DBCA Statewide Vegetation Statistics

Please note:
These reports are provided as a historic archive only and are not current. If you have an ongoing requirement to use the statistics, to meet a legislative or policy requirement, please seek advice from the relevant WA Government Department or Authority rather than contacting the data custodians listed under Key Information. If you use the reports, please include a caveat stating the following: (1) year of currency, (2) a statement that the statistics presented may now be out of date, and (3) the report citation.

Important update for parts of the South West Western Australia (June 2026):

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) have updated the remnant vegetation mapping and thus vegetation association statistics for parts of the Swan Coastal Plain, and for Katanning, Merredin and Western Mallee IBRA sub-regions. 
Please refer to:

•   2024 Swan Coastal Plain Vegetation Statistics available at:

https://catalogue.data.wa.gov.au/dataset/swan-coastal-plain-and-region-schemes-2024-remnant-vegetation-statistics

•   2024 native vegetation statistics for Katanning, Merredin and Western Mallee IBRA sub-regions available at:

https://catalogue.data.wa.gov.au/dataset/native-vegetation-statistics-for-merredin-katanning-and-western-mallee-ibra-sub-regions-2024

Overview of the Report:
From 2007 to 2018 DBCA provided regular updates of statistics on the pre-European and current extent of the vegetation associations of Western Australia within IBRA or IBRA sub-regions. The reporting is based on Beards (pre-European) vegetation mapping of systems and associations at 1:250,000. The statistics were used for several purposes including conservation planning, land use planning and when assessing development applications.
The statistics provided a general overview of the status of vegetation associations, within IBRA bioregions or sub-regions, noting the limitations detailed in the README document relating to scale, remnant vegetation mapping and currency of the analysis. They were intended to be used in conjunction with other information on the biodiversity values of an area and with input and advice from people familiar with the vegetation association and the vegetation condition of an area of interest.
Included in the report are statistics on the progress towards achieving a conservation reserve system, for WA, that is comprehensive, adequate and representative (CAR). The CAR reserve system is based on three principles:

•   Comprehensive - includes the full range of ecological/forest communities recognised at an appropriate scale within and across each bioregion,

•   Adequate – level (extent) of reservation that will ensure viability and integrity of populations, species, and ecological communities, and

•   Representative – those areas reserved should reasonably reflect the biotic diversity of the communities

The system of reserves helps conserve our biodiversity. Please contact DBCA for advice on the CAR statistics.
In 2011 the name of the report changed from "CAR Analysis" to "Statewide Vegetation Statistics". The CAR analysis statistics are still included in the report.

Tags: CAR, DBCA, DPaW, DWER, Pre-European, Remnant, Statistics, Vegetation
Organization: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions