Property reports and vegetation mapping Guide

The vegetation management framework is supported by a number of maps which show vegetation categories and the boundaries of these categories on properties. These maps will help you identify what areas you can and can't clear.

We also provide property reports to give you information about what kind of vegetation is located on your property. We recommend landholders access these maps and reports before undertaking any vegetation clearing activities.

This guide explains the different maps, how to access them and how to access a property report.

• Request a free vegetation management report or map

  Before undertaking any vegetation clearing activities, you should view a vegetation management report for your property.

  You can request a free vegetation management report which includes property information and maps to help you identify the type of vegetation on your property, the requirements of vegetation clearing and other laws that may apply. The report will be emailed to you as a PDF, free of charge.

  • Request a report and maps

  Vegetation management report contents

  The report includes the following maps:

  • Regulated vegetation management maps show vegetation categories needed to determine the relevant assessment category. Maps are generally updated monthly to show new property maps of assessable vegetation.
  • Vegetation management supporting map provides information on regional ecosystems, wetlands, watercourses, and essential habitat and factors.
  • Protected plants flora survey trigger map is needed to determine if any part of the proposed clearing is within a high risk area.
  • Koala habitat areas and koala priority areas map is needed to determine if any part of the proposed clearing is within a Koala Priority Area or Koala Habitat Area.

  The protected plants flora survey trigger map and the koala habitat areas and koala priority areas map do not form part of the vegetation management framework but are included to assist landholders in understanding other features on their property. For more information on these maps, contact the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation.

  View vegetation management data on Queensland Globe

  Once you have downloaded your report, you may want to view regulated and supporting vegetation management maps using Queensland Globe.

  Queensland Globe makes it easier to identify and plan your vegetation management activities. Within the map’s interface, you can reduce the visibility of the vegetation management layers to see underlying infrastructure, roads and terrain.

  1. Access a preloaded Vegetation Management Topic on Queensland Globe.
  2. Zoom in to the area of interest on the map or use the search function on the left-hand side of the screen to search for a street address or a lot and plan number.
  3. The Vegetation management topic will load the regulated vegetation management layers without selecting the category X layer so you can see the satellite imagery below.
  4. On the left-hand side of the screen, click Layers and you can select the layers you want to display by turning the eye icon on and off.

  Visit the Queensland Globe help section to access help guides, tutorial videos and advanced feature documentation.

  More information

  • Read the vegetation management map updates policy (PDF, 256KB).

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• Vegetation maps

  The vegetation management framework is supported by a number of maps. However, there are 3 main maps that are used to identify vegetation and areas of land that can or cannot be cleared:

  • Regulated vegetation management map. This map show vegetation categories that determine what can be cleared and how the clearing activity can be undertaken.
  • Vegetation management supporting map. This is a combined map displaying the regional ecosystem mapping (i.e. plant communities), the location of mapped wetlands, watercourses and drainage features, and essential habitat mapping. This map is also used to determine what can be cleared and how the clearing activity can be undertaken.
  • Property maps of assessable vegetation (PMAVs). These are property-scale maps that show the boundaries of vegetation categories on a property. These maps are created following an agreement between the landholder and Queensland Government.

  The regulated vegetation management map and the vegetation management supporting map are generally updated annually. These updates use the latest high-resolution satellite imagery and scientific data to ensure continuous improvement and accuracy in the vegetation mapping.

  Areas that have a PMAV applied are not affected by changes to the regulated vegetation management map.

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• Vegetation categories

  Vegetation management maps show the different vegetation categories on your property. On the map, the categories are shown as different colours.

  Categories on the regulated vegetation management maps and PMAVs

  Below is an example of a regulated vegetation management map. The table explains what the different colours on the map refer to. Note, these categories will also be present on a property map of assessable vegetation (PMAV).

