Ground Cover - Tree Canopy

AUS-TMI-LVG-TCC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

10 %

Thresholds: Lower: 10, Upper: —

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: LowerThreshold

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 11 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 10 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

A TCC below 10% can be considered a critical lower threshold. Below this level, the landscape transitions from a functional savanna woodland to a simplified pasture system where key ecological services are severely diminished.

Metric Definition:

Tree Canopy Cover (TCC) lower critical threshold

Benchmark Definition:

Critical lower threshold of Tree Canopy Cover below which ecosystem services are lost.

Justification:

Below 10% TCC, essential ecosystem services like shade, shelter, and soil stability are lost, increasing degradation risk.

Sources (1)

Balancing trees and grass for improved grazing conditions in central Queensland

Balancing trees and grass for improved grazing conditions in central Queensland

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 25 Mar 2026

Notes

This threshold marks the transition from functional savanna woodland to degraded pasture. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMI-LVG-TCC family.