A Habitat Condition Assessment System for Australia

This project has provided Australia with its first consistent, repeatable and cost-efficient national biodiversity habitat condition assessment and reporting capability—developed through the Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS).

It is expected that this new system will enhance our capacity to:

identify priority areas for management interventions
undertake national environmental reporting
inform identification of natural and non‐natural influences on habitat condition.

The HCAS approach breaks new ground through its use of remote sensing, spatial ecological modelling and sparse data from on ground condition assessments to generate a national view of condition.

The HCAS is based on the premise that habitat occurring at places with similar abiotic environments (e.g. climate, soil, landform, water availability) should look similar when viewed using remote sensing, averaged across seasons and years. Where two such places have markedly different remotely sensed ecosystem characteristics, this may indicate a difference in their condition as habitat for biodiversity.

This capability considers differences in condition caused by natural and seasonal fluctuations, as well as non-natural disturbances, such as climate change, and offers decision-makers the capacity to respond more rapidly and strategically to changes in habitat condition.

Download the 90m HCAS v3.1 data collection (December 2024 release) and HCAS v3.1 guide to the 90m data collection.

The 90-metre resolution raster data collection includes a long-term epoch (1988 to 2022) and 33 short-term epochs from 1990 to 2022.

Coming soon: 95% confidence intervals for long- and short term epochs of HCAS v3.1 (90-metre raster data)

Technical reports provide detailed descriptions of method and enhancements, an assessment of limitations and recommendations for further improvement.

Project publications

Fact sheets

Munroe S, Malley C, Tetreault Campbell S, Hazelwood L, Gunawardana D, Perrott L and Williams K (2024) Redesign kicks off for the Habitat Condition Assessment System. Publication number: EP2023-5557. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. Download this Fact sheet.

Malley C, Lyon P, Deb D and Williams KJ (2022) The Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS): progress update for stakeholders, August 2022. Publication number EP2022-5952. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. Download this fact sheet.

Williams KJ and Lyon P (2019) The Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS): Progress update for stakeholders: June 2019. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. Download this fact sheet.

Lyon P, Williams KJ, Dickson F, Ferrier S, Harwood T, Donohue R, McVicar T, Storey R, White M, Newell G and Ahmad M (2016) A Habitat Condition Assessment System for Australia: Developing a new approach to mapping change in habitat for biodiversity continentally. CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, Australia. Access the project flyer.

Glossary

A list of terms commonly used in HCAS publications and related terms: see the Glossary published in the HCAS v2.1 technical report.

Data

Valavi R, Williams KJ, Liu N, Levick SR, Giljohann KM, Johnson S, Botha EJ, Munroe SEM, Lehmann EA, Collings S, Searle R, van Niel TG, Newnham G, Paget M, Joehnk K, Hosack GR, Harwood TD, Malley C, Gunawardana D, Sivanandam P, Richards AE, Tetreault Campbell S and Ferrier S (2024) HCAS 3.1 (1988-2022) base model estimate of habitat condition (90 m grid), National Connectivity Index (NCI) 2.0, and 3-year average annually rolling epochs of habitat condition from 1990 to 2022 for continental Australia. Data collection 63571. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/wt04-0d81.

Valavi R, Williams KJ, Liu N, Levick S, Giljohann KM, Johnson S, Botha EJ, Munroe SEM, Lehmann EA, Collings S, Searle R, van Niel TG, Newnham G, Paget M, Joehnk K, Hosack GR, Harwood TD, Malley C, Gunawardana D, Sivanandam P, Carlile P, Richards AE, Tetreault Campbell S, Schmidt RK and Ferrier S (2024) HCAS 3.0 (1988-2022) base model estimate of habitat condition (250m grid), National Connectivity Index (NCI) 2.0, 3-year average annually rolling epochs of HCAS and NCI from 1990 to 2022, trends and other derivatives for continental Australia. Data Collection 62484. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/ks3e-7p22.

Valavi R, van Niel TG, Lehmann EA, Williams KJ, Harwood TD, Newnham G, Paget M, Donohue RJ, Giljohann KM, Liu N, Lyon P, Pinner L, Malley C, Deb D and Ferrier S (2023) 9 arcsecond gridded HCAS 2.4 (2001-2018) base model estimation of habitat condition, 18-year epochs including updated NCI v2.0, annual epochs 2001 to 2021 and trends for continental Australia (with caveats). CSIRO. Data Collection, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/de5y-xe74.

