Riparian Vegetation

AUS-ASC-FOR-RIP General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 1 to 15 %
Optimal Range: 1 to 15
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.

Evidence & Context

Ground Fern cover typically ranges from 1% to 15% in Riparian Scrub (EVC 191).

Metric Definition:

Percent cover of Ground Fern in Riparian Scrub (EVC 191)

Benchmark Definition:

Percent cover of Ground Fern lifeform in riparian vegetation.

Justification:

These cover percentages represent typical reference condition benchmarks for Riparian Scrub.

Sources (1)

Preview of Bioregions and EVC benchmarks - Environment, accessed August 5, 2025,
Bioregions and EVC benchmarks - Environment, accessed August 5, 2025, Government

Eastern NSW Plant Community Type Percentage Cleared Calculation Technical Notes - Environment and Heritage

View Source

Supporting Sources (20)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Climate change impacts on Australia's alpine ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed on May 28, 2025,
(PDF) Climate change impacts on Australia's alpine ecosystems - ResearchGate, accessed on May 28, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

vegetation | Australian Alps National Parks

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Preview of (PDF) Rapidly quantifying reference conditions in modified landscapes - ResearchGate
(PDF) Rapidly quantifying reference conditions in modified landscapes - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Rapidly quantifying reference conditions in modified landscapes - ResearchGate

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Preview of (PDF) Stand Condition Assessment (SCA) Tool case study demonstration – Report 2. Results and discussion of case study sites in NSW. Report to the Murray Darling Basin Authority under the Improving evaluation and reporting on woody vegetation condition outcomes, at regional and Basin scales Project - ResearchGate
(PDF) Stand Condition Assessment (SCA) Tool case study demonstration – Report 2. Results and discussion of case study sites in NSW. Report to the Murray Darling Basin Authority under the Improving evaluation and reporting on woody vegetation condition outcomes, at regional and Basin scales Project - ResearchGate
Contextual Support

(PDF) Stand Condition Assessment (SCA) Tool case study demonstration – Report 2. Results and discussion of case study sites in NSW. Report to the Murray Darling Basin Authority under the Improving evaluation and reporting on woody vegetation condition outcomes, at regional and Basin scales Project - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Australian Standard - Responsible Wood
Australian Standard - Responsible Wood
Regulatory Framework Journal

A review of forest management and chain of custody certification in Australia | FWPA

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Preview of Benchmarks for wetland Ecological Vegetation Classes in Victoria
Benchmarks for wetland Ecological Vegetation Classes in Victoria
Direct Evidence Journal

Benchmarks for wetland Ecological Vegetation Classes in Victoria

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Preview of Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014 (as amended 2022) - Forests and Reserves
Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014 (as amended 2022) - Forests and Reserves
Regulatory Framework Journal

A review of forestry impacts on biodiversity and the effectiveness of 'off-reserve' management actions in areas covered by the Tasmanian forest practices system - Parliament of Tasmania

View Source
Preview of Derived from the preventative principles embedded in Australian State Forest Practices Codes (e.g., Victorian Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014; NSW Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Southern NSW; Tasmanian Forest Practices Code) and the documented high sensitivity and erodibility of alpine/subalpine soils when disturbed.
Derived from the preventative principles embedded in Australian State Forest Practices Codes (e.g., Victorian Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014; NSW Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Southern NSW; Tasmanian Forest Practices Code) and the documented high sensitivity and erodibility of alpine/subalpine soils when disturbed.
Contextual Support Journal

Indicator 4.1d: Management of the risks to water quantity from forests (2025) - DAFF

View Source
Preview of Forest Management Plan for the North East 2001
Forest Management Plan for the North East 2001
Contextual Support Government

Forest Management Plan for the North East 2001

View Source
Preview of Forest Management Plan for the North East 2001, accessed August 5, 2025
Forest Management Plan for the North East 2001, accessed August 5, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

2019–20 Wildfires - Forestry Corporation

View Source
Preview of Forest Practices Code - FAOLEX
Forest Practices Code - FAOLEX
Regulatory Framework Journal

Forest Practices Code - FAOLEX

View Source
Preview of guidelines for sustainable forestry on private lands in nsw - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
guidelines for sustainable forestry on private lands in nsw - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support

Smith, A. (2019). Guidelines for Sustainable Forestry on Private Lands in NSW.

