WetlandUpdate October 2023

Wetlands Mapping Version 6.0

The Queensland wetland mapping and classification has been updated, based on 2019 wetland extent. Wetland mapping is used by State and local governments, Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups, consultants, and in research institutions to assist with prioritising management and conservation of wetlands and the various values that wetlands support. This update included critical review of the dataset, including redevelopment of some of the foundational background documentation. The release includes updates to the documentation, including:

• Queensland Wetland Mapping Method: A Method to Provide Baseline Mapping of Wetland Extent and Changes in Wetland Extent in Queensland Version 2.0
• Queensland Wetland Classification Scheme Version 2.0
• Queensland Wetland Definition Guideline Version 2.0
• Queensland Wetland Delineation and Mapping Guideline Version 2.0

This release also includes:

• The Queensland Wetland mapping and classification dataset, available through WetlandMaps, QSpatial and Queensland Globe.
• Changes in wetland extent (such as loss and gain) which is integrated into the Reef Report Card, Regional Report Cards and the Ecosystem Health Monitoring Programs. These changes in wetland extent are reflected in wetland statistics available on WetlandSummary, with new statistics for mapping extents from 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2019.
• New conceptual models for hydrological modifications of wetlands
• New and more comprehensive data pages for Attribute categories, Attributes by theme, Data fields and details, and Wetland Typology.

Updated and new Ecology pages

Wetlands are dynamic systems that influence, and are influenced, by a complex range of environmental variables. The logic and structure of the Ecology section of the website has been significantly updated, to include more comprehensive information on ecosystem components (parts), processes, ecological cycles and spheres.

This will assist with identifying, understanding, and quantifying the components and processes of wetlands, both of which are essential in understanding and quantifying the ecosystem services provided by wetlands. Knowledge of components and processes assists with developing management interventions and priorities that benefit and improve wetlands management, including priorities to on-ground projects.

Quantifying the ecosystem services provided by wetlands aligns the management of wetlands to a Whole-of-System, Values-Based framework.

Interim Queensland River Classification Scheme

The Interim Queensland River Classification Scheme provides a standardised approach to describing and categorising the biological, physical and chemical characteristics (attributes) of rivers. The attribute-based classification scheme provides a common understanding and language of classification to improve communication and lead to better research, decision making and management outcomes. The approach underpinning the QRCS is consistent and integrated with the classification approach for all aquatic ecosystems in Queensland.

The Queensland River Classification Scheme includes the release of:

• Module 1: Introduction to the River Classification Scheme
• Module 2: Literature review of biophysical attributes for river classification
• Module 3: River Classification Attributes (web pages)
• Queensland River Classification Scheme Factsheet

Sandringham Lagoon Catchment Story

A catchment story for Sandringham Lagoon has been added to the Plane Catchment Story. Developed with Reef Catchments NRM, the catchment story integrates spatial information, photographs, animations and an informative narrative to demonstrate the features of Sandringham Lagoon and it's surrounding catchment.

Economic Valuation of ecosystem services

Information has been developed on the valuation of ecosystem services. Developed with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and reviewed by economic experts, this page provides a guideline for decision makers and policymakers in how to estimate the monetary value of ecosystem services.

New Wetland Modelling Pages

A new page has been developed to assist with understanding modelling. It includes information on what modelling is, types of modelling, modelling of processes and species, outputs of modelling and how modelling is used for wetland management. There is also a new page specifically for Wetland models. This guide will be important for wetland and catchment managers that will use modelling tools to assist with assessments and decision making. It also includes three new conceptual models to assist with understanding how wetlands are considered in hydrological modelling for nitrogen removal.

WetlandSummary updates and new Wetlands Insight Tool (WIT) charts

The stacked line plots produced by the Digital Earth Australia (DEA) Wetlands Insight Tool (WIT) have been added to WetlandSummary. The stacked line plot charts display the amount of open water, wet, green vegetation, dry vegetation and bare soil over time. For WetlandSummary, the stacked line plot charts visually represent all the wetland areas in the area of interest, instead of one individual wetland (available via WetlandMaps).

The stacked line plot charts have an interactive slider that helps to display the chart with the wetland size of interest. This allows the user to understand the open water within the identified wetlands of an area (termed fractional cover). The stacked line plot charts can be used to visualise droughts, major hydrological events, floods and how water in wetlands is changing over time.

Please note the stacked line plot charts are a data visualisation tool - any analysis of this data should be undertaken using the source data from GeoScience Australia.

WetlandSummary now also includes:

• The ability to display statistics in hectares or km².
• For wetland system and wetland habitat tables, the ability to separate wetland areas by habitat hydrological modification.

Updates to Education Modules

The Wetland types and classification and Mapping wetlands in Queensland education modules have been updated to reflect changes with Version 6 of the Wetlands Mapping.

The The Ramsar Convention in Queensland has also been updated.

New Factsheets

Updates

Updated layers on WetlandSummary

• Wildnet Species Grid
• Aquatic biopassage structures
• Local Government Areas

Programs, Policy and Legislation pages

Reviewed and updated content to maintain accuracy and relevance.

Additional links

• Wetland Tracker indicator construct validity - a literature review has been added to the Wetland Tracker: Great Barrier Reef Catchment Wetland Condition Monitoring Program page.
• Restoring blue carbon ecosystems: a best practice guideline for hydrologic assessments has been added to the Changes in Climate, Wetlands and the carbon cycle and Modelling pages.
• Living Shorelines, Nature based methods for coastal protection has been added to the Marine and estuarine ecosystem rehabilitation approaches page.
• Wetland Spotter has been added to the Inventory and Get Mapping Help pages. It is a mobile application that allows the user to submit photographs and other information on wetlands across Queensland, Australia to the Queensland Herbarium for identification and mapping. The mobile app can also be accessed via Google Play: Wetland Spotter - Apps on Google Play and iOS: Wetland Spotter on the App Store (apple.com).
• Queensland’s Urban Water Explorer has been added to the Water Management page.
• The State of the World’s Mangroves 2022, Global Mangrove Watch and The Mangrove Restoration Tracker Tool has been added to the Mangroves page.
• The Resilient Rivers Map has been added to the Project Search Tool page.
• Managing Ramsar wetlands under a changing climate has been added to the Changes in climate and Nationally (DIWA) and internationally important (Ramsar) wetlands pages.
• Ibis: fledgling to flock has been added to the Birds page.
• What's that smell? Seasonal mangrove odours, Mangroves - City of Gold Coast and Mangrove odours on Redlands Coast has been added to the Mangroves page.

WetlandUpdate

The WetlandUpdate is a regular bulletin sent to subscribers to provide you with the latest WetlandInfo resources and tools, as well as case studies, video information and new project fact sheets.

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WetlandInfo feature species

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References

1. ^ Yu, H, Liu, X, Yang, C, Peng, Y, Yu, X, Gu, H, Zheng, X, Wang, C, Xiao, F, Shu, L, He, Z, Wu, B & Yan, Q (October 2021), 'Co-symbiosis of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and diazotrophs promote biological nitrogen fixation in mangrove ecosystems', Soil Biology and Biochemistry. [online], vol. 161, p. 108382. Available at: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0038071721002558 [Accessed 22 September 2023].

Last updated: 25 October 2023