Basal Area

AUS-TMS-CON-BAS General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 10 to 12 m²/ha
Optimal Range: 10 to 12
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 17 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 16 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Considering these findings, a basal area range of 10-12 m²/ha is proposed as a reference value for well-structured Eucalypt open forests within high-rainfall (>1000 mm annual rainfall) tropical monsoonal savannas in conservation / protected natural areas.

Metric Definition:

Basal area (BA) is the sum of the cross-sectional areas of all tree stems per unit of ground area, expressed in m²/ha.

Benchmark Definition:

Basal area measures the cross-sectional area of tree stems per hectare, indicating forest structure and biomass in tropical monsoonal savannas under conservation management.

Justification:

Derived from long-term monitoring data in conservation reserves and measurements from long-unburnt mesic sites, reflecting conditions near the water-limited upper bound under sustainable fire management.

Sources (2)

Preview of Additional peer-reviewed articles underpinning concepts of woody encroachment, fire ecology, and savanna dynamics as cited from search results like.1
Additional peer-reviewed articles underpinning concepts of woody encroachment, fire ecology, and savanna dynamics as cited from search results like.1 Journal

Liddell, M. J., Preece, N. D., Krix, D., Edwards, A. C., & Hutley, L. B. (2024). Seasonal litter decomposition and accumulation in north Australian savanna. International Journal of Wildland Fire, WF24053.

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Preview of Meat & Livestock Australia. (Date of P.PSH.0823 publication, e.g., 2020). P.PSH.0823 – Development of Emissions Reduction Fund Carbon Sequestration methods for savanna fire management in North Australia. Final Report. Meat & Livestock Australia.
Meat & Livestock Australia. (Date of P.PSH.0823 publication, e.g., 2020). P.PSH.0823 – Development of Emissions Reduction Fund Carbon Sequestration methods for savanna fire management in North Australia. Final Report. Meat & Livestock Australia. Journal

Meat & Livestock Australia. (Date of P.PSH.0823 publication, e.g., 2020). P.PSH.0823 – Development of Emissions Reduction Fund Carbon Sequestration methods for savanna fire management in North Australia. Final Report. Meat & Livestock Australia.

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Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Liddell, M. J., Preece, N. D., Krix, D., Edwards, A. C., & Hutley, L. B. (2024). Seasonal litter decomposition and accumulation in north Australian savanna. International Journal of Wildland Fire, WF24053.
Liddell, M. J., Preece, N. D., Krix, D., Edwards, A. C., & Hutley, L. B. (2024). Seasonal litter decomposition and accumulation in north Australian savanna. International Journal of Wildland Fire, WF24053.
Direct Evidence

Liddell, M. J., Preece, N. D., Krix, D., Edwards, A. C., & Hutley, L. B. (2024). Seasonal litter decomposition and accumulation in north Australian savanna. International Journal of Wildland Fire, WF24053.

View Source
Preview of Murphy, B. P., Lehmann, C. E. R., Russell-Smith, J., & Lawes, M. J. (2015). Fire or Water: Which Limits Tree Biomass in Australian Savannas? In: Ecology of Australian Freshwater Plants (pp. 273-294). CSIRO Publishing.
Murphy, B. P., Lehmann, C. E. R., Russell-Smith, J., & Lawes, M. J. (2015). Fire or Water: Which Limits Tree Biomass in Australian Savannas? In: Ecology of Australian Freshwater Plants (pp. 273-294). CSIRO Publishing.
Contextual Support Journal

Murphy, B. P., Lehmann, C. E. R., Russell-Smith, J., & Lawes, M. J. (2015). Fire or Water: Which Limits Tree Biomass in Australian Savannas? In: Ecology of Australian Freshwater Plants (pp. 273-294). CSIRO Publishing.

View Source
Preview of Queensland Department of Environment and Science. (Various dates for BioCondition Manual and REDD).
Queensland Department of Environment and Science. (Various dates for BioCondition Manual and REDD).
Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Queensland Department of Environment and Science. (Various dates for BioCondition Manual and REDD).

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Vegetation Forest
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Superseded
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 1 Jun 2026
  • Effective To 1 Jun 2026

Notes

This benchmark reflects high environmental health in well-structured Eucalypt open forests in high-rainfall tropical monsoonal savannas under conservation management. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-CON-BAS family.

— m²/ha Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target · Forest
OptimalRange Active v2
15 m²/ha Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target · Forest
MinimumOnly Active v2
2 m²/ha Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target · Forest
MinimumOnly Superseded v1