View Source
Preview of Johnston, F. M., & Pickering, C. M. (2001). Recovery of Alpine Area Vegetation after Fire and Grazing. Kosciuszko National Park.
Johnston, F. M., & Pickering, C. M. (2001). Recovery of Alpine Area Vegetation after Fire and Grazing. Kosciuszko National Park.
Contextual Support Journal

Persistence of mature forest biodiversity elements in a production forest landscape managed under a Regional Forest Agreement - Parliament of Tasmania

View Source
Preview of New South Wales Vegetation Classification and Assessment: Introduction - Botanic Gardens of Sydney
New South Wales Vegetation Classification and Assessment: Introduction - Botanic Gardens of Sydney
Contextual Support Journal

New South Wales Vegetation Classification and Assessment: Introduction - Botanic Gardens of Sydney

View Source
Preview of NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). The Australian Alps Bioregion.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). The Australian Alps Bioregion.
Contextual Support Journal

Monitoring the impact of feral horses on vegetation condition using remotely sensed fPAR: A case study in Australia's alpine parks

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Preview of Riparian Land Management Technical Guidelines - NIWA
Riparian Land Management Technical Guidelines - NIWA
Contextual Support Journal

Riparian Land Management Technical Guidelines - NIWA

View Source
Preview of Sustainable forest management - requirements - PEFC
Sustainable forest management - requirements - PEFC
Regulatory Framework Journal

Sustainable forest management - requirements - PEFC

View Source
Preview of Tasmanian Reserve Management Code of Practice - Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Tasmanian Reserve Management Code of Practice - Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Regulatory Framework Journal

Tasmanian Reserve Management Code of Practice - Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service

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Preview of Terrestrial Biodiversity Review - Victorian National Parks Association
Terrestrial Biodiversity Review - Victorian National Parks Association
Contextual Support Journal

Terrestrial Biodiversity Review - Victorian National Parks Association

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Preview of Updating habitat condition indicators Implementation report supporting the NSW biodiversity outlook report 2024 | Environment and Heritage
Updating habitat condition indicators Implementation report supporting the NSW biodiversity outlook report 2024 | Environment and Heritage
Contextual Support Journal

Integrated model–data fusion approach to measuring habitat condition for ecological integrity reporting - Environment and Heritage

View Source
Preview of Using the reference condition maintains the integrity of a bioassessment program in a changing climate - The University of Chicago Press: Journals
Using the reference condition maintains the integrity of a bioassessment program in a changing climate - The University of Chicago Press: Journals
Contextual Support Journal

Using the reference condition maintains the integrity of a bioassessment program in a changing climate - The University of Chicago Press: Journals

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Context

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

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 9 Apr 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

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

— m Moderate
Production Forestry · Production Forestry · Riparian
OptimalRange Active v1
50 m Moderate
Production Forestry · Production Forestry · Riparian
Point Active v1
50 m Moderate
Production Forestry · Production Forestry · Riparian
Point Active v1
10 m Moderate
Production Forestry · Production Forestry · Riparian
Point Active v1
20 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Production Forestry · Riparian
MinimumOnly Active v1
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Reference Condition · Riparian
OptimalRange Active v1
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Reference Condition · Riparian
OptimalRange Active v1
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Reference Condition · Riparian
OptimalRange Active v1
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Reference Condition · Riparian
OptimalRange Active v1
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Reference Condition · Riparian
OptimalRange Active v1
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Reference Condition · Riparian
OptimalRange Active v1
10 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Reference Condition · Riparian
Point Active v1