Remote sensing applications for managing a large-scale restoration dynamics project throughout the City of Gold Coast conservation estate

Jean-Marc Hero; Luke Shoo; Michael Duncan; Darren Roche; Jesse Kenny; Howard Taylor; Tim Robson; Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava; Josh Veitch-Michaelis

doi:10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100429

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Remote sensing applications for managing a large-scale restoration dynamics project throughout the City of Gold Coast conservation estate

Journal article

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Remote sensing applications for managing a large-scale restoration dynamics project throughout the City of Gold Coast conservation estate

Jean-Marc Hero, Luke Shoo, Michael Duncan, Darren Roche, Jesse Kenny, Howard Taylor, Tim Robson, Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava and Josh Veitch-Michaelis

Science Talks , Vol.13, pp.1-8

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100429

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Abstract

restoration

BioCondition

vegetation

remote sensing

regeneration

machine learning

The City of Gold Coast established a program to restore native forests throughout the conservation estate (∼13,789 ha) utilizing constructed (CNR), assisted (ANR), and unassisted natural regeneration (UNR). Each year the city maintains over 4000 Ha of restoration works. The program is supported by an environmental decision support tool (oRestore) for the smart allocation of restoration funds over space and time (see [1] for details). We introduce the Restoration Dynamics Project, a quantitative evidence-based evaluation of the success of restoration actions undertaken between 2005 and 2022. Based on 17 restoration work areas (historically pasture dominated by exotic grasses, and open eucalypt forest vegetation (preclearing Regional Ecosystem 12.11.3), we compared optical and LiDAR vegetation metrics with field BioCondition assessments. UNR is suppressed by the presence of weed species that dominate cleared areas, resulting in low BioCondition. Unassisted, weeds can persist for decades, and intervention (ANR) is required for the recovery of native vegetation. CNR (tree-planting) provides canopy cover, however, lacks species diversity in the shrub layer. Assisted NR (controlling invasive species) is optimal for maximizing biodiversity in open eucalypt forests. LiDAR analytics can be a surrogate for BioCondition however field surveys are needed to determine non-native plant cover.

Details

Title: Remote sensing applications for managing a large-scale restoration dynamics project throughout the City of Gold Coast conservation estate
Authors: Jean-Marc Hero (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Luke Shoo - Gold Coast City Council
Michael Duncan - Gold Coast City Council
Darren Roche - Gold Coast City Council
Jesse Kenny - Gold Coast City Council
Howard Taylor - Gold Coast City Council
Tim Robson - Gold Coast City Council
Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Josh Veitch-Michaelis - ETH Zurich
Publication details: Science Talks , Vol.13, pp.1-8
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100429
ISSN: 2772-5693
Data Availability: Data will be made available on request.
Grant note: This work was supported by the Natural Areas Conservation (NAC) unit within the City of Gold Coast.
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991100144602621
Output Type: Journal article

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