The statewide Koala Habitat Information Base has been developed as part of the NSW Koala Strategy. It delivers the best available state-wide spatial data on koala habitat, likelihood, koala preferred trees and koala sightings for NSW. It will be an important resource to assist government agencies, local councils and private land holders with koala conservation decisions. It will help to prioritise the establishment of new koala reserves and private land conservation agreements to protect koala habitat, ensure local actions are based on the best available information, and improve the management of threats and disease. The Koala Habitat Information Base is not a regulatory instrument, meaning that the data layers do not categorise land for regulatory purposes. It does provide the best available scientific information to support decision makers, rehabilitators, land managers and community members involved in koala conservation. The Koala Habitat Information Base comprises several layers of spatial information, including: Koala Habitat Suitability Model (KHSM) – the probability of finding koala habitat at any location Koala Tree Suitability Index (KTSI) – the probability of finding a tree species that koalas are known to use for food or shelter

The Koala Likelihood Map (KLM) predicts the likelihood of finding a koala relative to other arboreal mammals across a 10-km grid covering NSW. It is built using existing arboreal mammal records from the past 20 years (currently 1999 to 2019) and represents the likelihood of koalas as the proportion of all records within a grid cell that are koalas. The records of other arboreal mammals provide a measure of survey effort independent of koalas and allow identification of areas where other arboreal mammals have been recorded, but not koalas. The map also includes a measure of the confidence in the koala likelihood estimate. This enables deficiencies in the data to be highlighted, and recommendations to be made for areas requiring further survey. The KLM is a useful tool that can be used to inform a range of koala conservation and management issues, however it is not static and should be updated regularly as new data become available. The KLM was first developed in 2014 for use in private native forestry regulation, on behalf of the NSW Environment Protection Authority. An updated and refined version of the map (NSW Koala Baseline Likelihood Map 2016) was produced in 2016 and has been used to inform provisions for koala protection under the Coastal Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals and is planned to inform the future review of the Private Native Forestry Code of Practice. This latest version of the KLM (v2.0 August 2019) includes new data from BioNet and Spot Assessment Technique (SAT) survey databases, as well as SAT data from a targeted state-wide field survey program. The KLM v2.0 (August 2019) is delivered under the NSW Koala Strategy's Koala Habitat Information Base. This comprises several layers of spatial information, including: Koala Habitat Suitability Model (KHSM) – the probability of finding koala habitat at any location; Koala Tree Suitability Index (KTSI) – the probability of finding a tree species that koalas are known to use for food or shelter; Koala Likelihood Map (KLM) including a confidence layer – predicts the likelihood of finding a koala at a location; Areas of Regional Koala Significance (ARKS) – identifies key koala populations and management areas with potential for long-term viability as well as priority threats to key koala populations; Native vegetation of NSW – this is a high-resolution map of native tree cover and water bodies; and all koala sightings recorded in NSW Bionet. All Koala Habitat Information Base (KHIB) datasets are available for download below under 'Dataset Relationship'.

Data layers provided by the LGA and the information within are only valid at the time of production. The habitat layer provided by the LGA may vary in spatial coverage of vegetation based on the date of production and the latest imagery used to determine current vegetation presence. Potential clearing of vegetation based on landuse zoning is only indicative as variable outcomes of vegetation clearance based on the landuse zoning can occur. Koala Corridor mapping is only indicative as koalas do not traverse the landscape in a linear direction, although they will seek favoured trees. Koala occupancy mapping is only indicative as records rely on recording koalas in the landscape, records are driven by human activity. Not all areas were assessed, only areas that have the potential to be developed and therefore the potential to impact koala habitat.

This research has been funded by the NSW Koala Research Plan under the NSW Koala Strategy. The NSW Koala Research Plan sets out a targeted and coordinated way for us to increase our knowledge of koalas. It is a 10-year plan that will be regularly reviewed and updated throughout its life.

