The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is using advanced mapping technologies and ground truthing with pastoralists to build a clearer picture of rangeland pastures across Western Australia.
A three-year project has commenced to map rangeland pastures - also referred to as Rangeland Vegetation Groups - to support future pastoral land management.
Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation Melanie Strawbridge said advances in remote sensing and computing technology were improving how vegetation was mapped.
“Maintaining pastoral lands for the future requires up-to-date information on the distribution of the various Rangeland Vegetation Groups and the potential carrying capacity of pastoral leases across WA,” Dr Strawbridge said.
“New vegetation maps are being produced using existing spatial data sets and field observations, together with machine learning.
“Alongside this mapping, DPIRD will undertake an extensive consultation process with pastoralists to reassess the carrying capacity of vegetation groups to allow us to make improved and updated estimates of pasture and lease-level carrying capacity.”
All pastoralists in WA will be sent maps and information, along with an invitation to contact DPIRD to discuss the mapping and productivity estimates.
DPIRD will also contact selected pastoralists to arrange station visits to discuss and calibrate the mapping and pasture potential of their specific Rangeland Vegetation Groups.
This will be followed by further consultation in 2026, culminating in a series of regional workshops.
“DPIRD also plans to move from the Cattle Unit to the Animal Equivalent standard that is widely used in other States and recommended by Meat and Livestock Australia,” Dr Strawbridge said.
“Further information will be provided to pastoralists at regional workshops and during station visits.”
DPIRD will make the vegetation maps available when the project ends in 2028 and will provide pastoralists and the State Valuer General with estimates of lease Potential Carrying Capacity to inform the 2029 pastoral rent review determination.
Further information about the mapping and consultation process can be found at the DPIRD website https://www.dpird.wa.gov.au/pcc-review
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