Harwood TD, Lehmann EA, Giljohann KM, Williams KJ, Liu N, Ferrier S, Ware C, Donohue RJ, Malley C, Sivanandam P and Schmidt RK (2023) 9-arcsecond gridded HCAS 2.3 (2001-2018) base model estimation of habitat condition and general connectivity for terrestrial biodiversity, ecosystem site condition, annual epochs and 18-year trends for continental Australia. CSIRO. Data Collection, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/arew-q819.

Harwood TD, Lehmann EA, Giljohann KM, Williams KJ, Liu N, Ferrier S, Ware C, Donohue RJ and Schmidt RK (2023) 9-arcsecond gridded HCAS 2.3 (2001-2018) base model estimation of habitat condition for terrestrial biodiversity, ecosystem site condition, annual epochs and 18-year trends for continental Australia. CSIRO. Data Collection, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/5j5j-4p06.

Giljohann KM, Harwood TD, Lehmann EA, Liu N, Williams KJ, Ferrier S, Richards AE, Prober SM, Hayward J, Jordan R, Khan S, Ware C, Donohue RJ, Stewart SB, Tetreault Campbell S and Schmidt RK (2023) Account-ready data: ecosystem condition in the Western Australian Wheatbelt. A data collection from the Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot projects. CSIRO. Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/8×42-a205

Giljohann KM, Harwood TD, Lehmann EA, Liu N, Williams KJ, Ferrier S, Richards AE, Murphy HT, Hayward J, Khan S, Ware C, Johnson S, Donohue RJ, Stewart SB, Tetreault Campbell S and Schmidt RK (2023) Account-ready data: ecosystem condition in the Flinders, Norman and Gilbert river catchments in Queensland. A data collection from the Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot projects. CSIRO. Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/zg7g-3113

Harwood TD, Giljohann KM, Williams KJ, Ferrier S, Lehmann EA, Ware C, Donohue RJ, Stewart SB, Tetreault Campbell S, Johnson S and Schmidt RK (2023) Account-ready data: ecosystem site condition in the Murray-Darling Basin. A data collection from the Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot projects. CSIRO. Data Collection, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/j7yv-9q79.

Harwood TD, Williams KJ, Lehmann EA, Ware C, Lyon P, Bakar S, Pinner L, Schmidt B, Mokany K, Van Niel TG, Richards AE, Dickson F, McVicar TR and Ferrier S (2021) 9 arcsecond gridded HCAS 2.1 (2001-2018) base model estimation of habitat condition for terrestrial biodiversity, 18-year trend and 2010-2015 epoch change for continental Australia. Data collection. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/nkjf-f088.

Harwood T, Richards A, Schmidt B, Ware C, Prober S, Ferrier S, Lehmann E, McVicar T, Bakar S, Mokany K and Williams KJ (2021) Ecosystem condition for the Gunbower-Koondrook-Perricoota Forest Icon Site v03.04.2021. Data Collection, v9. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/nw6d-ae40.

Reports

Williams KJ, Liu N, Valavi R, Levick SR, Giljohann KM, Johnson S, Botha EJ, Munroe SE, Lehmann EA, Collings S, Searle R, van Niel TG, Newnham G, Paget M, Joehnk K, Hosack GR, Harwood TD, Malley C, Gunawardana D, Sivanandam P, Richards A, Tetreault Campbell S and Ferrier S (2024) Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS) version 3.1: A guide to the 90-metre data collection. Publication EP2024-5394. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/659845?index=1.

Williams KJ, Liu N, Valavi R, Levick S, Giljohann KM, Johnson S, Botha EJ, Munroe SE, Lehmann EA, Collings S, Searle R, van Niel TG, Newnham G, Paget M, Joehnk K, Hosack GR, Harwood TD, Richards AE, Tetreault Campbell S, Schmidt RK and Ferrier S (2024) Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS) version 3.0: An introduction to methods for developing 250-metre national condition data for ecosystem accounting in Australia. A report for the National Ecosystem Accounting Project. Publication EP2024-4957. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/cmev-mp26.