Find out more about the Koala Research Plan: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/threatened-species/programs-legislation-and-framework/nsw-koala-strategy/nsw-koala-research-plan

_Find more datasets: _ https://datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/group/about/nsw-koala-research-plan

Data layers provided by the LGA and the information within are only valid at the time of production. The habitat layer provided by the LGA may vary in spatial coverage of vegetation based on the date of production and the latest imagery used to determine current vegetation presence. \r Potential clearing of vegetation based on landuse zoning is only indicative as variable outcomes of vegetation clearance based on the landuse zoning can occur.\r Koala Corridor mapping is only indicative as koalas do not traverse the landscape in a linear direction, although they will seek favoured trees.\r Koala occupancy mapping is only indicative as records rely on recording koalas in the landscape, records are driven by human activity.\r Not all areas were assessed, only areas that have the potential to be developed and therefore the potential to impact koala habitat. \r \r This research has been funded by the NSW Koala Research Plan under the NSW Koala Strategy. The NSW Koala Research Plan sets out a targeted and coordinated way for us to increase our knowledge of koalas. It is a 10-year plan that will be regularly reviewed and updated throughout its life.\r \r Find out more about the Koala Research Plan: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/threatened-species/programs-legislation-and-framework/nsw-koala-strategy/nsw-koala-research-plan\r \r _Find more datasets: _ https://datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/group/about/nsw-koala-research-plan\r \r

Field validation of mapping, including ground-truthing, and collection of rapid and full-floristic plot data using the Plant Community Type (PCT) classification. Structural information captured in the following 3 fields:. 1. Dominant Canopy growth stage, 2. Level of disturbance, 3. Stand density. Data and Resources

This data has now been superseded, please go to https://datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/dataset/nvr-map-sensitive-regulated-land-transitional-2022 for the most current NVR Data\r \r *************************************************************************************\r \r \r The transitional NVR map - category 2-sensitive regulated land layer is a component of the transitional NVR map. transitional NVR Map was prepared by Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) under Part 5A of the Local Land Services Act 2013 (LLS Act) and supporting Local Land Services Regulation 2014.\r \r The 2021 annual review of the transitional NVR map was published on 26 March 2021. Please read below for details about changes occurring as a result of the 2021 annual review. The latest version of the map can be viewed online using the transitional NVR map viewer.\r \r https://www.lmbc.nsw.gov.au/Maps/index.html?viewer=NVRMap\r \r Section 108 of the Local Land Services Regulation 2014 states that the NVR map designates category 2-sensitive regulated land as a sub-category of category 2-regulated land and lists the types of land to be included.\r \r Datasets compiled to generate the category 2-sensitive regulated land layer include those identifying land that:\r \r - has been declared as a Ramsar wetland (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)\r \r - is under a private land conservation agreement\r \r - is Coastal Wetland or Littoral Rainforests mapped under State Environmental Planning Policy (Coastal Management) 2018\r \r - is native vegetation required to be retained within forestry plantations under the Plantations and reafforestation Act 1999\r \r - is an offset under a property vegetation plan or other approval\r \r - is a set-aside under the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code 2018 or under the Native Vegetation Regulation 2013.\r \r - is an approved conservation measure as part of a Biodiversity Certification of land under Part 8 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.\r \r - contains critically endangered ecological communities or plants\r \r - is considered to be core koala habitat under an approved Koala Plan of Management\r \r - is subject to a remedial action or;\r \r - was mapped as old-growth forest or rainforest under the Comprehensive Regional Assessment undertaken for the Regional Forest Agreements.\r \r \r The inclusion an/or update of these layers on the NVR map requires the approval of the Secretary DPIE or delegate.\r \r \r Changes to the mapping of category 2-sensitive regulated land introduced in the publish of the transitional NVR map on 26 March 2021 included:\r \r -\tadditions to category 2 – sensitive regulated land of set-aside areas approved between February 2020 and July 2020 under the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code 2018\r \r -\tCritically Endangered Plants – Refinements to mapping of some critically endangered plants.\r \r - Critically Endangered Ecological Communities – Refinements to mapping of some critically endangered ecological communities in the Greater Sydney region.\r \r - Private Native Forestry Old Growth Forest and Rainforest – Updates to mapping of Old Growth Forest and Rainforest via private native forestry code approvals under Part 5B or land holder- initiated reviews under Part 5A of the Local Land Service Act 2013.\r \r - Property Vegetation Plans – Updates to term incentive property vegetation plans (PVP) agreements under the Native Vegetation Act 2003, for which the term has expired.\r \r - Biodiversity Conservation Trust agreements – Refinements of, and updates to conservation agreements managed by the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust.\r \r \r The data is provided as multi value raster that identifies the category 2-sensitive regulated land, category 2-vulnerable regulated land and where category 2-sensitive and category 2-vulnerable regulated land overlaps.\r \r Pixel values:\r \r 3 - category 2-vulnerable regulated land \r \r 4 - category 2-sensitive regulated land \r \r 6 - Where category 2-sensitive and category 2-vulnerable regulated land overlap (display class) \r \r Spatial datasets compiled in the category 2-sensitive regulated land layer are sourced from Department Planning and Environment, Environment Protection Authority, Biodiversity Conservation Trust, Department of the Environment and Energy and NSW Local councils.\r \r Data on the transitional NVR viewer is updated on a monthly basis for Landholder minor data changes. https://www.lmbc.nsw.gov.au/Maps/index.html?viewer=NVRMap\r \r Please contact Department of Planning and Environment data broker on data.broker@environment.nsw.gov.au for additional information.\r

