Study sites

The proposed study sites (Figure 1.1) are concentrated along the west and southwest coasts of Tasmania, encompassing known habitats of the target taxa. Study site selection was guided by occurrence records from the Atlas of Living Australia Atlas of Living Australia, 2025, vegetation mapping data from TASVEG 4.0 Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, 2020, and consultation with local botanists. Several sites contain documented populations of the target taxa but lack detailed, contemporary mapping products. The proposal comprise seventeen sites to provide contingencies for adverse weather and access limitations.

Drought conditions over the 2024/25 summer led to series of bushfires initiated by dry lightning strikes in February of 2025. One of these fires burned within proximity to a known Huon Pine population along the Wilson and Harman rivers. This presented us with a unique opportunity to acquire remote sensing data of a marginal population immediately post-fire. As a result, we planned three study sites along the Stanley River, Harman River, and Wilson River (Figure 1.1: Site 1, 2, and 3).

Data acquisition is complete for these three southern Tarkine sites as of April 2025. Additionally, data acquisition for the Davey River site (Figure 1.1: Site 13) occurred in February 2023 using a sensor configuration consistent with this project.