Vegetation Extent

AUS-ASC-FOR-VEX General High confidence

Benchmark Value

7 trees/ha

Thresholds: Lower: 7, Upper: —

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

"the retention target is 7 to 12 well-spaced trees per hectare, which are left to provide a source of natural seedfall"

Metric Definition:

Minimum number of seed-bearing trees to be retained per hectare.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark sets the minimum number of seed-bearing trees per hectare to retain for natural forest regeneration after harvest.

Justification:

Necessary for the natural recovery of forest cover following harvest.

Sources (1)

Technical Bulletin 5: Silvicultural systems for native eucalypt forests

Technical Bulletin 5: Silvicultural systems for native eucalypt forests

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Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests

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Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations

Direct Evidence

Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations

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Monitoring Eucalyptus delegatensis in Tasmania

Direct Evidence

Monitoring Eucalyptus delegatensis in Tasmania

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Policy for Maintaining a Permanent Native Forest Estate

Direct Evidence

Policy for Maintaining a Permanent Native Forest Estate

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VNPA-Alpine-Ash-forests-of-mainland-Australia

Direct Evidence

VNPA-Alpine-Ash-forests-of-mainland-Australia

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Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Seed tree harvesting
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 10 Apr 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 7 trees/ha. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

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