This document presents a nationally consistent method for monitoring and reporting landscape condition on defence lands. It defines key concepts like landscape capability and modification. It describes mapping landform patterns and landscape modification classes. A case study demonstrates assessing landscape condition at Kapooka Military Area using landscape management units, remote sensing, and criteria/indicators of ecological function. The methodology allows evaluating changes in landscape condition over time to inform land management practices and ensure defence land remains suitable for purpose.

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Monitoring and Reporting Landscape
Condition on Defence Lands
Jim Nikolareas, Richard Thackway &
Chelayne Evans
14 February 2018
Defence Industry Conference 2018, Canberra

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• Definitions and concepts
• A nationally consistent method for monitoring and
reporting landscape condition at an operational scale
• A case study: Kapooka Military Area
• Discussion
• Conclusions
Outline

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Definitions and Concepts

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• Land capability is the inherent physical capacity of the land to sustain a
range of land uses and management practices in the long term without
degradation to soil, land, air and water resources
• Failure to manage land in accordance with its capability risks
degradation of resources both on- and off-site, leading to a decline in
natural ecosystem values, agricultural productivity and infrastructure
functionality
Land Capability
Source: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/soils/20120394lsc2spubslandingpage.htm

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Landscape Modification
• Landscape modification is an assessment of change in ecological
condition function caused by the effects of land management over time
• Change and trend can be assessed relative to a reference state
Source: VAST Framework http://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/5/4/40

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Natural disturbance
Anthropogenic Natural disturbance & Anthropogenic
Understanding drivers of
landscape condition –
human management and
natural events

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Land use and management practices influence
ecological function
Land managers over time use land management practices to influence
ecological function of the landscape by:
Practices
• Modifying
• Removing and replacing
• Enhancing
• Restoring
• Maintaining
• Improving
We are deliberately and/or inadvertently responsible for changes in landscape condition
Source: Thackway 2017
1. Soil Hydrological Status
2. Soil Physical Status
3. Soil Chemical Status
4. Soil Biological Status
5. Fire Regime
6. Reproductive Potential
7. Overstorey Structure
8. Understorey Structure
9. Overstorey Composition
10. Understorey Composition
Soil
Vegetation
Regenerative capacity
/function
Vegetation structure &
species composition

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Historical Land Use
Indigenous
land
management
First
explorers
Degreeof
modification
Logging
Cropping
Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
Time
Reference
state
Long
term
rainfall
Long term
disturbance
e.g. wildfire,
cyclones
Revegetation
Baseline
state
Grazing
Source: Thackway 2017

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A nationally
consistent method for assessing
Landscape Condition

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Methodology
• Mapping Landscape Capability
• Mapping Landscape Modification
• Landscape Management Units
• Satellite-based Remote Sensing
• Response Criteria and Indicators

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Mapping of Landform Patterns
Landform Pattern
Dark blue = Low slope and low relief
Green = Low slope and mid-relief
Yellow = Mid-slope and high-relief
Red = High slope and high relief
Source: http://doi.org/10.4225/08/57512079C1A93:
Source: John Gallant

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Detailed Mapping of Landform Patterns
Source: https://doi.org/10.4225/08/57512079C1A93
Relief
Slope
LE VG GE MO ST VS
0 1 3 10 32 56%
093090150300m
PRLHHM
Level Plain
Moderately inclined
rolling rises
Steep mountains
Steep hills
Rolling hills
Low
High

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Class Relevance to Agricultural hazards Relevance to Defence hazards
1 Low slope and relief. Suitable for a range of
agriculture. Few, if any constraints
Few, if any constraints.
2 Suited to range of horticulture in rotation with
pastures. Minor constraints. Stony, shallow
phases of soil, moderate erosion and degradation
of the soil surface.
Constraints - moderate erosion hazard and degradation of
the soil surface with soil disturbance - particularly
vehicular, in training areas and buffer zones.
3 Suited to grazing and improved pastures. Limited
cultivation.
Constraints - moderate erosion hazard and degradation of
the soil surface with soil disturbance - particularly
vehicular, in training areas and buffer zones.
4 Moderate slope and relief. Suitable for grazing,
not cultivation. Pasture improvement relies on
minimum tillage techniques. Low, seasonal
productivity, major environmental constraints.
Constraints - moderate - high erosion hazard and
degradation of the soil surface with soil disturbance -
particularly vehicular, in training areas and buffer zones.
5-6 Non-arable while class 6 is often non-trafficable.
Land suitable for grazing but not cultivation.
Maintain or improve perennial pastures and
preserve ground cover.
Constraints – high to very high erosion hazard and
degradation of the soil surface with soil disturbance -
particularly vehicular, in training areas and buffer zones.
7-8 High relief and slope. Generally unsuited to
agriculture or at best suited only to light grazing.
Severe constraints.
Constraints – very high to severe erosion hazard and
degradation of the soil surface with soil disturbance -
particularly vehicular, in training areas and buffer zones.
Source: Based on Soil Conservation Service’s assessment of biophysical characteristics of the land, the extent to which these will limit particular type of land use.
Classification of Landscape Capability (physical)

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VAST = Vegetation Assets States and Transitions
NVIS = National Vegetation Information System
VIVIVIIIIII0
Native vegetation
cover
Non-native vegetation
cover
Increasing modification caused by use and management
Transitions = trend
Vegetation
thresholds
Reference for
each veg type
(NVIS)
Classifying Landscape Modification
VAST Framework
Condition states
Diagnostic attributes of VAST states:
• Vegetation structure
• Species composition
• Regenerative capacity
NVIS
Thackway and Lesslie (2008) Environmental Management, 42,572-90

