Contributing Biodiversity Activity Data
Organisations provide biodiversity management activity data to DELWP as part of a DELWP funding/program agreement obligation or by voluntary contribution. Activity data provided by organisations/programs is used to determine progress in achieving the Biodiversity 2037 Plan contributing targets reported bi-annually and in the five-yearly State of the Environment Report. This data also informs and verifies models used to determine the best places to take cost-effective actions.
When activity data reporting is a requirement under a DELWP funding agreement, the project investor/program lead will specify reporting requirements for that project.
Organisations/programs not under DELWP funding or program agreements can volunteer to provide activity data if they would like their activities to contribute to Biodiversity 2037.
Providing biodiversity activity data voluntarily to DELWP is most suitable for medium to large organisations who can support their delivery partners in accurately recording their projects and activities.
In either case, data can be submitted by using DELWP biodiversity information systems (ActivityKit and STAR) or by providing shapefiles that meet the Biodiversity 2037 activity data requirements. An ESRI geodatabase format consistent with the DELWP Output data standard can be used by organisations such as Catchment Management Authorities that are familiar with the format and template.
Reported activities must meet delivery standards described in agreements. DELWP’s Output Delivery standards are the minimum standard where not specified in an agreement. Delivery standards and guidance, as they relate to Biodiversity 2037, will be updated over time. An initial development is the Re-vegetation Plant Provenance Information Sheet that describes how to consider the changing climate when selecting stock for planting.
Shiny Daisy-Bush planting and monitoring. Credit: DELWP
Provide activity data using DELWP biodiversity information systems
Activity output data can be recorded directly in ActivityKit or STAR, two activity recording systems for biodiversity related management activities administered by DELWP.
ActivityKit is a spatial reporting tool covering common biodiversity management actions.STAR is a project management tool for managing plants and animals (weeds and overabundant or out of range native flora, pests and overabundant native and exotic wildlife). User registration is required for these systems.
ActivityKit is a web-based mapping application that records activities grouped into 13 outputs commonly delivered for protecting biodiversity. ActivityKit will be updated in coming weeks to incorporate Biodiversity 2037 activity data requirements.
User registration is required to use ActivityKit. How to register for ActivityKit (PDF, 600 KB)
ActivityKit is most likely to be used by organisations/programs that do not have existing spatial recording capability, who are either required to report as part of a DELWP funding agreement or who would like to contribute their data voluntarily.
Activity outputs are divided into four classes:
- Structural works: Activity outputs associated with stand-alone environmental goods (e.g. fence).
- Environmental works: A mixture of goods and services output that modify characteristic of the environment (e.g. vegetation).
- Management services: Service outputs that involve changes in the behaviour of land managers (e.g. grazing regimes).
- Planning and regulation: A mixture of goods and services outputs to communicate, administer, plan or gather information (e.g. engagement events).
Some additional data is sought from ActivityKit users to better account for contributions and measure progress against Biodiversity 2037. This additional data meets the Biodiversity 2037 activity data requirements.
The ‘Supplementary data_ActivityKit_DELWP Standard Outputs’ Excel template contains the additional data being sought. Providing this additional data is optional while ActivityKit is being updated.
Supplementary data_ActivityKit_DELWP Standard Outputs (Excel, 77KB)
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:
ActivityKit biodiversity outputs list (Excel, 50KB)
ActivityKit fields and attributes guide(PDF, 174 KB)
ActivityKit fields and attributes guide (accessible version) (DOCX, 185 KB)
Accurate representation of projects and activities is important; the following links provide some advice for mapping and requirements to upload shapefiles to ActivityKit.
Mapping in ActivityKit (PDF, 257 KB)
Mapping in ActivityKit (accessible version) (DOCX, 1.61 MB)
ActivityKit shapefiles requirements (PDF, 280 KB)
ActivityKit shapefiles requirements (accessible version) (DOCX, 1.96 MB)
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_23.09.2021 (Excel, 2.48 MB)
See how to generate 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)
Organisations wanting to contribute activity data voluntarily please see the following document for a brief description of the process and what is required:
Volunteer to contribute biodiversity activity data to DELWP (PDF, 117 KB)
Volunteer to contribute biodiversity activity data to DELWP (accessible version) (DOCX, 56 KB)
For more information about ActivityKit email: biodiversity.info@delwp.vic.gov.au
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). It does not cover the range of other activities commonly undertaken for the protection of biodiversity such as revegetation.
STAR is mostly used by organisations/programs required to deliver and report plant and animal management projects as part of a DELWP 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@delwp.vic.gov.au to register and obtain your STAR login credentials.
These video tutorials and the following guides will help you to understand how navigate STAR and add your projects and activities.
