NSW Blue Carbon datasets are now available to access via the Dataset Catalogue. This dataset shows what areas in NSW have the most 'blue carbon' potential.

Blue carbon is the carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems such as mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses. Scientific assessments show that blue carbon ecosystems can sequester (or store) two to four times more carbon per hectare and store it 30-50 times faster than land-based forests.

These coastal ecosystems are now recognised for their role in mitigating climate change.

The NSW Government has assessed and mapped the blue carbon storage potential of areas across coastal NSW and identified the areas most suitable for re-establishing coastal wetlands.

The data comes from The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Fisheries Wollongong University collaborative study, which assessed the blue carbon storage potential of areas across coastal NSW. The data is based on a paper by Rogers et al 2022. This blue carbon research was conducted by DPI Fisheries and funded under the Marine Estate Management Strategy.

You can access a number of NSW Blue Carbon datasets via the dataset catalogue. These datasets give vital information on the indication of blue carbon across NSW, potential priority areas, preservation, and storage. These datasets are important for planning, conservation efforts, and decision-making for the protection and sustainable management of blue carbon ecosystems.

• NSW Blue Carbon Stored within Coastal Quaternary Sediments
• NSW Blue Carbon Preservation for long-term sequestration
• NSW Blue Carbon Generation from existing mangroves and saltmarsh
• NSW Blue Carbon Indicator
• NSW Blue Carbon Compatibility under 2017 Landuse
• NSW Blue Carbon Permanency in Belowground Sediments
• NSW Blue Carbon in watersheds of Instream Barriers
• NSW Blue Carbon Potential Priority Areas

You can also visualise the data on the SEED map.

[Header image: DPI Fisheries]

SEED case studies showcase success stories on key projects, initiatives and partnerships.

SEED has partnered with the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) Water to improve water sector transparency and build confidence in water management by providing open access to water data.

The DPE Water group was looking for a unique solution to publish water data openly. To achieve this, a robust solution was required with good data governance. DPE Water partnered with SEED to achieve this, which was a mutually beneficial opportunity for SEED to improve the number and type of datasets available whilst enhancing the way its users can search for themed data.

Read the full case study here.

Access the DPE Water group data here

A PDF version is available to download

Header image: Robert Cleary/DPE

Geographic Information System (GIS) day is celebrated in November each year to highlight the technology of geographic data, and applications of GIS in society and environmental management.

GIS resources in SEED are key in making environmental data discoverable and accessible, and SEED has a range of different types of GIS data to suit your need.

SEED is celebrating GIS day by highlighting some of our most popular datasets.

• Seabed NSW

The SeaBed NSW program has created a high-resolution digital map of the seafloor, providing data on the structure and composition of the seabed adjacent to our beaches. This spatial data supports councils undertake their coastal hazard studies, and enables users to better understand marine management.

• NSW State Vegetation Type Map

The consolidated NSW State Vegetation Type Map (SVTM) is the first comprehensive regional scale map of Plant Community Types (PCTs).

The maps are easily accessible at one location, and the consolidation of the data makes it easier for users to access and navigate. This spatial data aids with strategic decision-making about vegetation management and conservation.

• Fire Extent and Severity Mapping (FESM)

In collaboration with the NSW Rural Fire Service, DPIE Remote Sensing & Regulatory Mapping team has developed a semi-automated approach to mapping fire extent and severity through a machine learning framework based on sentinel 2 satellite imagery. The state-wide severity map has standardised classes to allow comparison of different fires across the landscape, which is important for bushfire response planning. New data for this year has been released. You can view all the current layers on the SEED map via this link.

More information on data resource formats is available through our help page.

[Header image: Adam Hollingworth/DPE]

New year, new look, continued commitment to be the trusted source of NSW environmental data

SEED has refreshed the look and feel of our portal to align with NSW Government’s Visual Identity System, which supports customers and the broader community to identify, navigate and have a consistent user experience across NSW agencies.

There are no changes to the navigation, services, or functionality of SEED.

SEED is committed to continuous improvement and user feedback. Contact us if you have any feedback on your experience of the SEED portal.

SEED’s core aim is to enable great decisions to be made for the people of NSW with easy-to-find, current, trusted and open environmental data. With over 5200 datasets, the openness of data on SEED has enabled it to be used in research and decision-making. We are delighted to share evidence of SEED being used in journals, research, articles and decision-making.

A keyword search found that SEED data had been cited in over 200 distinct publications since its launch in 2017, with a clear upward trend. Citations were found across technical reports, journal articles, books, conference papers, and more. We found the most popular datasets cited were on bushfires, vegetation and fire-related data, including NSW Landuse (all versions), Fire Extent and Severity Mapping (FESM), Google Earth Engine Burnt Area Map (GEEBAM), NPWS Fire History, the State Vegetation Type Map, and soils-related datasets. While SEED is cited across a diverse array of themes, the most common articles citing SEED data were in Marine and Freshwater Research, Science of the Total Environment, Australian Zoologist and NSW Department of Industry reports.

Having your data openly available on SEED means that it is available for research and is a trusted resource for decision-making. By making your data publicly available on SEED it can have a much greater impact.

Get in touch with us if you have any questions about getting your data onto SEED or examples of how you have used SEED data in your research and/or decision-making.

Header image: Peter Robey/DPE

SEED is excited to introduce our latest enhancement: the new SEED Map, marking a significant stride forward in our core services.

The SEED Map has always been a cornerstone feature, attracting a high volume of site traffic. With this upgrade, users can expect simpler navigation, increased interactivity, enhanced security, and scalability for future needs.

SEED is leading the way by adopting VertiGIS technology that's not widely used in the NSW Government. By modernising our infrastructure, we're setting an example and encouraging others to follow suit.

The benefits of upgrading the SEED Map are:

• A more user-friendly interface to increase productivity and satisfaction.
• Increased system efficiency through routine maintenance and security updates.
• Making data more accessible to non-specialists, growing inclusivity and collaboration.
• Expanding capabilities to meet the increasing demands of users.

This upgrade strengthens SEED's position as a technology leader, ready to adapt to emerging trends. By prioritising user needs and embracing innovation, SEED continues to evolve to cater to the people of NSW. 

Excited to explore? The map is live! But first, take a peek at the video showing some of the map's standout features.