Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

AUS-ASC-FOR-SOC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 4 to 16 %

Optimal Range: 4 to 16

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: OptimalRange

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 OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

Based on the data for the most extensive and relevant soil types (Transitional and Alpine Humus Soils), this optimal range can be considered to be approximately 4% to 16% SOC in the topsoil.

Metric Definition:

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) concentration in the topsoil (0-10 cm) of alpine soils

Benchmark Definition:

The optimal functional range for Soil Organic Carbon in alpine and subalpine production forestry soils that supports high environmental health and sustained productivity under best-practice forestry.

Justification:

This range is derived from high-health, minimally disturbed native forest ecosystems as a proxy for best available condition due to lack of direct data in production forestry.

Sources (1)

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theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 25, 2025, Journal

Phosphorus Nutrition of Proteaceae in Severely Phosphorus-Impoverished Soils: Are There Lessons To Be Learned for Future Crops? - PubMed Central

Supporting Sources (60)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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- OPUS at UTS, accessed March 28, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

- OPUS at UTS, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of (PDF) Climate change impacts on Australia's alpine ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed on May 28, 2025,

(PDF) Climate change impacts on Australia's alpine ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed on May 28, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Climate change impacts on Australia's alpine ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of (PDF) Empirical Estimates of Aboveground Carbon in Open Eucalyptus Forests of South-Eastern Australia and Its Potential Implication for National Carbon Accounting - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

(PDF) Empirical Estimates of Aboveground Carbon in Open Eucalyptus Forests of South-Eastern Australia and Its Potential Implication for National Carbon Accounting - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Empirical Estimates of Aboveground Carbon in Open Eucalyptus Forests of South-Eastern Australia and Its Potential Implication for National Carbon Accounting - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

$Preview of 13C isotopic signature and C concentration of soil density fractions illustrate reduced C allocation to subalpine grassland soil under high atmospheric N deposition - PMC, accessed March 28, 2026,$

13C isotopic signature and C concentration of soil density fractions illustrate reduced C allocation to subalpine grassland soil under high atmospheric N deposition - PMC, accessed March 28, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

13C isotopic signature and C concentration of soil density fractions illustrate reduced C allocation to subalpine grassland soil under high atmospheric N deposition - PMC, accessed March 28, 2026,

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An ensemble estimate of Australian soil organic ... - EGUsphere, accessed on June 7, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

An ensemble estimate of Australian soil organic carbon using machine learning and process-based modelling - EGUsphere

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Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 13 Criterion 4 - DAFF, accessed August 1, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6]

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Australia's Sustainable Forest Management - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Sustainable forest management: the Australian context - DAFF

Preview of Australia's Sustainable Forest Management Framework of Criteria and Indicators 2008 - DAFF, accessed August 10, 2025,

Australia's Sustainable Forest Management Framework of Criteria and Indicators 2008 - DAFF, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The potential impact of climate change on Australia's soil organic carbon resources - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,

Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change - PubMed Central, accessed August 5, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Soil Organic Matter and Carbon Sequestration

Preview of Carbon and water fluxes over a temperate Eucalyptus forest and a tropical wet/dry savanna in Australia: Measurements and comparison with MODIS remote sensing estimates - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

Carbon and water fluxes over a temperate Eucalyptus forest and a tropical wet/dry savanna in Australia: Measurements and comparison with MODIS remote sensing estimates - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

Direct Evidence Government

Multi-decadal increase of forest burned area in Australia is linked to climate change, accessed May 27, 2025

Preview of Carbon Sequestration in the Australian Alps - Protect Our Winters Australia, accessed August 5, 2025

Carbon Sequestration in the Australian Alps - Protect Our Winters Australia, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Carbon Sequestration in the Australian Alps - Protect Our Winters Australia, accessed August 5, 2025

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Carbon, Corporate Forestry and Conservation: Struggles for Science in Sustainability and Benchmarks - Preprints.org

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Carbon, Corporate Forestry and Conservation: Struggles for Science in Sustainability and Benchmarks - Preprints.org, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Caring for our Australian Alps Catchments, accessed August 28, 2025,

Caring for our Australian Alps Catchments, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Patterns of variation in Australian alpine soils and their relationships to parent material, vegetation formation, climate and t, accessed May 27, 2025

Preview of Caring for our Australian Alps Catchments, accessed March 28, 2026,

Caring for our Australian Alps Catchments, accessed March 28, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

Stability of stream biofilm community composition to transient shifts in dissolved organic carbon characteristics - EGUsphere, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Case Study - Soil carbon benefits through reforestation, accessed August 5, 2025

Case Study - Soil carbon benefits through reforestation, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Case Study - Soil carbon benefits through reforestation - Queensland Government publications

Preview of Climate concerns: Trends in Australian snow - CSIRO, accessed August 5, 2025

Climate concerns: Trends in Australian snow - CSIRO, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Research Links Feral Horses to Peatland Carbon Emissions | Mirage News, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Code of practice for small quarries - Resources Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025

Code of practice for small quarries - Resources Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025

