An expert panel-based approach to the assessment of vegetation condition within the context of biodiversity conservation: Stage 1: the identification of condition indicators

Vegetation condition assessment has recently become a major priority for Australian agencies and organisations responsible for integrated natural resource management. However, despite widespread acknowledgement of the importance of vegetation condition, there is little agreement as to how assessments should be conducted. This paper documents the process and results generated by the initial phases of a study designed to develop a repeatable and defensible approach to site-based assessment of vegetation condition within the context of species-level biodiversity conservation. The approach uses site-based indicator data to quantify the capacity of existing areas of vegetation to provide habitat and resources for indigenous plants and animals. The study makes use of the Delphi approach for structuring an e-mail-based group communication process dedicated to the identification of potential site-based indicators of condition. Through an iterative process involving 47 Australian experts, the study identified 62 potential indicators of vegetation condition. The indicators were equally representative of compositional (21), structural (20), and functional (21) attributes of biodiversity [Conserv. Biol. 4 (1990) 355]. The indicators reported here will, in later stages of the study, be prioritised for importance and feasibility and the resultant prioritised sub-set will then be incorporated into a site-based approach to vegetation condition assessment. This approach and the indicators reported may assist other Government agencies or groups tackling the specific task of vegetation condition assessment, or more generally, planning to use expert panels in natural resource management applications.