Contributing biodiversity activity data

Organisations provide biodiversity management activity data to DEECA as part of funding or program agreement obligations, or via voluntary contributions. The activity data provided by organisations is used to assess progress in achieving the Biodiversity 2037 Plan contributing targets reported annually, and in the five-yearly State of the Environment Report. This data also informs and validates models used to identify the best locations for cost-efficient actions.

Organisations provide biodiversity management activity data to DEECA as part of a DEECA funding/program agreement obligation or by voluntary contribution.

When a DEECA funding agreement requires activity data reporting, the program lead will define the reporting needs.

Organisations or programs not covered by DEECA funding or program agreements have the option to voluntarily submit activity data to include their contributions to Biodiversity 2037. Voluntarily providing biodiversity activity data to DEECA is most suitable for medium to large organizations that can support their delivery partners in accurately recording their projects and activities.

Data can be submitted by using ActivityKit, a web based tool administered by DEECA or by providing  shapefiles that meet the Biodiversity 2037 activity data requirements. Reported activities must meet delivery standards described in agreements. DEECA’s Output Delivery standards are the minimum standard where not specified in an agreement.

Shiny Daisy-Bush planting and monitoring. Credit: DEECA

Provide activity data using ActivityKit

Activity output data can be recorded directly in ActivityKit, a system for recording biodiversity related management activities administered by DEECA.

ActivityKit is a spatial reporting tool covering common biodiversity management actions. The system is most useful for organisations that do not have existing spatial recording capability.

User registration is required to use ActivityKit. Register here.
How to register for ActivityKit (PDF, 600 KB)

Launch ActivityKit

ActivityKit tutorials and guides

The best place to get an understanding of ActivityKit is to watch the video tutorials. The following guides describe the activities and attributes within the biodiversity output classes and provide help resources for various tasks in ActivityKit.

For more information about ActivityKit email: biodiversity.info@deeca.vic.gov.au

Provide activity data using geographic information systems

Organisations that have existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) capability can use their existing systems to map their activities and supply activity data to DEECA using shapefiles or geodatabase templates that are provided.

VBA species observations

Please note: Some activities require the recording of a species taxon ID from the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas (VBA).

Find a species taxon ID: VBA Species Checklist

Guides are available for generating an up-to-date VBA species checklist:

How to generate a VBA species check list (PDF, 121 KB)

How to generate a VBA species check list (accessible version) (DOCX, 310 KB)

For more information about biodiversity activity output data standards email: biodiversity.info@deeca.vic.gov.au

STAR – legacy system

STAR - Spatial Temporal Activity Recorder is a web-based project management system used for recording plant and animal management projects and activities (pest animals, overabundant wildlife and native animal species, weeds and overabundant or out of range native plant species).

STAR does not cover the range of other activities commonly undertaken for the protection of biodiversity such as revegetation. The system is mostly used by Parks Victoria and DEECA staff to record specific plant and animal management projects as part of a DEECA funding or program agreements.

Organisation/program leads will supply instructions to delivery partners for recording projects and administer permissions within STAR.

User registration is required to use STAR. Please send an email to star.project@deeca.vic.gov.au to register and obtain your STAR login credentials.

Launch STAR

Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis), Credit Mandy Watson (DEECA)

Silky Mouse (Pseudomys apodemoides), Big Desert State Forest. Credit DEECA

Questions and answers

Credit: Marcia Riederer (DEECA)

Contact us

For more information about ActivityKit or biodiversity activity output data standards email: biodiversity.info@deeca.vic.gov.au

For more information about STAR email: star.project@deeca.vic.gov.au

Page last updated: 21/10/24