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NB: Input dataset national dataset is Biophysical Naturalness reclassified
using VAST = Vegetation Assets States and Transitions framework
/ replaced
/ unmodified
Native
Mapping Landscape Modification
(anthropogenic)
VAST classes I to VI
Thackway and Lesslie (2008) Environmental Management, 42,572-90

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Naturally bare areas = VAST 0

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Unmodified Native = VAST I

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Modified Native = VAST II

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Transformed Native = VAST III

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Adventive /Ruderal = VAST IV

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Replaced and managed = VAST V

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Removed / Impervious = VAST VI

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Landscape
Capability
(physical)
Classes 1 to 8
*Slope classes
*Relief classes
Soil hazard classes
Landscape Modification
(anthropogenic)
VAST 0 to VI
Ecological function
Structure
Composition
Landscape
Management
Units
Deriving Landscape Management Units
*Slope + *Relief = Landform Pattern

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Assessing Landscape Condition (Ground Cover)
Within the LMU
Landscape condition within the LMU compared to a buffer outside the LMU
Seasonal rainfall
Source: https://www.farmmap4d.com.au/

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1
3
10
22
Diagnostic
attributes
Vegetation
Transformation
Score (100%)
Criteria(10)
Vegetation
Structure
(27%)
Overstorey Understorey
Species
Composition
(18%)
UnderstoreyOverstorey
Ecological
Function
(55%)
Fire
Reprod
potent
Soil
HydrologyBiologyNutrientsStructure
Indicators (22)
Monitoring/ reporting
benchmark indicators
over time
Source: Thackway 2017

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Example of indicators, criteria and components of condition
Source: Thackway 2014

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Examples of responses of VAST functional criteria
Criteria #1 Criteria #2
Criteria #3 Criteria #4
Source: Thackway 2016

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Case study: Kapooka Military Area

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Kapooka Military Area, Wagga Wagga NSW

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Class 1 – Gentle undulating rises (22);
medium erosion hazard,
shallow stony
Class 2 – Plain with undulating rises (21);
occasional flooding
Class 3 – Undulating low hills (33);
high erosion hazard; local
water logging
Class 4 – Rolling low hills (43); high
erosion hazard; shallow
Landscape Capability

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VAST III - Transformed Native
VAST IV - Replaced Adventive
(Native and Exotic Mosaic)
VAST V - Managed and replaced
(Revegetated, parkland
& recreational)
VAST VI - Impervious
(Infrastructure)
Landscape Modification
*Vegetation Assets States and Transitions

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Landscape Management Units
Class 2 VAST IV – Plain with undulating
rises occasional flooding / Replaced
Adventive
(Native and Exotic Mosaic);
Class 4 VAST III – Rolling low hills (43); high
erosion; shallow soils / Transformed
Native

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Landscape Capability
Class 2 & VAST Class IV
Wagga Wagga
Satellite-based Assessment
of landscape condition
1000 m buffer
Source: https://www.farmmap4d.com.au/

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Assessing Landscape Condition – Kapooka Military Area
Land Capability Class 2 / VAST 4 – Plain with undulating rises occasional
flooding / Replaced Adventive vegetation (Native and Exotic Mosaic);
Source: https://www.farmmap4d.com.au/

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Discussion

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Transformationscore
Years
1800
2016
Reference
Relevance to developing scenarios for
future landscape modification
Modified
Transformed
Replaced/
managed
Residual
Replaced/
adventive
VAST Classes1850 19501900 2000 2050 2100
Classes can be modelled as extent and condition
Baseline
Source: Thackway 2017

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Relevance to developing scenarios for
future landscape condition
Decision to
set, and to
manage to
a target
Target
ground
cover
Source: https://www.farmmap4d.com.au/

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Intent of LMRs on criteria &
indicators of function, structure
and composition:
Examples
No active interventions Protecting biodiversity; restricting access; imposing
minimal use
Harvest products Removing biomass, fibre, flowers, fruit and nuts
Enhance or improve Rehydrating soils; controlling invasive species;
reestablishing a natural fire regime; broadcasting seed
hays
Extirpate or remove Continuously grazing; intensive cropping, improving
pasture production; removing a natural fire regime;
draining natural wetlands
Reconstruct Revegetating; Rehydrating soils; stabilizing eroding top
soil
Prioritizing land management practices
(LMRs) within LMUs over time and space
Source: Thackway 2017

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Conclusions
• Monitoring and reporting landscape condition methodology can be applied on any
Defence property at an operation level.
• This integrated reporting will enable and provide cutting-edge monitoring and
evaluation.
• Changes and trends in landscape condition can help decision makers understand drivers
of change - human management and natural events
• Continuous monitoring and reporting of landscape condition (ground cover) linked to
direct site-based measures can assist land managers prioritise and adjust on-ground
interventions.
• The application of landscape condition assessment provides a measureable threshold
for land managers to make more informed decisions surrounding their land
management practices, and to maintain Defence land that is fit for purpose.
• Landscape condition is not a replacement for detailed biodiversity-based monitoring
and reporting.

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More information
http://www.kleinfelder.com.au/
http://www.farmmap4d.com.au/
http://www.vasttransformations.com/
http://portal.tern.org.au/#/9f6d265e
Advances in Military Geosciences - Springer
Acknowledgements
• University of Queensland
• Many public and private land managers, land management agencies, consultants
and researchers have assisted in the development of Farmmap4D and VAST &
VAST-2