Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS)
The Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) monitors Queensland's forests and woodlands, supporting the Vegetation Management Act and regional planning initiatives. It also provides satellite images, detailed spatial data and reports to help landholders, scientists, industry and government improve land management practices.
The primary SLATS report, including a series of addenda reports is developed by the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts (DSITIA).
A supplementary report to the SLATS report is developed jointly by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines and DSITIA. This report analyses the state clearing trends to evaluate the effectiveness of the vegetation management framework and to identify areas for change and improvement.
Most recent SLATS report
The 2009-10 SLATS report has now been released. The report indicates the annual woody vegetation clearing rate was 77 590 hectares per year, being a 22 per cent decrease from the 2008-09 rate of 99 940 hectares per year.
You can download the 2009-2010 SLATS report (PDF, 4.7M)*, as well as the accompanying 13 Addenda reports and the Supplementary report (PDF, 624K)*.
World-class research
Developed in Queensland, the SLATS approach is world’s best practice. The rigorous processing, classification and field survey methodology has been adapted and endorsed by a number of other states and territories in Australia. DSITIA’s Remote Sensing Centre welcomes collaborations to develop new or enhance existing land cover monitoring approaches.
A current SLATS research priority is the development of methods for mapping and monitoring woodland thickening (increase in density of woody plants, trees and shrubs, in savanna woodlands) in Queensland.
Accessing information
Information on accessing satellite imagery, SLATS reports, products and spatial datasets is available here.
More information
Contact the SLATS Principal Scientist: dave.harris@science.dsitia.qld.gov.au
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Last updated 16 January 2013