Regulatory Framework Government

Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6], accessed August 5, 2025

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Comparison of basin-scale in situ and meteoric 10Be erosion and denudation rates across a rainfall, slope, and elevation gradien, accessed March 28, 2026,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Comparison of basin-scale in situ and meteoric 10Be erosion and denudation rates across a rainfall, slope, and elevation gradien, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Comparison of basin-scale in situ and meteoric 10Be erosion and denudation rates in felsic lithologies across an - GChron, accessed March 28, 2026,

Comparison of basin-scale in situ and meteoric 10Be erosion and denudation rates in felsic lithologies across an - GChron, accessed March 28, 2026,

Contextual Support Journal

Comparison of basin-scale in situ and meteoric 10Be erosion and denudation rates in felsic lithologies across an elevation gradient at the George River, northeast Tasmania, Australia - GChron, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Disturbance gradient shows logging affects plant functional groups more than fire | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

Disturbance gradient shows logging affects plant functional groups more than fire | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

Contextual Support Journal

The characteristics of regeneration failure and their potential to shift wet temperate forests into alternate stable states - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Drivers of soil organic carbon from temperate to alpine forests - BG, accessed March 28, 2026,

Drivers of soil organic carbon from temperate to alpine forests - BG, accessed March 28, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

Drivers of soil organic carbon from temperate to alpine forests - BG, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Dynamics of carbon exchange in a Eucalyptus forest in response to interacting disturbance factors | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

Dynamics of carbon exchange in a Eucalyptus forest in response to interacting disturbance factors | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Dynamics of carbon exchange in a Eucalyptus forest in response to interacting disturbance factors | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Evolution of Australia's soil-carbon map | TERN Australia, accessed March 28, 2026,

Evolution of Australia's soil-carbon map | TERN Australia, accessed March 28, 2026,

Contextual Support Government

Evolution of Australia's soil-carbon map | TERN Australia, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Forest Management Plan for the North East 2001, accessed August 5, 2025

Forest Management Plan for the North East 2001, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Forest Management Zoning in NSW State Forests - Forestry Corporation, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Forest Management Zoning in NSW State Forests - Forestry Corporation, accessed August 5, 2025

Forest Management Zoning in NSW State Forests - Forestry Corporation, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support

Forest Management Zoning in NSW State Forests - Forestry Corporation, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of GHOST FORESTS: AUSTRALIA'S ICONIC SNOW GUMS ARE THE BLEACHING CORALS O - Patagonia, accessed March 28, 2026,

GHOST FORESTS: AUSTRALIA'S ICONIC SNOW GUMS ARE THE BLEACHING CORALS O - Patagonia, accessed March 28, 2026,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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guidelines for sustainable forestry on private lands in nsw - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence

guidelines for sustainable forestry on private lands ... - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025

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Insights for NSW forest outcomes and management - Natural ..., accessed March 28, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

Insights for NSW forest outcomes and management - Natural ..., accessed March 28, 2026,

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Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks and uncertainty - BG, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Carbon Balance of a Tropical Savanna of Northern Australia

$Preview of Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 30, 2025$

Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 30, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

(PDF) Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping 1. Total and labile carbon - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025,

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Mapping soil organic carbon fractions for Australia, their stocks, and uncertainty - BG, accessed July 6, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Benefits and trade-offs of soil organic carbon sequestration - OAPEN Library

Preview of Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 3, 2025,

Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Wildfire effects on soils and soil processes - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust. (2021). Do you want to earn annual payments for conserving rare vegetation in the Southern Tablelands? Snow Gum Woodlands and Grasslands Conservation Tender. Factsheet.

NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust. (2021). Do you want to earn annual payments for conserving rare vegetation in the Southern Tablelands? Snow Gum Woodlands and Grasslands Conservation Tender. Factsheet.

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Long-unburnt stands of snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieber ex Spreng) are exceedingly rare in the Victorian Alps: implications for their conservation and management - ResearchGate

Preview of Primary and secondary effects of climate variability on carbon and water exchange in an evergreen Eucalyptus forest | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

Primary and secondary effects of climate variability on carbon and water exchange in an evergreen Eucalyptus forest | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

Contextual Support Journal

Carbon and water fluxes over a temperate Eucalyptus forest and a tropical wet/dry savanna in Australia: Measurements and comparison with MODIS remote sensing estimates - ResearchGate, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Refining benchmarks for soil organic carbon in Australia's temperate ..., accessed March 28, 2026,

Refining benchmarks for soil organic carbon in Australia's temperate ..., accessed March 28, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

Pre-clearing Soil Carbon Levels in Australia - NCAS Technical Report No. 12 - DCCEEW, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Refining benchmarks for soil organic carbon in Australia's temperate forests - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Refining benchmarks for soil organic carbon in Australia's temperate forests - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Refining benchmarks for soil organic carbon in Australia's temperate forests - ResearchGate

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,

Contextual Support Journal

A strategy for dealing with invasive species in Australia

Preview of Research Links Feral Horses to Peatland Carbon Emissions | Mirage News, accessed August 5, 2025