  View larger image

  Category	Colour on map	Areas covered
  A	Red	Compliance areas Environmental offset areas Declared areas
  B	Dark blue	Remnant vegetation areas. This is vegetation: that is: an endangered regional ecosystem an of concern regional ecosystem or a least concern regional ecosystem. forming the predominant canopy of the vegetation: covering more than 50% of the undisturbed predominant canopy averaging more than 70% of the vegetation's undisturbed height and composed of species characteristics of the vegetation's undisturbed predominant canopy
  C	Light blue	High-value regrowth vegetation areas. This is vegetation that is located: on freehold land, indigenous land or land subject of a lease issued under the Land Act 1994 for agriculture or grazing purposes or an occupation licence under that Act in an area that has not been cleared (other than for relevant clearing activities) for at least 15 years, if the area is: an endangered regional ecosystem an of concern regional ecosystem, or a least concern regional ecosystem Relevant clearing activities means: fodder harvesting managing thickened vegetation clearing of encroachment controlling non-native plants or declared pests necessary environmental clearing, or managing, felling and removing trees for an ongoing forestry business
  R	Yellow	Areas within 50m of a watercourse or drainage feature in all Great Barrier Reef catchments (JPG, 354 KB)
  X	White	Vegetation that is not mapped as a category A area, category B area, category C area or a category R area

  Categories shown on the vegetation management supporting map

  Below is an example of a vegetation management supporting map. This map provides additional information such as the conservation class of the regional ecosystems, location of wetlands, essential habitat and watercourses on your property.

  The table below explains what the different colours on the map refer to.

  View larger image

  Category	Colour on map	Description
  A or B area containing endangered regional ecosystems	Pink	Endangered status means: the area of remnant/regrowth vegetation is less than 10% of the pre-clearing extent of   the RE or the area of remnant/regrowth vegetation is 10–30% of the pre-clearing extent of the RE, and less than 10,000 hectares
  C or R area containing endangered regional ecosystems	Light pink
  A or B area containing of concern regional ecosystems	Orange	Of concern class means: remnant/regrowth vegetation is 10–30% of its pre-clearing extent across the bioregion or more than 30% of its pre-clearing extent remains and the remnant/regrowth extent is less than 10,000 hectares
  C or R area containing of concern regional ecosystems	Light orange
  A or B area that is a least concern regional ecosystem	Green	Least concern class means remnant/regrowth vegetation is over 30% of its pre-clearing extent across the bioregion, and the remnant/regrowth area is greater than 10,000 hectares
  C or R area that is a least concern regional ecosystem	Light green
  Wetlands	Green hatching	Wetlands that are shown on the vegetation management wetland map
  Essential habitat	Blue hatching	Essential habitat identifies the habitat of endangered, vulnerable or near-threatened wildlife (protected wildlife) prescribed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Also defined under section 20AC of the Vegetation Management Act.
  Watercourse and drainage features	Blue line	Watercourse and drainage features shown on the vegetation management watercourse and drainage feature map

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• Search vegetation management regional ecosystem descriptions

  This is our vegetation management regional ecosystems description database (VM REDD). Use this lookup tool to search for:

  • vegetation management classes (endangered, of concern, least concern)
  • regulated grasslands (woody grassland structure category) and unregulated grasslands (grassland structure category)
  • structure categories and other regional ecosystem information for use under the vegetation management framework.

  How to use the lookup tool

  You can search by:

  • regional ecosystem number, if you know it
  • regional ecosystem details and description.

  Or you can download a spreadsheet of all the data and search within it.

  Search the database

  Access the Queensland Herbarium

  Our VM REDD lookup tool searches for vegetation management information. If you're looking for Queensland Herbarium information on regional ecosystems under other legislative frameworks instead, you can use the regional ecosystem description search.

  Search by regional ecosystem number

  e.g. 1.3.5 where 1 is bioregion, 3 is land zone and 5 is vegetation community.

  Search

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  Or search by regional ecosystem details

  Description e.g. eucalyptus, BVG1M: 16

  Vegetation Management Act class (any)

  Structure category (any)

  Search

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  Download the data spreadsheet

  VM REDD complete dataset (22 November 2023) (XLXS, 690.8 KB)

  Further information

  See more information about Queensland's bioregions.

