The SCT can be used to infer tree condition at a point in time and space however a far more scientifically robust application of the tool is to utilize its outputs to elucidate trends in tree stand condition through time and space. There are two key questions when evaluating the condition of riverine woody vegetation in the MDB.

• Has condition of woody vegetation been maintained or improved?

• Has recruitment of woody vegetation been maintained or improved?

The tool does not capture all elements of ecological condition, it is unable to inform the question around recruitment. It is important to note that the SCT contributes to reporting on tree condition rather than vegetation population (or ecosystem) condition.

Condition Score

Field observations involving making estimates of crown extent, the live basal area, and an index of the total plant area at a site. These three estimates are then scaled and averaged to generate condition score by the equation below.

CE = Crown Extent

Short descriptor, scaled from 0-5 therefore multiplied by 2

PAI = Plant Area Index

Short descriptor, scaled from 0-2 therefore multiplied by 5

LBA = Live Basal Area

Short descriptor

Basal area is the area of a given section of land that is occupied by the cross-section of tree trunks and stems at the base. When LBA is measured as a percentage it must by multiplied by 0.1, when it is scaled between 0-10 it is multiplied by 1.

Epoch

The model was trained using satellite imagery taken around the same time as the field data was collected and it was intended that the model be general enough to handle summary images of single-date images. However, when creating summary images the dates of the images in the stack, i.e. the epoch, should be considered. Previously Geoscience Australia used 16 month image stacks, starting in September and finishing in on the first of January two years later (see Table ##).

Field data is generally collected in April/May , therefore the 16 month epochs GA used take into account images 7 months either side of the field data.

The SCT can be used to infer tree condition at a point in time and space however a far more scientifically robust application of the tool is to utilize its outputs to elucidate trends in tree stand condition through time and space. There are two key questions when evaluating the condition of riverine woody vegetation in the MDB.

• Has condition of woody vegetation been maintained or improved?

• Has recruitment of woody vegetation been maintained or improved?

The tool does not capture all elements of ecological condition, it is unable to inform the question around recruitment. It is important to note that the SCT contributes to reporting on tree condition rather than vegetation population (or ecosystem) condition.

Condition Score

Field observations involving making estimates of crown extent, the live basal area, and an index of the total plant area at a site. These three estimates are then scaled and averaged to generate condition score by the equation below.

CE = Crown Extent

Short descriptor, scaled from 0-5 therefore multiplied by 2

PAI = Plant Area Index

Short descriptor, scaled from 0-2 therefore multiplied by 5

LBA = Live Basal Area

Short descriptor

Basal area is the area of a given section of land that is occupied by the cross-section of tree trunks and stems at the base. When LBA is measured as a percentage it must by multiplied by 0.1, when it is scaled between 0-10 it is multiplied by 1.

Epoch

The model was trained using satellite imagery taken around the same time as the field data was collected and it was intended that the model be general enough to handle summary images of single-date images. However, when creating summary images the dates of the images in the stack, i.e. the epoch, should be considered. Previously Geoscience Australia used 16 month image stacks, starting in September and finishing in on the first of January two years later (see Table ##).

Field data is generally collected in April/May , therefore the 16 month epochs GA used take into account images 7 months either side of the field data.