This record is now superseded. The current record for ‘Transitional – Native Vegetation Regulatory Map' can be viewed here.\r \r The Native Vegetation Regulatory Map (NVR Map) was prepared by Office of Environment and Heritage under Part 5A of the amended Local Land Services Act 2013 (LLS Act) and supporting regulation. The NVR Map has been developed to underpin the new land management framework. The NVR Map shows rural land where clearing of native vegetation can occur without approval and rural land where clearing requires approval.\r Please refer to the Method Statement for more details https://iar.environment.nsw.gov.au/dataset/asset_details/native-vegetation-regulatory-map \r Broadly, category 1 is land that was cleared of native vegetation as at 1 January 1990, or land that was lawfully cleared between 1 January 1990 and 25 August 2017. Category 2 is land that was not cleared as at 1 January 1990, was unlawfully cleared after 1 January 1990, or is a prescribed area with an identified environmental value. Land is mapped to each category on the basis of past clearing or disturbance events, as detected by satellite and aerial imagery, and updated land use data. Prescribed areas with an identified environmental value are mapped as category 2, overriding a category 1 designation based on the mapping.\r Native Vegetation Regulatory Map – Land Categories and map the 6 colour code\r Category\tDefinition\r 1. Category 1 - Blue\r Unrestricted Management (Exempt)\tRural lands where clearing of Native Vegetation is not regulated by Part 5A of the LLS Act 2013.This includes land cleared or significantly disturbed as at 1 January 1990 or lawfully cleared between that date and commencement of Part 5A of the LLS Act 2013. Other legislation may apply to Exempt land. \r 2. Category 2 - Yellow\r Code Based Management (Regulated)\tRural lands where clearing is regulated and can be carried out in accordance with Part 5A of the LLS Act 2013 or other legislation. This includes complying with the Codes and Allowable Activities. Land not cleared as at 1 January 1990, land unlawfully cleared since 1 January 1990, and land subject to existing conservation obligations including remedial directions.\r 3. Category 2 - Orange\r Regulated (Vulnerable)\tRural land where clearing of native vegetation is more restricted than on other Category 2 land. This includes steep and highly erodible lands, riparian land and special category land (as declared). \r 4. Category 2 - Pink\r Regulated (Sensitive)\tRural land where clearing of native vegetation is more restricted than other Category 2 land. This includes lands that are Sensitive Lands due to factors such as the presence of coastal wetlands, certain rainforests, core koala habitat, high conservation grasslands, critically endangered entities, land subject to conservation or incentive agreements or covenants and others. \r 5. Category 2 - Brown\r Is to depict land where Category 2 Regulated [(Vulnerable)Orange] and Category 2 Regulated [(Sensitive)Pink] overlap.\r 6. Excluded Land - Grey\r Land not regulated by Part 5A of the LLS Act 2013. This land includes urban zones, environmental conservation zones and R5 large lot residential as gazetted under a Local Environment Plan (LEP). It also includes public conservation lands such as National parks and State Forests. \r

This data has now been superseded, please go to https://datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/dataset/native-vegetation-regulatory-map-2022 for the most current NVR Data\r \r ******************************************************************************************* \r \r \r \r The transitional NVR map was prepared by Department Planning and Environment under Part 5A of the amended Local Land Services Act 2013 (LLS Act) and supporting regulation.\r \r On the 25th of August 2017 the transitional NVR Map was published under transitional arrangements set out in 60F of the LLS Act. \r \r The current published version of the transitional NVR Map (version 3) was exhibited to the public between 10 February - 12 March 2021 and after review, published on 26 March 2021. The transitional NVR Map currently displays category 2 – vulnerable regulated land, category 2 – sensitive regulated land and land that is excluded from the LLS Act. The latest version of the map can be viewed online using the NVR Map Viewer. \r \r The transitional NVR Map has been developed to underpin the new land management framework. The transitional NVR Map essentially tells you where the land management code and allowable activities are either limited or not available.\r \r Understanding the map categories.\r \r Currently, the transitional NVR map viewer displays displays category 2 – vulnerable regulated land, category 2 – sensitive regulated land and land that is excluded from the LLS Act. Mapping for category 1 - exempt land and category 2- regulated land are yet to be published.\r \r Broadly, category 1 - exempt land is land that was cleared of native vegetation as at 1 January 1990, or land that was lawfully cleared between 1 January 1990 and 25 August 2017. Category 2 - regulated land is land that was not cleared as at 1 January 1990, was unlawfully cleared after 1 January 1990, or is a prescribed area with an identified environmental value. Land is mapped to each category on the basis of past clearing or disturbance events, as detected by satellite and aerial imagery, and updated land use data. Prescribed areas with an identified environmental value are mapped as category 2 - regulated land, overriding a category 1 - regulated land designation based on the mapping.\r \r Transitional NVR map – land categories and map the 6 colour code\r \r Category\tdefinition\r \r 1. Category 1 - exempt land (Blue)\r Unrestricted management (exempt). Rural lands where clearing of native vegetation is not regulated by Part 5A of the LLS Act 2013.This includes land cleared or significantly disturbed as at 1 January 1990 or lawfully cleared between that date and commencement of Part 5A of the LLS Act 2013. Other legislation may apply to category 1 - exempt land. \r \r 2. Category 2 - regulated land (Yellow)\r Code based management (regulated). Rural lands where clearing is regulated and can be carried out in accordance with Part 5A of the LLS Act 2013 or other legislation. This includes complying with the codes and allowable activities. Land not cleared as at 1 January 1990, land unlawfully cleared since 1 January 1990, and land subject to existing conservation obligations including remedial directions.\r \r 3. Category 2 - vulnerable regulated land (Orange)\r Regulated (vulnerable). Rural land where clearing of native vegetation is more restricted than on other category 2 land. This includes steep and highly erodible lands, riparian land and special category land (as declared). \r \r 4. Category 2 - sensitive regulated land (Pink)\r Regulated (sensitive). Rural land where clearing of native vegetation is more restricted than other category 2 land. This includes lands that are sensitive lands due to factors such as the presence of coastal wetlands, certain rainforests, core koala habitat, high conservation grasslands, critically endangered entities, land subject to conservation or incentive agreements or covenants and others. \r \r 5. Category 2 - sensitive and vulnerable regulated lands areas of overlap (Brown)\r This map class depicts land where category 2 vulnerable regulated land [(Vulnerable) - Orange] and category 2 - sensitive regulated [(Sensitive) - Pink] overlap.\r \r 6. Land excluded from the LLS Act - (Grey)\r Land not regulated by Part 5A of the LLS Act 2013. This land includes urban zones, environmental conservation zones and R5 large lot residential as gazetted under a Local Environment Plan (LEP). It also includes public conservation lands (such as National parks and State Forests) and number of entire councils in the Sydney metro area.\r \r Please refer to the Method Statement for more details https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Animals-and-plants/Biodiversity/native-vegetation-regulatory-map-method-statement-170495.pdf?la=en&hash=7E4AF9410B2B65E1C5B2FFB6218AF502BB6989C3\r \r For more information on the transitional NVR map, updates, version history and contact for enquiries, please visit the transitional NVR Map web page:\r \r https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/biodiversity/native-vegetation-regulatory-map

This layer reflects the probability of finding a tree species that a koala is known to use for food or shelter. The statewide Koala Habitat Information Base (KHIB) has been developed as part of the NSW Koala Strategy. It delivers the best available state-wide spatial data on koala habitat, likelihood, koala preferred trees and koala sightings for NSW. It will be an important resource to assist government agencies, local councils and private land holders with koala conservation decisions. The Koala Tree Index v1.1 is one dataset under the KHIB. Tree indices were developed for each of the nine Koala Modelling Regions and mosaiced together into a statewide raster. Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) individual tree species distribution models were developed for important food and shelter species, with each KMR possessing a characteristic set of species whose combined distributions added to create index. The choice which species to include in each region was determined by a process of expert elicitation. The statewide product is available for download below as a zipped 5m tif image readable in any spatial software package. An ArcGIS mxd is also supplied for suggested symbology. All Koala Habitat Information Base datasets are available for download at the links below under 'Dataset relationship'. For further information on the data layers and their development, please see the Koala Habitat Information Base Technical Guide.

The Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan (the CPCP) facilitates growth in Western Sydney to 2056 and beyond, and delivers important development and biodiversity outcomes. The CPCP is one of the largest strategic conservation plans to be undertaken in Australia and will protect large areas of significant habitat for threatened plants and animals, including koala population, while supporting the delivery of housing, jobs and infrastructure. The CPCP will facilitate delivery of up to 73,000 homes planned for the Western Parkland City by providing the necessary NSW and Federal biodiversity approvals across around 11,000 hectares of land including the Western Sydney Aerotropolis to enable development of new housing and infrastructure. There are 9 datasets associated with the CPCP, these are available as a part of the download package.

