Basal Area

AUS-TMI-CON-BAS General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

34.9 m²/ha
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

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 9 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 8 guard(s) constrain the result.

Evidence & Context

The study reports an estimated stem basal area of 34.9 m²/ha for all trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of ≥ 10 cm.

Metric Definition:

Total cross-sectional area of all tree stems in a given stand, measured at breast height (1.3 meters above ground), expressed per unit of land area.

Benchmark Definition:

Basal area is the total cross-sectional area of all tree stems in a stand, measured at breast height and expressed per hectare in the tropical and subtropical maritime island biome under conservation land use.

Justification:

Selected as a proxy benchmark because direct data for island conservation areas was not found; DRO represents a mature, complex, and highly functional ecosystem in a protected area.

Sources (1)

Preview of Vegetation and floristics of a lowland tropical rainforest in northeast Australia - Biodiversity Data Journal
Vegetation and floristics of a lowland tropical rainforest in northeast Australia - Biodiversity Data Journal Journal

Vegetation and floristics of a lowland tropical rainforest in northeast Australia - Biodiversity Data Journal

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Thresholds of biodiversity and ecosystem function in a forest ...
(PDF) Thresholds of biodiversity and ecosystem function in a forest ...
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Thresholds of biodiversity and ecosystem function in a forest ...

View Source
Preview of Managing drought-sensitive forests under global change. Low competition enhances long-term growth and water uptake in Abies pinsapo | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Managing drought-sensitive forests under global change. Low competition enhances long-term growth and water uptake in Abies pinsapo | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Managing drought-sensitive forests under global change. Low competition enhances long-term growth and water uptake in Abies pinsapo | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 22 Mar 2026

Notes

This benchmark is a proxy from the Daintree Rainforest Observatory, a mainland TERN Supersite representing the 'optimal development of rainforest in Australia' in a protected area.