Classification
Vegetation in the Northern Territory has traditionally been described using a number of different classification schemes. Those still used for either vegetation mapping, floristic surveys and/or land system/unit mapping include Specht (1970), Beard & Webb (1974), and Walker & Hopkins (1990).
Most vegetation classification schemes are relatively similar, based on the vegetation stratum (eg. NVIS) and incorporate the following criterion:
- Floristics (NT Checklist)
- Heights (eg. NVIS)
- Covers (eg. NIVIS)
- Growth Form
A number of attempts have been made to construct a single vegetation classification scheme to accommodate all Australia’s distinctive vegetation characteristics. More recent developments include the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) based on the ‘Vegetation Chapter’ by Walker & Hopkins (McDonald et al., 1990) currently under revision to bring it into alignment with NVIS. NVIS attempts to provide a standard, unified approach for vegetation classification.
NVIS was developed to underpin the National Land and Water Resources Audit (NLWRA) assessment of vegetation in Australia. The development and maintenance is a collaborative program between Australia’s Commonwealth, States and Territory governments. The NVIS framework provides a comprehensive means of describing and representing vegetation types, based on establishing relationships between structural and floristic information in a relational database management system.
The system is to become the national standard for:
- Defining vegetation types at a descriptive hierarchical level using NVIS classification nomenclature (i.e. report outputs).
- Attributing map unit information in a standard and repeatable manner (vegetation attribute framework).
A large amount of vegetation map data from numerous NT source datasets has been translated into this national classification system. NVIS Version 3 map datasets for present and pre-clearing vegetation of the NT are now available. Please contact us.
NVIS has been adopted by the Land and Vegetation Unit for future vegetation survey and mapping and encourages others to adopt this framework.
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