  No records were found.

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• Access the Queensland Herbarium

  Our VM REDD lookup tool searches for vegetation management information. If you're looking for Queensland Herbarium information on regional ecosystems under other legislative frameworks instead, you can use the regional ecosystem description search.

  Search by regional ecosystem number

  e.g. 1.3.5 where 1 is bioregion, 3 is land zone and 5 is vegetation community.

  Search

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  Or search by regional ecosystem details

  Description e.g. eucalyptus, BVG1M: 16

  Vegetation Management Act class (any)

  Structure category (any)

  Search

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  Download the data spreadsheet

  VM REDD complete dataset (22 November 2023) (XLXS, 690.8 KB)

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• Vegetation management regional ecosystems lookup result

  {{#if result.records}}

  {{#each result.records}}

  Vegetation management regional ecosystem details for {{ref_number}}

  Regional ecosystem	{{ref_number}}
  Vegetation Management Act class	{{VMA_CLASS}}
  Short description	{{SHORT_DESCRIPTION}}
  Structure category	{{VMA_STRUCTURE_CATEGORY}}
  Structure code	{{STRUCTURE_CODE}}
  Description	{{{ref_desc}}}
  Fire guidelines	{{FIRE_GUIDELINES}}

  {{/each}}

  {{else}}

  No records were found.

  {{/if}}

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• Applying for or correcting a PMAV

  A property map of assessable vegetation (PMAV) is a property-scale map that shows the boundaries of vegetation categories on the property. Some properties already have a PMAV, but if your property doesn't have one you can apply for one.

  Once a PMAV is certified, it replaces the regulated vegetation management map for determining the location and extent of the different areas of vegetation.

  To confirm if a PMAV exists on a lot, landholders or potential buyers should request a property report or contact the Department of Resources.

  When is a PMAV made by landholders

  After viewing the regulated vegetation management map for your property, you may wish to apply for a PMAV to be created to:

  • confirm the vegetation category areas as currently mapped
  • amend the mapping if you believe there is an error.

  In these instances, a PMAV is made through agreement between you and the Queensland Government.

  When is a PMAV made by the department

  We may place a PMAV over an area of land for other reasons, for example to allow an area to regenerate when it has been unlawfully cleared or to protect an offset area until it has reached remnant status.

  How to apply for a PMAV

  Complete the application for a property map of assessable vegetation (PDF, 304KB). Note: An application fee of Fee 6819 applies. We have prepared a PMAV application guide (PDF, 2.4MB) which provides guidance to landholders and consultants on information to include with your application.

  Your application must also contain a map showing the proposed vegetation boundaries and categories. If required, you will also need to provide information to demonstrate that the proposed boundaries are inaccurate. The application form provides details of requirements.

  What happens next?

  Confirming the vegetation category areas as currently mapped

  We will check that the application form has been completed correctly and the fee has been paid. If there are any issues with your application, we will contact you. Once we have all of the mandatory information we will certify the PMAV and send it to you.

  Amending the mapping if you believe there is an error

  We will assess your application using the information you supplied, as well as imagery and any other relevant data available to us. If we need extra information, we will contact you.

  The department has prepared the following guide to assist you when preparing a PMAV application to modify category C areas:

  • Guideline for determining category C areas (PDF, 700KB)

  After we have considered all available information, we will send you a draft PMAV or certified PMAV, depending on whether all of the changes requested in your application have been made. If proposed changes have not been made, we will provide you with information detailing the reasons behind our decision and offer you the opportunity to supply additional information.

  If you are not satisfied with our decision, you can apply for an internal review (PDF, 189KB).

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• Vegetation management regional ecosystem description

  Displaying results for

  RE ID	Description	VMA class	Structure category

Property reports and vegetation mapping, 28 Aug 2023, [https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/vegetation/maps]

This document is uncontrolled when printed. Before using the information in this document you should verify the current content on https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/vegetation/maps.