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
Basal area levels exceeding approximately 8.0 to 10.0 m²/ha are associated with "woody thickening," a process recognized as land degradation in grazing contexts.
Upper detrimental threshold of tree basal area above which woody thickening causes land degradation.
This benchmark marks the upper threshold of tree basal area beyond which woody thickening occurs, leading to pasture suppression and reduced livestock carrying capacity in grazing systems.
This threshold is supported by management guidelines and ecological studies linking basal area above this range to reduced pasture growth and carrying capacity.
Sources (1)
Reducing the impacts of grazing on water quality - EPA Victoria, accessed July 10, 2025,
View SourceSupporting Sources (3)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
Environmental flow requirements in arid zone rivers- A case study from the Lake Eyre Basin, central Australia - ResearchGate
View SourceRates of erosion and sediment transport in Australia - INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES
View SourcePersistence of in-stream waterholes in ephemeral rivers of tropical northern Australia and potential impacts of climate change - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Marine and Freshwater Research
View Source