Download all STAR guides here or download the guide of your interest from the following list:
1. STAR overview (PDF, 201 KB)
2. STAR field descriptions (PDF, 232 KB)
3. How to use and navigate STAR (PDF, 247 KB)
4. How to use the drawing tools (PDF, 285 KB)
5. How to use the snapping tool in STAR (PDF, 265 KB)
6. How to edit a feature (PDF, 332 KB)
7. How to find a project or activity via the map (PDF, 168 KB)
8. How to find a project or activity via the map identify function (PDF, 200 KB)
9. How to find, view and edit a project (PDF, 171 KB)
10. How to add a project (PDF, 309 KB)
11. How to add an activity: Plant Management (PDF, 268 KB)
12. How to add an activity: Plant assessment (PDF, 203 KB)
13. How to add an activity_Animal assessment (PDF, 200 KB)
14. How to add annual observations: Plant assessment annual update (PDF, 176 KB)
15. How to add and access attachments (PDF, 153 KB)
16. How to upload a shapefile in to STAR (PDF, 226 KB)
17. How to export mapped features (PDF, 148 KB)
18. How to find the GNP guide (PDF, 218 KB)
19. How to allocate permissions (PDF, 178 KB)
20. How to archive an attachment (PDF, 125 KB)
21. STAR_installing Chrome (PDF, 246 KB)
22. How to clear your browser cache (PDF, 152 KB)
23. How to use the Summary Layers (PDF, 183 KB)
24. How to reset your password (PDF, 196 KB)
For more information about STAR email star.project@delwp.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 DELWP using shapefiles or geodatabase templates that are provided.
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Organisations that have Geographic Information Systems (GIS) capability can supply their activity data using the 'Biodiversity 2037 activity data requirements (Bio2037v1.0)' shapefile templates provided.
The ‘Biodiversity 2037 activity data requirements’ document describes the fields and valid values important for understanding activities delivered for biodiversity benefit. Projects using the shapefile method will need to make sure that only valid values are entered in the spatial attributes.
Biodiversity 2037 activity data requirements (Bio2037v1.0) – shapefile templates (ZIP, 61KB)
Biodiversity 2037 activity data requirements (Excel, 171KB)
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_23.09.2021 (Excel, 2.48 MB)
See how to generate 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)
Organisations such as Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) that are familiar with ESRI geodatabase format can use the biodiversity related outputs geodatabase template.
Download the ESRI biodiversity output data geodatabase: Biodiversity related outputs_gdb_template.zip (ZIP, 808)
Some additional data is sought from data providers using the the Biodiversity related outputs geodatabase template to better account for contributions and measure progress against Biodiversity 2037. The ‘Supplementary data_ActivityKit_DELWP Standard Outputs’ Excel template contains the additional data to being sought. Providing the additional data is optional.
Supplementary data_ActivityKit_DELWP Standard Outputs (Excel, 77KB)
The following Excel file provides the list of biodiversity related activity outputs, fields and field attributes contained in the geodatabase template. It also provides brief explanations of field attributes.
Biodiversity related outputs geodatabase: fields and attributes list (Excel, 92 KB)
Accurate representation of projects and activities is important, regardless of the software used. The following links provide some advice about mapping activity data using a geodatabase.
Mapping activity data using a geodatabase (PDF, 271 KB)
Mapping activity data using a geodatabase (accessible version) (DOCX, 2.13 MB)
The biodiversity related outputs geodatabase aligns directly with the DELWP Output Data Standards, Version 3 March 2021. Background and further geodatabase and DELWP Output data standard information is available from the Output data standard web page via the link provided below:
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_23.09.2021
See how to generate 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@delwp.vic.gov.au
Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis), Credit Mandy Watson (DELWP)
Silky Mouse (Pseudomys apodemoides), Big Desert State Forest. Credit DELWP
Questions and Answers
DELWP provides a range of tools to help people use ActivityKit. Currently there are videos that demonstrate how to create a project and record a range of activities. In most cases DELWP is not able to provide face to face training for new users.
The mapped data that an organisation/program supplies to DELWP will be compiled and stored so that it is available for analysis and reporting. It will be used for program reporting and bi-annual reporting for Biodiversity 2037 and the five yearly State of the Environment Report. The data will be compiled into a map layer that is publicly accessible and available.
The activity data that an organisation/program provides will be used to determine progress in reaching the Biodiversity 2037 Contributing Targets, and to verify models used to determine the best places to take cost-effective actions. The data will be used for annual, bi-annual and 5-yearly statewide reporting.
The spatial activity information that an organisation/program provides to DELWP will be able to be viewed by any person or organisation once it is published through a range of web maps, or by downloading the data from data.vic.gov.au
Once enough activity information has been compiled DELWP will publish this spatial information to data.vic.gov.au and publish it through a range of publicly available web maps. This will allow organisations to see and use the data supplied to DELWP, as well as information supplied by others.
Yes, once the data has been compiled and uploaded to data.vic.gov.au, any person or organisation can access the data they have supplied as well as data supplied by other organisations/programs.
If the data supplied does not comply with the data standards, or is in a format that DELWP cannot use, the activities within that program will not be counted towards Biodiversity 2037 targets. If this information is required as part of a funding agreement with DELWP, the organisation/program will need to correct the information and re-supply it to DELWP.
A map layer of the supplied spatial information will be available from data.vic.gov.au in due course.
Credit: Marcia Riederer (DELWP)
Contact us
For more information about ActivityKit or biodiversity activity output data standards email: biodiversity.info@delwp.vic.gov.au
For more information about STAR email: star.project@delwp.vic.gov.au
Page last updated: 27/06/22