Basal Area

AUS-TMI-LVG-BAS General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 10 to 12 m²/ha
Thresholds: Lower: 2, Upper: 15
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 4 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 3 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

The "best available condition" is represented by a structurally intact open woodland with a basal area of 10-12 m²/ha.

Metric Definition:

Tree basal area in livestock grazing and pasture systems within Australia's Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands biome.

Benchmark Definition:

Basal area measures the cross-sectional area of tree trunks per hectare, indicating the structural complexity and ecological function of savanna woodlands in livestock grazing systems.

Justification:

The benchmark is derived from high-integrity mainland analogue sites in North Queensland, representing a structurally intact savanna woodland capable of supporting sustainable grazing.

Sources (1)

Preview of Drought-related tree death of savanna eucalypts in northern Australia
Drought-related tree death of savanna eucalypts in northern Australia Journal

Drought-related tree death of savanna eucalypts in northern Australia

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 2 m²/ha. Upper Detrimental Threshold: 15 m²/ha. Optimal range between 5 and 12 m²/ha balances pasture production and ecological health. RangeFixup applied 2026-03-22 08:35 UTC: LowerBound: 10 → 5; OptimalRangeLow: 5 → 10 [Migration] Original wider evidence range: 5 – 12 (retained OptimalRange: 10 – 12)