Ground Cover - Tree Canopy

AUS-TDG-FOR-TCC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

60 %

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 60

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: UpperThreshold

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

Therefore, a TCC exceeding approximately 50−60% is likely to be detrimental to the integrity of these grassy woodland ecosystems.

Metric Definition:

Tree Canopy Cover (TCC) upper detrimental threshold above which ecosystem integrity is harmed.

Benchmark Definition:

An upper detrimental threshold of 60% Tree Canopy Cover (TCC) above which shading suppresses native understorey and alters ecosystem structure in temperate dry woodlands.

Justification:

Based on ecological evidence that TCC above 50−60% shades out the species-rich understorey and changes ecosystem from grassy woodland to denser forest, reducing biodiversity.

Sources (2)

Preview of DRAFT REPORT Active and adaptive cypress management in the Brigalow and Nandewar State Conservation Areas, accessed May 14, 2025,

DRAFT REPORT Active and adaptive cypress management in the Brigalow and Nandewar State Conservation Areas, accessed May 14, 2025, Journal

Nutrient enrichment, biodiversity loss, and consequent declines in ecosystem productivity

Preview of Full article: Active management: a definition and considerations for implementation in forests of temperate Australia - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 12, 2025,

Full article: Active management: a definition and considerations for implementation in forests of temperate Australia - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 12, 2025, Journal

National Recovery Plan for White Box–Yellow Box–Blakely's Red ..., accessed May 15, 2025

Supporting Sources (33)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Effect of tree canopy on species composition, diversity and biomass of herbaceous vegetation and soil characteristics in semi-arid forests of the Aravalli hills - ResearchGate, accessed August 12, 2025,

(PDF) Effect of tree canopy on species composition, diversity and biomass of herbaceous vegetation and soil characteristics in semi-arid forests of the Aravalli hills - ResearchGate, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Semi-arid woodlands (shrubby sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )

Preview of (PDF) Policy and Conflict in Private Native Forestry in NSW, accessed May 15, 2025

(PDF) Policy and Conflict in Private Native Forestry in NSW, accessed May 15, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Policy and Conflict in Private Native Forestry in NSW, accessed May 15, 2025

Preview of (PDF) State‐space modeling reveals habitat perception of a small terrestrial mammal in a fragmented landscape - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025

(PDF) State‐space modeling reveals habitat perception of a small terrestrial mammal in a fragmented landscape - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of European colonization on indigenous ecosystems: Post-settlement changes in tree stand structures in Eucalyptus-Callitris woodlands in central New South Wales, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025

Preview of 8 Temperate eucalypt woodlands - Open Research Repository, accessed May 15, 2025,

8 Temperate eucalypt woodlands - Open Research Repository, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

8 Temperate eucalypt woodlands - Open Research Repository, accessed May 15, 2025,

Preview of A report on silvicultural guidelines for the 2024- 2033 Forest Management Plan to the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and, accessed July 12, 2025,

A report on silvicultural guidelines for the 2024- 2033 Forest Management Plan to the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Growth and recuperative capacity of selectively harvested native forests in southern Queensland (Lewis et al. 2021)

Preview of AUSTRALASIAN Temperate Dry Sclerophyll Forest & Woodlands (south-eastern), accessed July 12, 2025,

AUSTRALASIAN Temperate Dry Sclerophyll Forest & Woodlands (south-eastern), accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

AUSTRALASIAN Temperate Dry Sclerophyll Forest & Woodlands (south-eastern), accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of AUSTRALIA'S STATE OF THE FORESTS REPORT - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

AUSTRALIA'S STATE OF THE FORESTS REPORT - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The Influence of Compaction and Soil Strength on the Establishment of Four Australian Landscape Trees | Arboriculture & Urban Forestry, accessed May 15, 2025

Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report Synthesis 2023, accessed May 15, 2025,

Australia's State of the Forests Report Synthesis 2023, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australia's State of the Forests Report Synthesis 2023, accessed on May 28, 2025

Australian forest profile, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australian forest profile, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Biodiversity Conservation Trust Ecological Thinning Guidelines, accessed July 12, 2025,

Biodiversity Conservation Trust Ecological Thinning Guidelines, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Full article: Active management: a definition and considerations for implementation in forests of temperate Australia - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed May 19, 2025

Preview of Biodiversity Conservation Trust Guidelines for Ecological Thinning, accessed July 12, 2025,

Biodiversity Conservation Trust Guidelines for Ecological Thinning, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science

Preview of Changes in evapotranspiration and phenology as consequences of shrub removal in dry forests of central Argentina - CONICET

Changes in evapotranspiration and phenology as consequences of shrub removal in dry forests of central Argentina - CONICET

Contextual Support Journal

Gippsland Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Associated ... - DCCEEW, accessed May 15, 2025

Preview of Conservation Assessment of White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025,

Conservation Assessment of White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

www.lls.nsw.gov.au, accessed May 19, 2025

Preview of Critical Ecological Roles, Structural Attributes and ... - Frontiers, accessed May 15, 2025,

Critical Ecological Roles, Structural Attributes and ... - Frontiers, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of recent climate change on terrestrial flora and fauna: Some emerging Australian examples - Cross Connect, accessed April 6, 2026