Williams KJ, Liu N, Valavi R, Levick S, Giljohann KM, Johnson S, Botha EJ, Munroe SE, Lehmann EA, Collings S, Searle R, van Niel TG, Newnham G, Paget M, Joehnk K, Hosack GR, Harwood TD, Malley C, Gunawardana D, Sivanandam P, Carlile P, Richards AE, Tetreault Campbell S, Schmidt RK and Ferrier S (2024) Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS) version 3.0: The complete guide to the 250-metre data collection. Publication EP2024-6353. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. https://publications.csiro.au/publications/publication/PIcsiro:EP2024-6353. (this link will work once published – February 2025).

Williams KJ, Valavi R, Lehmann EA, van Niel T, Harwood TD, Newnham G, Paget M, Donohue RJ, Giljohann KM, Liu N, Lyon P, Pinner L, Malley C, Deb D and Ferrier S (2023) Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS): developing HCAS v2.4 with annual epochs updated to 2021. Publication number EP2023-4902. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/de5y-xe74.

Williams KJ, Giljohann KM, Richards AE, Harwood TD, Lehmann EA, Liu N, Ferrier S, Murphy HT, Prober SM, Hosack GR, Tetreault Campbell S and Schmidt RK (2023) Extended methods used in developing the Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS) version 2.3, ecosystem condition account-ready data and experimental accounts for two mixed-use landscapes. A technical report from the Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot projects. Publication number: EP2023-1426. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/r12v-ya32.

Williams KJ, Giljohann KM, Liu N, Harwood TD, Lehmann EA, Ferrier S, Richards AE, Prober SM, Hayward J, Jordan R, Khan S, Ware C, Stewart SB, Tetreault Campbell S and Schmidt RK (2023) Methods for developing account-ready data: ecosystem condition in the Western Australian Wheatbelt. In: Account-ready data: ecosystem condition in the Western Australian Wheatbelt. A data collection from the Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot projects. CSIRO. Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/8×42-a205

Williams KJ, Giljohann KM, Harwood TD, Lehmann EA, Liu N, Ferrier S, Richards AE, Murphy H, Hayward J, Khan S, Ware C, Johnson S, Stewart SB, Tetreault Campbell S and Schmidt RK (2023) Methods for developing account-ready data: ecosystem condition in the Flinders, Norman and Gilbert river catchments in Queensland. In: Account-ready data: ecosystem condition in the Flinders, Norman and Gilbert river catchments in Queensland. A data collection from the Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot projects. CSIRO. Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/zg7g-3113

Williams KJ, Harwood TD, Giljohann KM, Ferrier S, Lehmann EA, Ware C, Stewart SB, Tetreault Campbell S and Schmidt RK (2023) Extended methods for developing account-ready data: ecosystem site condition in the Murray-Darling Basin. A technical report from the Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot projects. Publication number: EP2022-5750. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/nc2m-qf55.

Williams KJ, Harwood TD, Giljohann KM, Ferrier S, Lehmann EA, Ware C, Stewart SB, Tetreault Campbell S, Johnson S and Schmidt RK (2023) Methods for developing account-ready data: ecosystem site condition in the Murray-Darling Basin. In: Account-ready data: ecosystem site condition in the Murray-Darling Basin. A data collection from the Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot projects. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/j7yv-9q79.

Williams KJ, Harwood TD, Lehmann EA, Ware C, Lyon P, Bakar S, Pinner L, Schmidt RK, Mokany K, Van Niel TG, Richards AE, Dickson F, McVicar TR and Ferrier S (2021) Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS version 2.1): Enhanced method for mapping habitat condition and change across Australia. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/n3c6-7w60.

Lehmann EA, Williams KJ, Harwood TD and Ferrier S (2021) A not-too-technical introduction to the HCAS v2.x mechanics: a revised method for mapping habitat condition across Australia. Publication number EP211609. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/ek91-wj41.

Williams KJ, Donohue RJ, Harwood TD, Lehmann EA, Lyon P, Dickson F, Ware C, Richards AE, Gallant J, Storey RJL, Pinner L, Ozolins M, Austin J, White M, McVicar TR and Ferrier S (2020) Habitat Condition Assessment System: developing HCAS version 2.0 (beta). A revised method for mapping habitat condition across Australia. Publication number EP21001. CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/85f4-1k65.

