 5