Natural Capital Region indicators

Erosion Processes

Erosion process indicators provide an estimate of fine sediment generation. Addressing erosion also significantly reduces loads of particulate phosphorus, particulate nitrogen and particulate carbon.

Fine sediment from hillslope erosion

Soil loss from farmland decreases productivity; a proportion reaches streams and receiving waters as fine sediment pollution.

Hillslope erosion data was derived from a Truii developed implementation of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (Ellis et al., 2024). Remotely sensed ground cover averaged for 5 Spring seasons was used for the C Factor derivation. Gully erosion estimates were derived using the method in McCloskey et al., (2021a) with gully density data from the National Land and Water Resources audit (NLWRA (2005)). Streambank erosion estimates were derived from a Truii developed method in Ellis et al., 2025.

Fine sediment from gully erosion

Impacts aquatic ecology.

Fine sediment from streambank erosion

Impacts aquatic ecology.

Water quality

Important for considering aquatic ecology impacts and human health (microbial)

Particulate Nitrogen (PN)

Impacts aquatic ecology.

From the RUSLE generated hillslope erosion estimates, combined with the Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia (SLGA), total soil nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) (%) data, the erosion rate was converted to a mass of TN/TP. The total nutrient loads were then apportioned into speciated nutrients based on a review of measured event based water quality monitoring data undertaken by the Queensland State Government (DESI 2024).

Particulate Phosphorus (PP)

Impacts aquatic ecology.

Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN)

Impacts aquatic ecology.

Dissolved Inorganic Phosphorus (DIP)

Impacts aquatic ecology.

Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DON)

Impacts aquatic ecology.

Dissolved Organic Phosphorus (DOP)

Impacts aquatic ecology.

Microbial – Bacteria

Threat to human health

Based on government published spatial layers of intensive agricultural (piggeries and cattle feedlots) combined with the Baker et al., (2016) method for predicting stream based microbial pollution risk.

Biodiversity

Maintained or improved biodiversity is a common goal of NRM work. In the absence of a simple to derive and broadly applicable measure, Natural Capital Region uses the extent of woody vegetation as a surrogate indicator for biodiversity.

Wetland – Riverine

Woody vegetation has high biodiversity value.

Used government published spatial data (QSpatial) for wetland areas categorised by class (riverine, palustrine, estuarine), and woody vegetation. Initial condition per planning unit is an intersection of riparian areas with woody vegetation in hectares.

• Palustrine – as above, but for palustrine class wetlands.
• Estuarine – as above, but for estuarine class wetlands.
• Terrestrial – initial condition per planning unit is an intersection of non-wetland areas with woody vegetation in hectares.

Wetland – Palustrine (swamps)

Wetland – Estuaries

Terrestrial – Woody Vegetation

First Nations

Engaging with First Nations people on NRM issues is best practice.

Direct engagement

Direct involvement in project design will provide project and First Nations benefits.

Initial condition per planning unit is proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Peoples (age 15+) engaged in employment, education, and training (Australian Bureau of Statistics SA2 region). A spatial averaging of the SA2 values relevant to each planning unit was then applied.

On-country values

Projects conducted on-country will provide greatest First Nations benefits.

Initial condition per planning unit is proportion of area that is part of the indigenous estate. A weighting system has been applied to indigenous estate categories as not all estates provide equal First Nations benefits.

Social

NRM strategies often seek to engage communities.

Community engagement

Positive social outcomes where community is engaged.

Uses the Australian Bureau of Statistics SA2 region SEIFA index of education and occupation. This index summarises variables relating to the educational and occupational aspects of relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage. A spatial averaging of the SA2 values relevant to each planning unit was then applied.

Economic

NRM strategies often seek to support agribusiness and support the regional economy.

Industry economic

Projects offer value to landholders.

Uses the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Science 10-year average (2012–2021) rate of return (excluding capital appreciation) for broadacre agriculture. A spatial averaging of the SA2 values relevant to each planning unit was then applied.

Regional economic

Projects offer value to the regional economy.

Uses the Australian Bureau of Statistics SA2 region SEIFA index of economic resources. Areas with higher scores have greater access to economic resources than other areas. A spatial averaging of the SA2 values relevant to each planning unit was then applied.

Climate Change

NRM strategies often include a focus on measures to mitigate or provide resilience to climate change.

Carbon sequestration

Carbon sequestration is an important store of carbon.

The proportion of area with woody vegetation cover is used as an indicator of carbon sequestration initial condition. See the Biodiversity indicator for a description of the data supporting this indicator.

Land resilience

Increased cover will increase land resilience.

Uses fractional cover differential to represent the level of ground cover relative to the long-term average cover, to represent how country is responding to grazing pressure. Truii have developed a Dynamic Reference Cover Method (DRCM) analysis to inform this indicator. To identify the 'reference pixels' that sustain cover, the Queensland Government Landsat Seasonal Ground Cover Timeseries Statistics product was sourced for the relevant jurisdiction. Seasonal (fractional) Ground Cover pixels from a recent dry period (often from the year 2019) are compared to reference pixel cover values to perform the DRCM analysis. Each DRCM pixel value was then expressed as a percentage above or below its reference cover value. This percentage difference is used in Natural Capital Region setup.

Methane production

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas.

Uses the ratio of recent beef herd relative to maximum beef herd. Calculated from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Science 10-year average (2012–2021) beef herd divided by the maximum beef herd since 1990. A spatial averaging of the SA2 values relevant to each planning unit was then applied.