Litter Cover

AUS-ASC-FOR-LIT General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 20 to 45 %
Thresholds: Lower: 20, Upper: 45
Optimal Range: 20 to 45
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

"Depending on the age and composition of the tree species, bark can easily account for up to~20-45% of the litter layer in Eucalyptus forests"

Metric Definition:

The proportion of the total litter layer (mass or volume) represented by bark tissue

Benchmark Definition:

Bark is a persistent structural component of the litter layer that regulates moisture and protects the soil in the Alpine and Subalpine Complex biome under production forestry.

Justification:

This refers to the specific bark component within the broader litter layer.

Sources (1)

Preview of Woods, P. V., & Raison, R. J. (1983). Decomposition of litter in sub-alpine forests of Eucalyptus delegatensis, E. pauciflora and E. dives. Australian Journal of Ecology.
Woods, P. V., & Raison, R. J. (1983). Decomposition of litter in sub-alpine forests of Eucalyptus delegatensis, E. pauciflora and E. dives. Australian Journal of Ecology. GreyLiterature

Woods, P. V., & Raison, R. J. (1983). Decomposition of litter in sub-alpine forests of Eucalyptus delegatensis, E. pauciflora and E. dives. Australian Journal of Ecology.

View Source

Supporting Sources (18)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Identifying Best Management Practices for Riparian Habitats in Gippsland Dairy Regions: Riparian Condition and Relationships with Farm Management - ResearchGate, accessed March 27, 2026,
(PDF) Identifying Best Management Practices for Riparian Habitats in Gippsland Dairy Regions: Riparian Condition and Relationships with Farm Management - ResearchGate, accessed March 27, 2026,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Identifying Best Management Practices for Riparian Habitats in Gippsland Dairy Regions: Riparian Condition and Relationships with Farm Management - ResearchGate, accessed March 27, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Australia's forests – overview - DAFF, accessed August 5, 2025,
Australia's forests – overview - DAFF, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support

Boland, D. J., & Dunn, A. T. (1985). Eucalyptus delegatensis: Its ecology and management. Forestry Commission of NSW.

View Source
Preview of Budget of Plant Litter and Litter Carbon in the Subalpine Forest Streams - MDPI, accessed March 27, 2026,
Budget of Plant Litter and Litter Carbon in the Subalpine Forest Streams - MDPI, accessed March 27, 2026,
Contextual Support Journal

Budget of Plant Litter and Litter Carbon in the Subalpine Forest Streams - MDPI, accessed March 27, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Burning outcomes following aggregated retention harvesting in old-growth wet eucalypt forests - ResearchGate
Burning outcomes following aggregated retention harvesting in old-growth wet eucalypt forests - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Burning outcomes following aggregated retention harvesting in old-growth wet eucalypt forests - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Cruz, M. G., et al. (2022). Vesta Mk 2: A new model for predicting the rate of spread of fires in eucalypt forests. CSIRO.
Cruz, M. G., et al. (2022). Vesta Mk 2: A new model for predicting the rate of spread of fires in eucalypt forests. CSIRO.
Contextual Support Journal

Cruz, M. G., et al. (2022). Vesta Mk 2: A new model for predicting the rate of spread of fires in eucalypt forests. CSIRO.

View Source
Preview of Decomposition of litter in sub-alpine forests of Eucalyptus delegatensis, E. pauciflora and E. dives | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed March 27, 2026,
Decomposition of litter in sub-alpine forests of Eucalyptus delegatensis, E. pauciflora and E. dives | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed March 27, 2026,
Direct Evidence Journal

Decomposition of litter in sub-alpine forests of Eucalyptus delegatensis, E. pauciflora and E. dives | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed March 27, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Initial Carbon Quality of Newly Shed Foliar Litter in an Alpine Forest from Proximate Analysis and 13 C NMR Spectroscopy Perspectives - MDPI, accessed March 27, 2026,
Initial Carbon Quality of Newly Shed Foliar Litter in an Alpine Forest from Proximate Analysis and 13 C NMR Spectroscopy Perspectives - MDPI, accessed March 27, 2026,
Contextual Support Journal

Initial Carbon Quality of Newly Shed Foliar Litter in an Alpine Forest from Proximate Analysis and 13 C NMR Spectroscopy Perspectives - MDPI, accessed March 27, 2026,

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 Direct Evidence Journal

Johnston, F. M., & Pickering, C. M. (2001). Recovery of Alpine Area Vegetation after Fire and Grazing. Kosciuszko National Park.

View Source
Preview of Leaf litter breakdown and the associated biota of five southeastern Australian alpine and sub‐alpine streams
Leaf litter breakdown and the associated biota of five southeastern Australian alpine and sub‐alpine streams
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Leaf litter breakdown and the associated biota of five southeastern Australian alpine and sub‐alpine streams

View Source
Preview of Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries
Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries
Contextual Support Journal

Burning outcomes following aggregated retention harvesting in old-growth wet eucalypt forests - ResearchGate, accessed March 27, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025,
Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Lang, D. (1979). Groundcover for pastures. Journal of Soil Conservation NSW.

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
Contextual Support Journal

Opportunities for Integrated Ecological Analysis across Inland Australia with Standardised Data from Ausplots Rangelands - PMC

View Source
Preview of Prior, L. D., et al. (2016). Environmental and human drivers influencing large old tree abundance in Australian wet forests. Forest Ecology and Management.
Prior, L. D., et al. (2016). Environmental and human drivers influencing large old tree abundance in Australian wet forests. Forest Ecology and Management.
Direct Evidence Journal

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). (2022). Maintain ground cover. Sustainable Grazing Resource.

View Source
Preview of Recovery of fire-sensitive vegetation communities in Namadgi National Park and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve after the 2020 Orroral Valley Bushfire - ACT Government, accessed March 27, 2026,
Recovery of fire-sensitive vegetation communities in Namadgi National Park and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve after the 2020 Orroral Valley Bushfire - ACT Government, accessed March 27, 2026,
Direct Evidence Journal

Recovery of fire-sensitive vegetation communities in Namadgi National Park and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve after the 2020 Orroral Valley Bushfire - ACT Government, accessed March 27, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Submission to the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission - Parliament of Australia, accessed March 27, 2026,
Submission to the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission - Parliament of Australia, accessed March 27, 2026,
Direct Evidence Journal

Review of C:N Ratios in Vegetation, Litter and Soil Under Australian Native Forests and Plantations - DCCEEW, accessed March 27, 2026,

View Source
Preview of TERN. (2015). AusPlots Forest Monitoring Network Fuel Survey.
TERN. (2015). AusPlots Forest Monitoring Network Fuel Survey.
Contextual Support Journal

Sustainable Timber Tasmania. (2024). Forest Management Plan.

View Source
Preview of The distribution and community structure of bryophytes on Mt. Barrow
The distribution and community structure of bryophytes on Mt. Barrow
Direct Evidence

The distribution and community structure of bryophytes on Mt. Barrow

View Source
Preview of Wind erosion | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 23, 2025
Wind erosion | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 23, 2025
Direct Evidence Government

Ground cover monitoring for Australia - DAFF

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 2
  • Effective From 10 Apr 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Bark decomposes more slowly than leaf material, providing a persistent physical barrier that protects the soil surface during rapid snowmelt periods.

Related Benchmarks

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

70 % High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Active v4
50 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Active v4
11 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Aggregated retention harvesting
MaximumOnly Active v2
25 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Sub-alpine forests (Mt. Barrow)
LowerThreshold Active v2
100 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Steep slopes
MaximumOnly Active v2
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Riparian
OptimalRange Active v1
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference · Forest
OptimalRange Active v1
94 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Alpine herbfield
Point Active v1
— % High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
— % High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
70 % High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Superseded v3
50 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Superseded v3
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Proposed v2
70 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Proposed v2
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Proposed v2
70 % High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Superseded v2
50 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Superseded v2
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Reference Condition · Forest
OptimalRange Superseded v1
— % Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
LowerThreshold Superseded v1
70 % High
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
MinimumOnly Superseded v1
11 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Aggregated retention harvesting
MaximumOnly Superseded v1
25 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Sub-alpine forests (Mt. Barrow)
LowerThreshold Superseded v1
100 % Moderate
Production Forestry · Steep slopes
MaximumOnly Superseded v1