Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00253:schedule:4
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00253
Segment Type: schedule
Provision Reference: sch 4
Character Range: 146132–147269

Schedule 4—The quadrat method
  This Schedule sets out the quadrat method of sampling plant cover in an area.
 (1) Establish 5 quadrats on the centre line of each permanent sampling plot so that:
 (a) each quadrat is 1m x 1m; and
 (b) the quadrats are spaced at 10 metre intervals, starting 5 metres in from one end of the centre line.
 (2) For each established quadrat, identify and record:
 (a) the number of plant species located in the quadrat and what those species are; and
 (b) the proportion of ground area in the quadrat that is covered by category A in the table in step 2 of Schedule 3; and
 (c) the proportion of ground area covered by categories B to H in the table in step 2 of Schedule 3.
 (3) For paragraph (2)(b):
 (a) the proportion of ground area covered by each living ground layer plant species must be estimated as a percentage. Plant species covering less than 1% of the ground area must be identified, however their cover may be recorded as either the estimated percentage or 'less than 1%'; and
 (b) the sum of the percentages covered by ground area that has been assigned to categories A to H should be 100%.