Ground Cover - Tree Canopy

AUS-ASC-FOR-TCC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

86 %
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.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

Historical data indicates that as of the year 2000, approximately 86% of the Alpine land cover in Victoria was classified as tree cover with a canopy density exceeding 30%.5

Metric Definition:

Tree canopy cover percentage representing the proportion of land area with canopy density exceeding 30%

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the percentage of land area in the Alpine and Subalpine Complex biome under Production Forestry in Australia that had tree canopy cover density exceeding 30% as of 2000, indicating a high-density natural forest baseline.

Justification:

Represents a high-density baseline for the region's natural forest cover as of 2000

Sources (1)

Preview of Technical Bulletin 2: Eucalyptus delegatensis forests
Technical Bulletin 2: Eucalyptus delegatensis forests Journal

Forestry Tasmania. (2001). Eucalyptus delegatensis Forests. Technical Bulletin No. 2.

View Source

Supporting Sources (6)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Central Victorian Uplands bioregion - EVC 30: Wet Forest
Central Victorian Uplands bioregion - EVC 30: Wet Forest
Direct Evidence Journal

Central Victorian Uplands bioregion - EVC 30: Wet Forest

View Source
Preview of First Urban Tree Canopy Cover Benchmark In Australia - Citygreen
First Urban Tree Canopy Cover Benchmark In Australia - Citygreen
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

First Urban Tree Canopy Cover Benchmark In Australia - Citygreen

View Source
Preview of Health and distribution of the Snow Gum Eucalyptus pauciflora ssp. pauciflora in the Ballarat region of Victoria
Health and distribution of the Snow Gum Eucalyptus pauciflora ssp. pauciflora in the Ballarat region of Victoria
Contextual Support Government

Health and distribution of the Snow Gum Eucalyptus pauciflora ssp. pauciflora in the Ballarat region of Victoria

View Source
Preview of Major Australian cities fail international tree canopy goals: study - RMIT University
Major Australian cities fail international tree canopy goals: study - RMIT University
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Major Australian cities fail international tree canopy goals: study - RMIT University

View Source
Preview of Mapping Windthrow Severity as Change in Canopy Cover in a Temperate Eucalypt Forest
Mapping Windthrow Severity as Change in Canopy Cover in a Temperate Eucalypt Forest
Direct Evidence Journal

Forestry Tasmania. (2011). Monitoring and protecting eucalypt regeneration. Native Forest Silviculture Technical Bulletin No. 12.

View Source
Preview of WDR Eucalyptus delegatensis forest over rainforest
WDR Eucalyptus delegatensis forest over rainforest
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

WDR Eucalyptus delegatensis forest over rainforest

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Vegetation Forest
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 7 Apr 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. This baseline is challenged by subsequent canopy loss due to wildfire and other disturbances

Related Benchmarks

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

27 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Active v7
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v2
50 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Active v2
30 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Active v1
30 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference · Forest
Point Active v1
40 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference · Forest
Point Active v1
30 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference · Forest
Point Active v1
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference · Woodland
OptimalRange Active v1
56 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v6
30 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v5
40 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v4
30 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v3
54 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v2
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Superseded v1
30 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Superseded v1
86 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
Point Superseded v1