Preview of Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management Criteria and Indicators for the NSW Forest Agreement regions - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed August 10, 2025,

Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management Criteria and Indicators for the NSW Forest Agreement regions - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management Criteria and Indicators for the NSW Forest Agreement regions - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed August 10, 2025,

Preview of environment.desi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

environment.desi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

environment.desi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

Preview of Estimating Large Area Forest Carbon Stocks—A Pragmatic Design Based Strategy - MDPI, accessed May 15, 2025,

Estimating Large Area Forest Carbon Stocks—A Pragmatic Design Based Strategy - MDPI, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Estimating Large Area Forest Carbon Stocks—A Pragmatic Design Based Strategy - MDPI, accessed May 15, 2025,

Preview of Forest and woodland stand structural complexity: Its definition and measurement, accessed July 12, 2025,

Forest and woodland stand structural complexity: Its definition and measurement, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Diversity and soil chemical properties jointly explained the basal area in karst forest, accessed July 15, 2025,

Preview of Forest and woodland structure as an index of biodiversity: a review - CiteSeerX, accessed August 10, 2025,

Forest and woodland structure as an index of biodiversity: a review - CiteSeerX, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Processes underpinning natural capital account compilation highlight the potential for low-input grazing to mitigate farm carbon emissions while also improving biodiversity outcomes - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 19, 2025

Preview of Forest Management Plan 2024-2033 - Conservation and Parks Commission, accessed May 15, 2025,

Forest Management Plan 2024-2033 - Conservation and Parks Commission, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support

Case studies | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Forest Management Plan 2024-2033 - DBCA Library, accessed May 15, 2025,

Forest Management Plan 2024-2033 - DBCA Library, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Forest Management Plan 2024-2033 - DBCA Library, accessed May 15, 2025,

Preview of Full article: Active management: a definition and considerations for ..., accessed May 15, 2025

Full article: Active management: a definition and considerations for ..., accessed May 15, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Full article: Active management: a definition and considerations for ..., accessed May 15, 2025

Preview of Impact of a prolonged decline in rainfall on eucalypt woodlands in southwestern Australia and its consequences for avifauna - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 12, 2025,

Impact of a prolonged decline in rainfall on eucalypt woodlands in southwestern Australia and its consequences for avifauna - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Impact of a prolonged decline in rainfall on eucalypt woodlands in southwestern Australia and its consequences for avifauna - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 15, 2025,

Preview of Keeping tabs on native woodlands in times of flood and drought - ScienceDaily, accessed May 15, 2025,

Keeping tabs on native woodlands in times of flood and drought - ScienceDaily, accessed May 15, 2025,

Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Keeping tabs on native woodlands in times of flood and drought | ScienceDaily

Preview of Mapping Windthrow Severity as Change in Canopy Cover in a Temperate Eucalypt Forest - MDPI, accessed May 15, 2025,

Mapping Windthrow Severity as Change in Canopy Cover in a Temperate Eucalypt Forest - MDPI, accessed May 15, 2025,

Irrelevant

Past Logging and Wildfire Increase above Ground Carbon Stock Losses from Subsequent Wildfire - MDPI

Preview of Modelling canopy gap probability, foliage projective cover and crown projective cover from airborne lidar metrics in Australian forests and woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025,

Modelling canopy gap probability, foliage projective cover and crown projective cover from airborne lidar metrics in Australian forests and woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Modelling canopy gap probability, foliage projective cover and crown projective cover from airborne lidar metrics in Australian forests and woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025,

Preview of MVG 6 - Acacia forests and woodlands (DOCX - DCCEEW, accessed May 15, 2025,

MVG 6 - Acacia forests and woodlands (DOCX - DCCEEW, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Spatial organisation of landscapes and its function in semi-arid woodlands, Australia, accessed July 16, 2025

Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland Endangered Ecological Community Action Plan - ACT Government, accessed May 15, 2025,

Natural Temperate Grassland Endangered Ecological Community Action Plan - ACT Government, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support

Factors influencing the loss of an endangered ecosystem in an urbanising landscape: a case study of native grasslands from Melbourne, Australia - Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party, accessed August 11, 2025,

Preview of State-and-Transition Models for Heterogeneous Landscapes: A Strategy for Development and Application | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025

State-and-Transition Models for Heterogeneous Landscapes: A Strategy for Development and Application | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

State-and-Transition Models for Heterogeneous Landscapes: A Strategy for Development and Application | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 15, 2025

Preview of Untitled - ANU Open Research - The Australian National University

Untitled - ANU Open Research - The Australian National University

Direct Evidence Journal

Untitled - ANU Open Research - The Australian National University, accessed May 15, 2025

Preview of www.dpi.nsw.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

Preview of www.environment.nsw.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

www.environment.nsw.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support

www.environment.nsw.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

Preview of www.mla.com.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

www.mla.com.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.mla.com.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Pristine Reference
Vegetation Woodland
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 24 Mar 2026

Notes

Dense stands of white cypress pine with TCC 50−75% negatively impact environmental values; ecological thinning is used to reduce canopy cover.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-FOR-TCC family.