Except for minor disturbances associated with selective logging on two plots, the Tropical Rainforest Plot Network plots were established in old growth forest and all plots have thereafter been protected. Plots have been regularly censused and at each census the diameter at breast height of all stems is recorded. The data collected from the 20 plots provides an insight into the floristical composition, structure and long term forest dynamics of Australian tropical rainforests and allows direct comparisons to be made with long-term monitoring plots at a global scale. Temporal visits were initially conducted every 2 years, then every 5 years from 1990. Between 2012 and 2018 the Tropical Rainforest Plot Network is a member of Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN), Australia, a facility of the Australian Government's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN).

The Desert Uplands Plot Network is located in the Northern Desert Uplands of Queensland, Australia with each of the 50 (originally 60) bird monitoring plots 1 ha in size, and located at least 1 km from any other site, 500 m from any water point and 50 m from the nearest access track. As at June 2016, temporal visits have been conducted in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2013 and 2014. Between 2012 and 2018 the Desert Uplands Plot Network was a member of Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN), Australia, a facility of the Australian Government's Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN).