Projected vegetation redistribution: Australia - 9second gridded projection to 2050, pre-clearing extents of 77 Major Vegetation Sub-groups using kernel regression with GDM-scaled environments for Vascular Plants (GDM: VAS_v5_r11; CMIP5: CanESM2 RCP 8.5)

Updated to include UNCON079 This collection contains 9-second gridded datasets (ESRI binary float format in GDA94) showing the projected future (2050-centred) potential vegetation redistribution of 77 Major Vegetation Sub-groups (MVS classes) for continental Australia based on their pre-clearing distribution patterns and correlation with baseline ecological environments (c.1990 climates, substrate and landform). The pre-clearing vegetation patterns and classification derive from version 4.1 of “Australia - Estimated Pre1750 Major Vegetation Groups - NVIS Version 4.1 (Albers 100m analysis product)” developed by the Australian Government Department of the Environment and collaborating State agencies. A kernel regression was used with c.155,000 locations of training classes for the 77 MVS classes attributed with 17 GDM-scaled environmental predictors for Vascular Plants representing baseline ecological environments. The training class data input to the kernel regression is provided with this package. The GDM-scaled environmental predictors are available with the “VAS_v5_r11” data package. Using the 1990 baseline training MVS class data, and without constraining the prediction to pre-existing map boundaries, the kernel regression projected to 2050 the distribution of the 77 Major Vegetation Sub-groups using 2050-centred (30 year average) future climates derived from the CanESM2 global climate model for the emission scenario defined by a representative concentration pathway of 8.5. The kernel regression generates unconstrained probabilities varying in the range from 0 and up to 1 for each of the 77 MVS classes. The data are provided as 9-second (approximately 250m), ESRI binary float grid format in GDA94. Each class is denoted “UNCON###”, where the number refers to the code originally assigned to that MVS class by the supplier. A lookup table linking the MVS classes to the output codes and descriptive title is provided. Generalised representations of the vegetation classes derived from the individual class probabilities as the maximum probability in any grid cell are provided separately (see related information). There are three dataset packages in this series: 1) 1990 predictions of MVS classes; 2) 2050 CanESM2 RCP 8.5 predictions of MVS classes; 3) 2050 MIROC5 RCP 8.5 predictions of MVS classes. This dataset series and its use is described in the AdaptNRM Guide “Helping biodiversity adapt to climate change: a community-level modelling approach”, available online at: www.adaptnrm.org