Kuluwañ Flora Reserve vegetation mapping was conducted by Eastcoast Flora Survey environmental consultants (Steve Bell and Ryan Sims) for Hunter Central Coast Branch in 2024-25. The mapping uses NSW Plant Community Types (PCTs) and includes Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs). Kuluwañ Flora Reserve is located on the Central Coast hinterland approximately 30 km north-west of Gosford, NSW. In January 2021, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) was appointed as land manager of several Forestry Corporation NSW, Flora Reserves. One of these is the Kuluwañ Flora Reserve (FR), which occurs in the Central Coast Area (CCA) of the NPWS Hunter Central Coast Branch. To facilitate effective management of this reserve, NPWS required detailed information on floristics and vegetation communities. This information will be used to identify those species and communities of high conservation significance to inform future plans of management and associated works, fire management strategies, weed control strategies and rehabilitation plans. Full-floristic survey site information is required to support native vegetation mapping. Comprehensive field survey was undertaken across the 1610 ha. Ten vegetation communities were delineated, described and mapped. Multivariate clustering and nMDS ordination techniques on 36 sample plots and 373 plant taxa were undertaken in support of field observations, and there was good congruence between these two techniques suggesting a robust classification was achieved. In total, 373 taxa were recorded from Kuluwañ FR, and only four of these were weeds. The threatened shrub Rhodamnia rubescens (critically endangered) was relatively common across most sheltered slopes, and all populations displayed signs of Myrtle Rust infection despite good flowering. The vulnerable Melaleuca biconvexa, included in databases as present on the eastern edge of the reserve, could not be substantiated during current surveys. Additionally, the rare ironbark, bottlebrush and wattle were all recorded within Kuluwañ. Diversity in eucalypts (Angophora, Corymbia, Eucalyptus) within Kuluwañ FR is high for such a small area, with twenty-one (21) species recorded over the 1610 ha. This equates to one newly encountered species every 77 ha and is consistent with trends evident in other parts of the Central Coast and Hunter Valley. As might be expected, the vegetation present within Kuluwañ FR shows strong affinities to that in the nearby Jilliby/Watagan and Yengo/Parr reserve systems. This is reflected in the relative ease with which vegetation communities could be affiliated with those described for those reserves. The characteristic species present across ridges and slopes, as well as those on gullies and alluvial flats, are mostly consistent with those in these reserves. Nearly all of the eucalypts recorded within Kuluwañ FR are considered Koala use species for the Central Coast, in addition to three non-eucalypt species. Kuluwañ FR consequently provides substantial habitat for Koala, based on the diversity and abundance of over 20 known use tree species. Detailed information is included in the report: Bell, S.A.J. & Sims, R. (2025) Vegetation and floristics of Kuluwañ Flora Reserve, Central Coast LGA. Unpublished Report to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. January 2025. Eastcoast Flora Survey.

The aim of the project was to produce fine scale vegetation mapping for the ‘Green Zone’ of the Lismore LGA identifying vegetation communities, endangered ecological communities and koala habitat. The mapping was to be completed using Land and Property Information high resolution digital photography. At the time the project was commissioned, aerial photography available for the study area was limited to the LGA-wide 2009 series (used for the 2011 vegetation mapping project). The project commenced in November 2017 using 2009 aerial photography, along with September 2012 imagery limited to the rural villages of Modanville, Dunoon and Nimbin. From May 2018 onwards, the project used high resolution aerial photography taken in April 2018.

This dataset represents fine-scale floristic vegetation mapping within eastern freehold lands of the Nambucca Local Government Area (LGA) and targeted mapping of Threatened Ecological Communities (TEC) outside public lands throughout the LGA. Vegetation has been classified into Plant community types (PCT), classes and formations, with the composition of respective vegetation species identified. Mapping was conducted by vegetation mapping ‘experts’ (NSW Office of Environment and Heritage) between 2013 and 2015, and was based on 3-D PLANAR modelling, aerial photography interpretation and field floristic assessment. Additionally, basic disturbance information is captured along with a selection of prominent weeds where identified by interpreters. Vegetation mapping and a field verification program were conducted, in two stages, for parts of the Nambucca Shire Council Local Government Area (Nambucca LGA) using high-resolution digital aerial imagery. The aim of the project was to map the vegetation and plant community types in the coastal and lowland areas of the Nambucca LGA outside National Park and State Forest Estate in order to: • Define the extent of vegetation on the valley floors, to provide a refined and accurate layer of woody and non-woody vegetation cover for private land and coastal Crown Land within the Nambucca LGA. • Delineate the potential occurrence of Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) on freehold lands and coastal Crown Land in the Nambucca LGA (Stage 1). • Map all coastal and lowland vegetation communities on freehold land and coastal Crown Land (Stage 2). • Identify areas of the Stage 2 mapped vegetation to be used in habitat modelling for the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). The vegetation map is suitable for use at a scale of 1:5000 and will support environmental planning and assessment at the level of local government areas and regions. The map is indicative of the vegetation and threatened ecological communities occurring within an individual property or development land area. However, it is recommended that decision making be based on further flora surveys and expert-driven site assessment to meet the requirements of the TSC Act and other planning instruments on a case-by-case basis.