Research Links Feral Horses to Peatland Carbon Emissions | Mirage News, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Research Links Feral Horses to Peatland Carbon Emissions | Mirage News, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of RMIT study suggests link between feral horses and peatland carbon emissions, accessed August 5, 2025

RMIT study suggests link between feral horses and peatland carbon emissions, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Case Study - Soil carbon benefits through reforestation, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Silvicultural guidelines: Private Native Forestry Code of Practice - Environment and Heritage, accessed July 31, 2025

Silvicultural guidelines: Private Native Forestry Code of Practice - Environment and Heritage, accessed July 31, 2025

Contextual Support

Government Gazette

Preview of SNOWY MOUNTAIN FORESTED HILLSLOPE SOIL ..., accessed March 28, 2026,

SNOWY MOUNTAIN FORESTED HILLSLOPE SOIL ..., accessed March 28, 2026,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil fungal community composition drives forest-specific and seasonal dynamics of microbial carbon use efficiency in subalpine ecosystems - Oxford Academic, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of SNOWY MOUNTAIN FORESTED HILLSLOPE SOIL CHARACTERISATION, SOIL HYDROLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND SOIL GEOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM

SNOWY MOUNTAIN FORESTED HILLSLOPE SOIL CHARACTERISATION, SOIL HYDROLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND SOIL GEOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM

Direct Evidence Journal

Rainfall infiltration and soil hydrological characteristics below ancient forest, planted forest and grassland in a temperate northern climate

Preview of Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Soil Organic Carbon Fractions (3" resolution) - Release 1 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed March 28, 2026,

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Soil Organic Carbon Fractions (3" resolution) - Release 1 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed March 28, 2026,

Direct Evidence Government

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Soil Organic Carbon Fractions (3" resolution) - Release 1 - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Soil carbon [Chapter 2] - Forest Service, accessed August 5, 2025

Soil carbon [Chapter 2] - Forest Service, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support

Rehabilitation Field Guide | Australian Alps National Parks, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of Soil carbon explained | Spring 2023 | Sheep Notes newsletter - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025

Soil carbon explained | Spring 2023 | Sheep Notes newsletter - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Soil carbon explained | Spring 2023 | Sheep Notes newsletter - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 5, 2025

Preview of SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND FOREST FLOOR NUTRIENTS UNDER REPEATED PRESCRIBED- BURNING - Scion Research, accessed March 28, 2026,

SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND FOREST FLOOR NUTRIENTS UNDER REPEATED PRESCRIBED- BURNING - Scion Research, accessed March 28, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

Soil Carbon Pools in Adjacent Natural and Plantation Forests of Subtropical Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of Soil CO2 Efflux and Root Productivity in a Switchgrass and Loblolly Pine Intercropping System - MDPI, accessed March 28, 2026,

Soil CO2 Efflux and Root Productivity in a Switchgrass and Loblolly Pine Intercropping System - MDPI, accessed March 28, 2026,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil CO2 Efflux and Root Productivity in a Switchgrass and Loblolly Pine Intercropping System - MDPI, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Soil Organic Carbon Benchmarks - Department for Environment and Water

Soil Organic Carbon Benchmarks - Department for Environment and Water

Direct Evidence Journal

Soil Organic Carbon Benchmarks - Department for Environment and Water, accessed March 28, 2026,

Preview of Soil Organic Carbon Benchmarks by Rainfall and Texture

Soil Organic Carbon Benchmarks by Rainfall and Texture

Direct Evidence Journal

Blunden et al. (2024). Fire regime impacts on soil microbes, soil organic carbon and ground cover in an Australian tropical savanna.

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Soil organic carbon stocks did not change after 130 years of afforestation on a former Swiss Alpine pasture, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Soil carbon [Chapter 2] - Forest Service, accessed August 5, 2025

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Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management in Tropical Agroecosystems: Concepts and Prospects - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Organic Carbon Thresholds and Nitrogen Management in Tropical Agroecosystems: Concepts and Prospects - ResearchGate

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Soil structure and its benefits - Royal Society, accessed March 28, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

Soil structure and its benefits - Royal Society, accessed March 28, 2026,

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Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6], accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

A review of the potential impacts of different fire regimes on soil erosion and sedimentation, nutrient and carb

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TERN Landscapes - 2024 highlights, accessed March 28, 2026,

Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support Government

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Meta Analysis Journal

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The potential impact of climate change on Australia's soil organic carbon resources - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

The potential impact of climate change on Australia's soil organic carbon resources - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025

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Direct Evidence Journal

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Preview of theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 28, 2025

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 28, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

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Preview of Wildfire effects on soils and soil processes - CSIRO Publishing, accessed March 28, 2026,

Wildfire effects on soils and soil processes - CSIRO Publishing, accessed March 28, 2026,

Direct Evidence Journal

Wildfire effects on soils and soil processes - CSIRO Publishing, accessed March 28, 2026,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Superseded
Version 1
Effective From 3 Jun 2026
Effective To 3 Jun 2026

Notes

No evidence supports an upper detrimental threshold for SOC in natural or sustainably managed forest ecosystems; high SOC levels up to natural saturation points are beneficial.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASC-FOR-SOC family.