Basal Area
Benchmark Value
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 18 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 17 guard(s) constrain the result.
Contributing Benchmarks
Evidence & Context
The mean value of 2.6 m²/ha for the grazed control plots in arid A. aneura woodlands is the most robust and relevant figure. It represents a long-term, stable condition under grazing in a dominant vegetation type of the Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome.
Basal area, the cross-sectional area of tree stems at a standardized height (typically breast height), providing a measure of stand density and size of mature trees.
This benchmark represents the typical basal area of woody vegetation in sustainably managed grazing landscapes within the Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome, reflecting a functional and stable ecosystem under grazing.
This value is selected as it represents the "best-on-offer" real-world condition for a functional, sustainably managed grazing landscape, rather than an ungrazed wilderness state. Confidence is 'Moderate' as the source is a robust, large-scale CSIRO study, but the value is an average across multiple sites and not specific to the Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome, which introduces some uncertainty.
Sources (1)
Reducing the impacts of grazing on water quality - EPA Victoria, accessed July 10, 2025,
View SourceSupporting Sources (1)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
Does grazing exclusion in Australia's rangelands affect biomass and debris carbon stocks?
View Source