ACTGOV Urban ACT Ecological Network

Short description: A network of natural and semi-natural areas which support critical ecosystem services, including connected native species habitats, and which provide for implementation of living infrastructure, active travel, climate adaptation and community wellbeing outcomes. An output of the Connecting Nature, Connecting People program, developed to guide land use and management decisions. Coordinate system: GDA2020 MGA zone 55 METHODS Data collection / creation: The ecological network was initially derived from potential habitat and connectivity model outputs for grassland, woodland and aquatic-riparian ecosystems. These model outputs indicate potential habitat areas, fragmentation and whether a patch is big enough to provide core or corridor habitat functions for specific taxa groups. The network was created by identifying key patches of core habitat and corridors, as well as missing links that could reconnect fragmented patches. These were reviewed by several ecologists until the proposed network was agreed upon. These agreed areas were converted to spatial data. Polygons were drawn around the relevant potential habitat and connectivity model outputs to simplify the data and visualise connections between habitat patches. The output was overlaid over other environmental data, including sensitive ecological communities, threatened species records, waterways and many more. Boundaries were adjusted to reflect these values as needed. The ecological network was reviewed by subject matter experts and tested in a draft policy document released for public comment. Further revisions to boundaries were made following feedback. The final layer was dissolved and checked for geometry issues. NOTES ON USE Quality: The network considers an abundance and variety of datasets, including protected areas, potential habitat and connectivity maps, distribution of sensitive ecological communities, threatened species records, waterways, restoration projects, urban open spaces and community sites. Data was sourced from authoritative sources where possible. The network was verified and refined through wide distribution and review of the draft dataset, including by ACT Government ecologists and community members. Where possible, polygon boundaries were drawn around existing features (such as lakes or mapped habitat). Polygons were checked against the most recent aerial imagery to verify values and boundaries. This broad review of existing data and consultation on the output provides confidence the output represents the extent of our collective knowledge and provides a holistic illustration of known values. Limitations: The urban ACT Ecological network is a concept only. Polygon boundaries are hand drawn and imprecise. The data has not been ground-truthed. Boundaries should be considered approximate and verified with additional data and ground surveys. Further, the network does not assess feasibility or priorities. It does not consider species presence or absence, habitat condition, management regimes or tenure. This information should be gathered for decision making by referring to other environmental datasets, undertaking ground surveys and consulting with subject matter experts. Data refinement: The dataset could be further improved by testing corridors against a feasibility ruleset (e.g. distance between core patches, width). Additionally, future research may support a wider range of uses by adopting a more technical approach to establish polygon boundaries or areas of interest. This would support higher spatial accuracy and enable greater certainty on what areas are within the network. A quantitative approach could support spatial statistics to aid decision making, e.g. through the ability to prioritise corridors. The Least-Cost Pathway Method is recommended for further study. SHARING Licenses/restrictions on use: Creative Commons By Attribution 4.0 (Australian Capital Territory) How to cite this data: ACT Government, 2023. Urban ACT Ecological Network, version 2. Polygon layer developed by Office of Nature Conservation, CED, ACT Government. CONTACT For accessibility issues or data enquiries please contact the Connecting Nature, Connecting People team, [e-mail].

简要说明：本数据集为自然与半自然区域组成的网络，可支撑关键生态系统服务，包括连通的本土物种栖息地，同时可为生态基础设施建设、慢行交通、气候适应以及社区福祉目标的落地提供支持。本成果为「自然互联，人文共生（Connecting Nature, Connecting People）」项目的产出成果，旨在为土地利用与管理决策提供指引。
坐标系：GDA2020 MGA第55带
数据采集与制作方法：
该生态网络最初源自草原、林地与水滨-河岸生态系统的潜在栖息地及连通性模型输出结果。此类模型输出可反映潜在栖息地范围、生境破碎化情况，以及某一生境斑块是否足够大，可为特定生物类群提供核心或廊道栖息地功能。本网络通过识别核心栖息地与廊道的关键斑块，以及可连通破碎化斑块的缺失连接链路构建而成。经多名生态学家评审，直至最终敲定拟建网络方案。经确认的区域将被转换为空间数据，围绕相关潜在栖息地及连通性模型输出结果绘制多边形以简化数据，并可视化栖息地斑块间的连通关系。将生成结果与其他环境数据叠加，包括敏感生态群落、受威胁物种记录、水系等多种数据，根据需要调整边界以匹配上述各类环境特征。该生态网络经领域专家评审，并在面向公众征求意见的政策草案文件中进行了测试，随后根据反馈意见对边界进行了进一步修订。最终对图层进行融合处理，并检查几何格式问题。
使用说明：
数据质量：本网络整合了多源异构数据集，包括保护区、潜在栖息地与连通性地图、敏感生态群落分布数据、受威胁物种记录、水系、生态修复项目、城市开放空间及社区公共场地等数据，且尽可能来自权威数据源。通过广泛发布并评审数据集草案（包括由澳大利亚首都领地（Australian Capital Territory，ACT）政府的生态学家及社区成员参与评审），对本网络进行了验证与优化。尽可能围绕现有地物（如湖泊或已测绘的栖息地）绘制多边形边界，并通过最新航空影像对多边形进行核查以验证其属性与边界准确性。对现有数据的全面梳理及对产出成果的咨询评审，可确保本成果全面反映当前学界与业界的共识性认知，并完整呈现已知的生态价值。
局限性：本澳大利亚首都领地城市生态网络仅为概念性成果，多边形边界为手工绘制，存在精度不足问题，且未经过实地验证。边界仅为近似值，需结合额外数据与实地勘测进行验证。此外，本网络未评估连通链路的可行性或优先级，未考虑物种存在与否、栖息地状况、管理机制或土地保有权等因素。如需用于决策，需参考其他环境数据集、开展实地勘测并咨询领域专家以获取此类信息。
数据优化方向：可通过基于可行性规则集（如核心斑块间距、廊道宽度）对廊道进行测试，进一步优化本数据集。此外，未来可通过采用更专业的技术方法划定多边形边界或关注区域，拓展本数据集的应用场景，此举可提升空间精度，明确网络覆盖范围的边界确定性。采用定量分析方法可辅助开展空间统计分析以助力决策制定——例如可实现廊道优先级排序，建议后续研究采用最小成本路径法（Least-Cost Pathway Method）。
共享与使用：
使用许可与限制：知识共享署名4.0（澳大利亚首都领地）协议
数据引用方式：澳大利亚首都领地政府，2023年。《澳大利亚首都领地城市生态网络（第二版）》，由ACT政府自然保护办公室、CED开发的多边形图层数据集。
联系方式：若有无障碍使用相关问题或数据咨询，请联系「自然互联，人文共生（Connecting Nature, Connecting People）」项目组，邮箱：[e-mail]。