Maitland Native Vegetation Mapping 2021

Existing native vegetation mapping covering the Maitland Local Government Area (Umwelt, 2009; following Hill, 2003) was updated by NGH in 2021 using an aerial photograph interpretation approach using the most recently acquired, Council supplied imagery from 2020 and 2021. Using a systematic 1km x 1km grid, mapped vegetation was reviewed against the underlying high spatial resolution imagery at a scale of 1:10,000. Based on this review one of two responses were made to update the data: - removal of polygons or parts thereof in response to vegetation loss (603 ha removed)- addition of polygons in response to previously unmapped vegetation or emergence of new regrowth (832 ha added).An assessment and classification of vegetation condition was also completed using on-screen visual appraisal of newly mapped vegetation, ground truthed by Council, and the development and application of vegetation condition classification which was applied to the entire mapped vegetation layer.