Litter Cover

AUS-ASC-LVG-LIT General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: CompositeFramework

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

A direct, universally accepted, single quantitative benchmark for Litter Cover (%) specifically representing the "best available condition" under best-practice sustainable or regenerative livestock grazing in Australian alpine and subalpine ecosystems is not readily apparent from the reviewed scientific literature and government reports.

Metric Definition:

Litter Cover (%) representing the "best available condition" under best-practice sustainable or regenerative livestock grazing in Australian alpine and subalpine ecosystems.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the best available condition of litter cover under sustainable grazing in Australian alpine and subalpine ecosystems, acknowledging that no single numeric benchmark is established.

Justification:

No specific, quantitative reference value for Litter Cover (%) representing the "best available condition" under documented best-practice sustainable or regenerative livestock grazing in Australian Alpine and Subalpine Complex ecosystems could be confidently identified due to lack of targeted studies and limitations in existing benchmark frameworks for treeless alpine communities.

Sources (4)

Preview of A review of indicators and methods to assess biodiversity - FAO Knowledge Repository
A review of indicators and methods to assess biodiversity - FAO Knowledge Repository Journal

Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of Function Attribute Benchmarks for the Biodiversity Assessment Method: Data audit, compilation and analysis - Environment and Heritage, accessed July 10, 2025,
Function Attribute Benchmarks for the Biodiversity Assessment Method: Data audit, compilation and analysis - Environment and Heritage, accessed July 10, 2025,

Victorian State of the Environment report

View Source
Preview of Long-term Vegetation Change in Relation to Cattle Grazing in Subalpine Grassland and Heathland on the Bogong High Plains - DCCEEW, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Long-term Vegetation Change in Relation to Cattle Grazing in Subalpine Grassland and Heathland on the Bogong High Plains - DCCEEW, accessed on May 25, 2025, Journal

Wood, S. W., et al. (2015). The Ausplots Forest Monitoring Network: Tall eucalypt forests. PLOS ONE.

View Source
Preview of Rehabilitation Field Guide | Australian Alps National Parks, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Rehabilitation Field Guide | Australian Alps National Parks, accessed on May 25, 2025, Journal

A strategy for dealing with invasive species in Australia

View Source

Supporting Sources (7)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
(PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

section 2 water quality in the darwin region - Environment and Natural Resources

View Source
Preview of Bryant, W. G. (1971). The effect of grazing and burning on a mountain grassland, Snowy Mountains, New South Wales. Journal of the Soil Conservation Service of NSW, 27(4), 211-234.
Bryant, W. G. (1971). The effect of grazing and burning on a mountain grassland, Snowy Mountains, New South Wales. Journal of the Soil Conservation Service of NSW, 27(4), 211-234.
Direct Evidence Journal

Bryant, W. G. (1971). The effect of grazing and burning on a mountain grassland, Snowy Mountains, New South Wales. Journal of the Soil Conservation Service of NSW, 27(4), 211-234.

View Source
Preview of Eldridge, D. J., Poore, A. G., Ruiz-Colmenero, M., Letnic, M., & Soliveres, S. (2016). Ecosystem structure, function, and composition in rangelands are negatively affected by livestock grazing. Ecological Applications, 26(4), 1273-1283.
Eldridge, D. J., Poore, A. G., Ruiz-Colmenero, M., Letnic, M., & Soliveres, S. (2016). Ecosystem structure, function, and composition in rangelands are negatively affected by livestock grazing. Ecological Applications, 26(4), 1273-1283.
Contextual Support Journal

Eldridge, D. J., Poore, A. G., Ruiz-Colmenero, M., Letnic, M., & Soliveres, S. (2016). Ecosystem structure, function, and composition in rangelands are negatively affected by livestock grazing. Ecological Applications, 26(4), 1273-1283.

View Source
Preview of Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). (2021). Best management practices for temperate perennial pastures in New South Wales.
Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). (2021). Best management practices for temperate perennial pastures in New South Wales.
Direct Evidence Journal

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). (2021). Best management practices for temperate perennial pastures in New South Wales.

View Source
Preview of Meat & Livestock Australia. (n.d.). Maintain ground cover. MLA.
Meat & Livestock Australia. (n.d.). Maintain ground cover. MLA.
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Best Management Practices for Temperate Perennial Pastures in New South Wales, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of Santamarta, J. (2014). Climate Change and Restoration of Degraded Land. ResearchGate.
Santamarta, J. (2014). Climate Change and Restoration of Degraded Land. ResearchGate.
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Santamarta, J. (2014). Climate Change and Restoration of Degraded Land. ResearchGate.

View Source
Preview of Wimbush, D. J., & Costin, A. B. (1979). Trends in vegetation at Kosciusko. I. Tall alpine herbfield. Australian Journal of Botany, 27(6), 741-787.
Wimbush, D. J., & Costin, A. B. (1979). Trends in vegetation at Kosciusko. I. Tall alpine herbfield. Australian Journal of Botany, 27(6), 741-787.
Contextual Support Journal

Wimbush, D. J., & Costin, A. B. (1979). Trends in vegetation at Kosciusko. I. Tall alpine herbfield. Australian Journal of Botany, 27(6), 741-787.

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 2 Jun 2026

Notes

No single numeric benchmark exists but maintaining litter as a key component of total groundcover above critical thresholds is important for ecosystem health. There is no clear upper detrimental threshold under sustainable grazing. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASC-LVG-LIT family.

70 % High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
MinimumOnly Active v2
50 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
MinimumOnly Superseded v1