Lehmann E, Harwood T, Williams KJ and Ferrier S (2018) HCAS Activity 3a(1): Environmental Space Modelling – Methods Document. CSIRO, Document Number EP184899, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/5b9810b665f04.

Donohue RJ, Harwood TD, Williams KJ, Ferrier S and McVicar TR (2014) Estimating habitat condition using time series remote sensing and ecological survey data. CSIRO Earth Observation and Informatics Transformational Capability Platform Client Report EP1311716. CSIRO, Canberra. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4225/08/58503778590e0.

Journal papers

Williams KJ, Ferrier S, Lehmann EA, Harwood TD, Donohue RJ, Giljohann KM, Valavi R, Liu N, Ware C, Lyon P, van Niel TG, McVicar TR, Richards AE and Malley C (2024) Overcoming Key Challenges of Satellite-based Monitoring of Ecosystem Condition: A Continental-scale Example From Australia (preprint). EcoEvoRxiv Preprints, 171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32942/X2333Q.

Conference and workshop presentations

Valavi R, Williams KJ, Ferrier S, Lehmann E, Levick S, Giljohann K, Liu N, Johnson S, Botha E, Munroe S, Collings S, van Niel TG, Newnham G, Paget M, Birchall M, Searle R, Ware C and Harwood T (2024) Advancing the national habitat condition assessment system (HCAS) software to enhance transparency and repeatability. ESA 2024, The conference of the Ecological Society of Australia. Ecological Society of Australia. https://esa2024.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ESA-2024-Program_web_4Nov.pdf.

Giljohann K, Valavi R, Liu N, Ferrier S, Munroe S, Botha E, Levick S, Johnson S, Richards A, Sivanandam P, Carlile P, Malley C, Harwood T and Williams KJ (2024) Applications of national habitat condition information in policy and management – the Habitat Condition Assessment System. ESA 2024, The conference of the Ecological Society of Australia. Ecological Society of Australia. https://esa2024.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ESA-2024-Program_web_4Nov.pdf.

Malley C, Lyon P, Deb D and Williams KJ (2023) Commonwealth Government use of the novel Habitat Condition Assessment System (Session 2). TERN Science Symposium 2023.TERN Science Symposium 2023. TERN: https://www.tern.org.au/science-symposium-2023/. View the abstract. [Watch the recorded presentation in YouTube, starting at 34:30 minutes.]

Williams KJ, Ferrier S, Lyon P, Lehmann EA, Harwood TD, Van Niel T, Giljohann KM, Valavi R, Liu N, Newnham G, Paget M, Pinner L, Malley C, Schmidt B and Deb D (2023) Improving the accuracy and utility of the Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS) as a national tool for monitoring ecosystem condition using satellite-based remote sensing (Session 6). TERN Science Symposium 2023. TERN: https://www.tern.org.au/science-symposium-2023/, 25. View the abstract. [Watch the recorded presentation in YouTube, starting at 1:25:20 minutes.]

Malley C, Lyon P, Deb D and Williams KJ (2023) Novel Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS) for environmental decision-making and reporting (poster). Ecological Society of Australia Conference 2023. Ecological Society of Australia, Darwin Northern Territory. View the abstract. Poster can be downloaded here.

Lyon P, Williams KJ, Deb D, Pinner L, Malley C, Carlile P, Judith R, Ferrier S, Harwood T, Eric A. L and Donohue R (2022) Harnessing remote sensing for environmental understanding: the new Habitat Condition Assessment System (HCAS). CSIRO space tech lunch talk series, Adelaide, 8 December 2022. CSIRO. View the abstract.

Malley C, Lyon P, Deb D and Williams K (2022) Estimating habitat condition using satellite-based remote sensing and reference sites. Advancing Earth Observation Forum 2022, Brisbane, 22-26 Aug 2022. CSIRO. View the abstract and poster.

Malley C, Lyon P, Deb D, Pinner L and Williams KJ (2022) Using national condition and connectivity metrics for environmental decision-making and reporting. ESA-SCBO 2022: Reconnecting with Nature; Reconnecting with Each Other, Wollongong, 28 Nov 2022 to 02 Dec 2022. Ecological Society of Australia. View the abstract. [Watch the recorded presentation in the Open Forum – Data Synthesis and Decision Making session, starting at 1:08-1:14 minutes.]

