This report provides statistics on the pre-European and current extent (area in hectares) of the vegetation types of Western Australia within IBRA or IBRA sub-regions. It has been jointly developed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

Vegetation statistics presented in these reports are used for a number of purposes including conservation planning, land use planning and when assessing development applications. The reports are updated every two years.

The next report is scheduled to be released July/August 2021.

These statistics should be used to provide a general overview of the status of ecological communities, within IBRA bioregions or sub-regions, noting the limitations detailed in the README document relating to scale, remnant vegetation mapping and currency of the analysis.

These statistics should be considered in conjunction with other information on the biodiversity values of an area. Additionally, input from people who are familiar with the ecological community should also be sought during the assessment process.

One of the key achievements of DBCA is the establishment of a comprehensive, adequate and representative (CAR) conservation reserve system. These reports provide information on the status of the CAR reserve system for WA.

The CAR reserve system is based on three principles:

•Comprehensive - includes the full range of ecological/forest communities recognised at an appropriate scale within and across each bioregion,

•Adequate – level (extent) of reservation that will ensure viability and integrity of populations, species and ecological communities, and

•Representative – those areas reserved should reasonably reflect the biotic diversity of the communities

The system of reserves helps conserve our biodiversity.

Note: in 2011 the name of the report changed from "CAR Analysis" to "Statewide Vegetation Statistics". The CAR analysis statistics are still included in the report.