Ecosystem condition represents a scientifically rigorous, quantitative assessment of ecosystem health across Australia. It measures how far an ecosystem has drifted from an accepted reference or intact state. By integrating stratified condition states with spatial mapping and temporal trends, CSIRO provides key metrics that feed into ecosystem accounting, informing conservation planning, environmental reporting, and policy decisions.
Ecosystem condition refers to how healthy an ecosystem is over time, measured as its departure from a reference condition—that is, the state of an ecosystem in a natural or undisturbed baseline.
It builds upon the concept of ecosystem extent, which maps the spatial coverage of ecosystems, by adding a layer of qualitative condition to that coverage.
CSIRO classifies ecosystem condition into states—a location can be described at a specific time point and place in terms of its relative condition.
These condition states are derived from the Australian Ecosystem Models Framework, applying the Vegetation Assets, States and Transitions (VAST) narrative. This framework uses expert-informed classifications to categorise ecosystem condition into reference or one of five modified states.
Scaling of Ecosystem Condition
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Continuous Index (0.0 – 1.0)
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Ecosystem (or habitat) condition is usually expressed as a scaled index from 0.0 to 1.0:
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0.0 = ecosystem integrity essentially lost / severely degraded.
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1.0 = ecosystem in its reference condition (intact, natural baseline).
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Summary Table
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Definition | Health of an ecosystem, measured as deviation from reference condition |
| Measurement Basis | Uses expert-informed classifications and ecosystem models (e.g., VAST) to assign condition states |
| Resolution & Coverage | National datasets across terrestrial, coastal, and freshwater realms; multiple years of data |
| Use in Accounting | Core to national ecosystem accounts: used to monitor condition, report changes, link to ecosystem services |