Williams KJ, Richards A and Metternicht G (2022) Australia’s requirements for information on biomass change: a video presentation. European Space Agency (ESA) Climate Change Initiative – Biomass 1st User Workshop, online, 28-30 June 2022. View the abstract.

Williams KJ, Lyon P, Lehmann EA, Harwood TD, Donohue R, Ware C, Bakar S, Pinner L, Schmidt RK, Mokany K, Niel TGV, Richards AE, McVicar TR, Malley C, Dickson F and Ferrier S (2021) Using satellite-based remote sensing and modelling to estimate habitat condition, change and trends (Symposium: Remote Sensing in Ecology). 61st Annual Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia, online and Darwin, 22-26 November 2021, Theme: Renewal. Ecological Society of Australia. DOI: http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/433695.

Harwood T, Richards A, Williams K, Eric A. L, Donohue R, Mokany K, Schmidt B, Ware C, Ferrier S and Prober S (2021) A condition index that integrates remote sensing and expert knowledge for an experimental ecosystem account (Symposium: Remote Sensing in Ecology). 61st Annual Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia, online and Darwin, 22-26 November 2021, Theme: Renewal. Ecological Society of Australia. View the abstract.

Williams KJ, Lehmann EA, Harwood TD, Donohue R, Ware C, Lyon P, Bakar S, Pinner L, Schmidt RK, Mokany K, Niel TGV, Richards AE, McVicar TR, Malley C, Dickson F and Ferrier S (2021) Using TERN products to predict habitat condition nationally: A spoken presentation TERN Science Symposium 2021, online, 5-6 July 2021. TERN, Brisbane, Australia. DOI: http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/435068. Watch the presentation.

Williams KJ, Lehmann EA, Harwood TD, Donohue R, Ware C, Lyon P, Bakar S, Pinner L, Schmidt RK, Mokany K, Van Niel TG, Richards AE, McVicar TR, Malley C, Dickson F and Ferrier S (2021) Using TERN products to predict habitat condition nationally: A symposium paper. In: Gackle A (ed.) Proceedings of the TERN Science Symposium 2021, online, 5-6 July 2021. TERN Australia at The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 45-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14264/2f0d5bf.

Williams K (2021) Habitat condition assessment system: a general framework for monitoring ecosystem condition from space. In: A Cutting-Edge Science Symposium Developing a national ecosystem assessment and forecasting system for Australia, 1-5 February 2021. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. Access: https://research.csiro.au/biodiversity-knowledge/dynamic-ecosystem-assessment-system/. Watch the spoken presentation (Session 2, between 32-46 mins): https://webcast.csiro.au/#/videos/2383e97f-2a81-448d-9184-3fbd4c21cdc3.

Lyon P, Harwood T, Donohue R, Lehmann E, Williams K, Ferrier S, McVicar T, White M, Dickson F, Pinner L, Ozolins M and Galway K (2019) The Habitat Condition Assessment System: Big data analytics for the state of Australia’s ecosystems (Symposium: Vegetation science for decision-making). Annual Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA19): Ecology: science for practical solutions. 25-29 November, Launceston. Ecological Society of Australia. View the abstract.

Lehmann E, Harwood T, Donohue R, Williams KJ, Dickson F, Lyon P, Macfarlane C, McVicar T, Storey R, White M and Ferrier S (2018) National mapping of biodiversity habitat condition for comparative assessments across regions. Ecological Society of Australia Annual Conference 2018: Ecology in the Anthropocene, 25-29 November 2018, Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Ecological Society of Australia. DOI: http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/86222.

Williams KJ, Dickson F, Donohue R, Ferrier S, Harwood T, Lehmann E, Lyon P, Macfarlane C, McVicar T, Ozolins M, Pirzl R, Pinner L, Storey R and White M (2018) National mapping of biodiversity habitat condition for comparative assessments across regions. In: Dijk AV (ed.) Expert workshop: Environmental‐economic accounts with Earth observation data. Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.

Williams KJ, Dickson F, Donohue R, Ferrier S, Harwood T, Lehmann E, Lyon P, Macfarlane C, McVicar T, Ozolins M, Pirzl R, Pinner L, Storey R and White M (2018) National mapping of biodiversity habitat condition for comparative assessments across regions. Ecosystem Surprises and Rapid Collapse, Boden Research Conference, Australian Academy of Science, 8-9 May 2018. Book of abstracts, page 53.

Williams KJ, Harwood T, Lehmann E, Donohue R, Lyon P, Dickson F and Ferrier S (2017) HCAS-2 – a remote sensing application of condition assessment evenly across whole regions. In: Hyland E (ed.) Essential Environmental Measures for Australia: Native Vegetation Workshop. Pavilion Hotel, 19-20 June 2017. Canberra, Australia.

Harwood TD, Donohue RJ, Williams KJ, Ferrier S, McVicar TR, Newell G and White M (2016) HCAS: A new way to assess the condition of natural habitats for terrestrial biodiversity across whole regions using remote sensing data. 2016 GEO BON Open Science Conference & All Hands Meeting. GEO Biodiversity Observation Network, Leipzig, Germany, 4th – 8th July 2016. Access the published book of abstracts, page 26-27. DOI: http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/90097.

Ferrier S, Harwood T, Donohue R, Williams KJ and McVicar T (2014) Estimating habitat condition using time-series remote sensing and ecological survey data. National Condition Workshop. TERN Eco-Informatics. Adelaide, Australia.

Other media

Harwood T, Donohue R, Ferrier S, McVicar T, Newell G, White M and Williams K (2016) Can We Really Measure Habitat Condition From Space? methods.blog. Available online: https://methodsblog.wordpress.com/2016/2011/2029/habitat-condition-from-space/.

Published applications using HCAS

Styc Q, Minasny B, Jang HJ and McBratney A (2025) Modelling Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics at the Continental Extent Using Pedogenon Mapping. European Journal of Soil Science 76(2), e70070. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.70070.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2025) National Ecosystem Accounts, experimental estimates methodology. Reference period: 2020-21 financial year. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, Australia.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2025) National Ecosystem Accounts, experimental estimates: Estimates of the extent, condition and services provided by Australia’s ecosystems, including terrestrial, coastal, freshwater and marine realms. Reference period: 2020-21 financial year. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, Australia.

Giljohann KM, Mokany K, Ferrier S, Harwood TD, Ware C and Williams KJ (2025) Accounting for Australia’s threatened species: estimating historical and recent change in terrestrial habitat Ecological Indicators 170(112978), 1-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112978.

DCCEEW (2024) Corporate Plan 2024–25. Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Canberra, Australia. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/corporate-plan-2024-25.pdf.

DCCEEW (2024) Annual Report 2023–24. Australian Givernment Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Canberra, Australia. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/dcceew-2023-24-annual-report.pdf.

Sanson J and Bryan B (2024) The Land Use Trade-Offs model v2 (LUTO2). Climateworks Centre (www.climateworkscentre.org) and Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. Factsheet.

Harwood T, Ferrier S, Mokany K and Vickers M (2024) Bioclimatic Ecosystem Resilience Index (BERI) for Australia. Data Collection 63222. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/cv09-pv10.

Mokany K, Ware C, Vickers M, Giljohann K and Tetreault Campbell S (2024) National biodiversity data for ecosystem accounting in Australia: 1990 to 2022. Data Collection 63064. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/cqh1-8908.

Mokany K, Ware C, Vickers M, Giljohann K, Tetreault Campbell S, Richards A and Schmidt B (2024) Methods for developing national biodiversity data for ecosystem accounting in Australia. Publication Number EP2024-4830. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/a0bp-f016.

Richards AE, Prober SM, Liu N, Keith DA, Newnham G, Williams KJ, Tetreault-Campbell S and Schmidt RK (2024) Methods for developing spatial extent of the Australian Ecosystem Models Framework archetypes and ecosystem states at 250 m and 100 m resolution for Australia’s terrestrial ecosystems: 1988 to 2022. A report for the National Ecosystem Accounting Project. Publication EP2024-5688. CSIRO, Darwin, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/69rd-9335.

Richards AE, Prober SM, Liu N, Keith DA, Newnham G, Williams KJ, Tetreault-Campbell S and Schmidt RK (2024) Spatial extent of the Australian Ecosystem Models Framework archetypes and ecosystem states at 250 m and 100 m resolution for Australia’s terrestrial ecosystems: 1988 to 2022. Data Collection 63665. CSIRO, Darwin, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/0es7-rk29.

Murphy HT, Ferrier S, Fitch P, Hoskins A, Lyons P, Moran C, Munroe SEM, Richards AE, Bugnot AB, D., Duncan P, Good MK, Hosack GR, Lemon DM, J., Prober SM, Saunders MI, Terasaki Hart D and Williams KJ (2024) The Ecological Knowledge System for the Nature Repair Market. High-level technical summary of the proposed approach. CSIRO, in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/9zx8-g268.

Symbios, The University of Queensland and Earth Observation Australia (2024) Continuity of Earth Observation Data for Australia: Risks. Symbios, The University of Queensland, and Earth Observation Australia, Brisbane, Australia. Download link for the report. This report includes HCAS as a case study.

Ward M, Ashman K, Lindenmayer DB, Legge S, Kindler G, Cadman T, Fletcher R, Whiterod N, Lintermans M, Zylstra P, Stewart R, Thomas H, Blanch S and Watson JEM (2024) Shifting baselines clarify the impact of contemporary logging on forest-dependent threatened species. Conservation Science and Practice 6(9), e13185. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13185.

DCCEEW (2023) Corporate plan 2023-24. Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Canberra, Canberra, Australia. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/corporate-plan-2023-24.pdf.

DCCEEW (2023) Annual Report 2022-23. Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Canberra, Canberra, Australia. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/annual-report-2022-23.pdf.

Román Dobarco M, Padarian Campusano J, McBratney AB, Malone B and Minasny B (2023) Genosoil and phenosoil mapping in continental Australia is essential for soil security. Soil Security 13, 100108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soisec.2023.100108.

Williams KJ, Liu N, Giljohann KM, Ferrier S, Harwood TD, Lehmann EA, Richards AE, Stewart SB, Tetreault-Campbell S and Schmidt RK (2023) Methods for compiling accounts: ecosystem condition in the Western Australian Wheatbelt. In: Experimental ecosystem accounts and supplementary data for the Western Australian Wheatbelt. A data collection from the Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot projects. CSIRO. Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/z5hd-xw18

Williams KJ, Giljohann KM, Liu N, Ferrier S, Harwood TD, Lehmann EA, Richards AE, Stewart SB, Tetreault-Campbell S and Schmidt RK (2023) Methods for compiling accounts: ecosystem condition in the Flinders, Norman and Gilbert river catchments in Queensland. In: Experimental ecosystem accounts and supplementary data for the Flinders, Norman and Gilbert river catchments. A data collection from the Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot projects. CSIRO. Data Collection, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/ewj0-6a44

Lehmann EA, Ferrier S and Williams KJ (2023) Trend test for serially correlated time series data. A technical report from the Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot projects. Publication number: EP2023-3255. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/e4gd-4f88.

Mokany K, Giljohann K, Ware C, Harwood T, Ferrier S, Tetreault-Campbell S and Schmidt RK (2023) Methods for developing account-ready data: biodiversity in the Murray-Darling Basin. In: Account-ready data: biodiversity in the Murray-Darling Basin. A data collection from the Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot projects. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/1bhc-0v60.

Williams KJ, Giljohann KM, Harwood TD, Ferrier S, Lehmann EA, Ware C, Stewart SB, Tetreault-Campbell S and Schmidt RK (2023) Extended methods for compiling accounts: ecosystem site condition in the Murray-Darling Basin. A technical report from the Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot projects. Publication number: EP2022-5751. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/886w-5m03.

Giljohann KM, Williams KJ, Harwood TD, Ferrier S, Lehmann EA, Ware C, Stewart SB, Tetreault-Campbell S, Johnson S and Schmidt RK (2023) Methods for compiling accounts: ecosystem site condition in the Murray-Darling Basin. In: Experimental ecosystem accounts and supplementary data for the Murray-Darling Basin. A data collection from the Regional Ecosystem Accounting Pilot projects. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/1zzn-jz71.

