Habitat Value is a modelled raster dataset that provides a view of relative biodiversity importance of all parts of the Victorian landscape. The dataset ranks each pixel in Victoria on a scale of 0-100, with lower ranked pixels having low predicted biodiversity values, and higher ranked pixels predicted to have higher biodiversity values. The main inputs to the dataset are habitat distribution models of vascular plants and vertebrate fauna. These input datasets were then analysed by Zonation v5 software utilising Core-Area Zonation: Maximum retention. This integrated information is important because decision-makers need access to an objective, comprehensive and spatially explicit view of the importance of biodiversity assets to enable comparison of locations across Victoria.

Strategic Biodiversity Values (SBV) is one of NaturePrint's decision-support products. It combines information on important areas for threatened flora and fauna, levels of depletion, connectivity, vegetation types and condition to provide a view of relative biodiversity importance of all parts of the Victorian landscape. This integrated information is important because decision-makers need access to an objective, comprehensive and spatially explicit view of the importance of biodiversity assets to enable comparison of locations across Victoria.

Habitat distribution models (HDMs) predict where suitable habitat may exist for a species, based in part on verified observations of the species in their natural environments. Victorian government has developed HDMs for almost all of Victoria’s terrestrial flora and fauna species, and this dataset includes the models for threatened species listed under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and/or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Note some models have been deemed restricted by the department and are not included in this dataset. The geotiff files are projected in the Vicgrid2020 coordinate system and have a cell size of 75x75 meters. These files can be viewed in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software such as ESRI's ArcGIS or the open-source QGIS. The cell values in the HDM are an index of predicted habitat suitability for the species. Higher values indicate areas of greater habitat suitability, and lower values indicate the opposite.    A spreadsheet is included in the download to provide metadata on the models and version control information. These models are updated periodically, and it is up to the user to ensure the most current version of the models are being used. For more information Habitat distribution models, visit the following website: https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/biodiversity/spatial-data-foundation User queries regarding Habitat distribution models can be emailed to: biodiversity.info@deeca.vic.gov.au