Williams, Kristen (2023): Land use zones derived from HCAS v2.1 and IBRA 7 as used in the Land Chapter of the Australia State of the Environment 2021 report. v1. CSIRO. Data Collection. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/pkvs-0n46

Ward M, Ashman K, Lindenmayer D, Legge S, Kindler G, Cadman T, Fletcher R, Whiterod N, Lintermans M, Zylstra P, Stewart R, Thomas H, Blanch S and Watson JEM (2023) The impacts of contemporary logging after 250 years of deforestation and degradation on forest-dependent threatened species. bioRxiv, 2023.2002.2022.529603. DOI: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.02.22.529603v1.

DCCEEW (2023) Corporate plan 2022-23. Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Canberra, Canberra, Australia. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/corporate-plan-2022-23.pdf. EN01, page 30-31.

DAFF (2022) Performance Results: Environment and Heritage, Measure EN01 – Habitat Condition and Connectivity. In: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Annual Report 2021–22. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Canberra, Australia. https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/department-agriculture-water-and-environment/reporting-year/2021-22.

Butler D and Elmer C (2022) Regional-scale method to monitor vegetation condition using condition models and expert elicitation: Accounting for Nature Accredited Method (AfN-METHOD-NV-09). Accounting for Nature, https://www.accountingfornature.org/native-vegetation-methods. Download PDF.

Giljohann KM, Drielsma M, Love J, Pinner L, Lyon P, Harwood TD, Williams KJ and Ferrier S (2022) Technical description for a National Connectivity Index version 2.0 based on HCAS version 2.1. CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/rwke-j939.

Mokany K, Ware C, Harwood TD, Schmidt RK, Tetreault-Campbell S and Ferrier S (2022) Habitat-based biodiversity assessment for ecosystem accounting in the Murray-Darling Basin. Conservation Biology 36 (5): e13915. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13915.

Clemens RS, Laffan SW, Low-Choy S, Mackey BG, Williams KJ and Wraith J (2021) How Australian mega-fires impacted the Superb Lyrebird and Greater Sooty Owl: A demonstration of the functionality coming to EcoCommons, and the utility of HCAS. EcoCommons. Viewed 25/2/2022, https://www.ecocommons.org.au/how-australian-mega-fires-impacted-the-superb-lyrebird-and-greater-sooty-owl/.

Clemens RS, Laffan SW, Low-Choy S, Mackey BG, Williams KJ and Wraith J (2021) Digital platforms deliver rapid assessments of Australian mega-fires on two bird species. In: Vervoort RW, Voinov AA, Evans JP and Marshall L (eds) 24th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation: Modelling for action with a flood of data and could of uncertainty: Abstracts. The Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (MODSIM), Canberra, Australia. Page 194. https://www.mssanz.org.au/modsim2021/documents/MODSIM2021_BookofAbstracts.pdf.

DAWE (2021) Performance results – Environment and heritage, ongoing work. In Annual Report 2020–21. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra, Australia. Access: https://www.awe.gov.au/about/reporting/annual-report, see PDF page 46.

Forbes O, Hosking R, Mokany K and Lal A (2021) Bayesian spatio-temporal modelling to assess the role of extreme weather, land use change and socio-economic trends on cryptosporidiosis in Australia, 2001–2018. Science of The Total Environment 791, 148243. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148243.

Harwood TD, Richards AE, Williams KJ, Mokany K, Schmidt RK, Ware C, Ferrier S and Prober SM (2021) Assessing condition of ecosystem types at Gunbower-Koondrook-Perricoota Forest Icon Site. A technical report for the Land and Ecosystem Accounts Project. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/a9b7-9y54.

Mokany K, Ware C, Harwood TD, Schmidt RK, Tetreault-Campbell S and Ferrier S (2021) Biodiversity in the Gunbower-Koondrook-Perricoota Forest Icon Site and the Murray-Darling Basin. A technical report for the Land and Ecosystem Accounts Project. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra, Australia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25919/nzg6-0819.

Williams K, Hunter B, Schmidt B, Woodward E and Cresswell I (2021) Australia State of the Environment 2021 – Land. Independent report to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment, Commonwealth of Australia. DOI: 10.26194/6EAM-6G50. Download the report.

Nowrouzi S, Bush A, Harwood T, Staunton KM, Robson SKA and Andersen AN (2019) Incorporating habitat suitability into community projections: Ant responses to climate change in the Australian Wet Tropics. Diversity and Distributions 25(8), 1273-1288. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12935.