Ground Cover - Grasses

AUS-TCF-LVG-GCG General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 80 to 90 %

Optimal Range: 80 to 90

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

Given the focus on "best-on-offer" conditions in well-managed, lightly impacted grazing landscapes within the Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forest biome, and considering the detailed guidelines provided for temperate perennial pastures in NSW, a reference range of 80-90% ground cover is proposed.

Metric Definition:

Ground cover is a fundamental indicator of land health, representing the percentage of the ground surface covered by living and dead plant material, mosses, lichens, litter, dung, or rocks.

Justification:

This range is based on Best Management Practice guidelines for temperate perennial pastures in NSW, which recommend 80% ground cover for land capability classes IV & V and 90% for classes VI & VII to prevent erosion and maintain soil stability.

Sources (18)

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Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Growth rates of Eucalyptus and other Australian native tree species derived from seven decades of growth monitoring, accessed April 29, 2025,

Growth rates of Eucalyptus and other Australian native tree species derived from seven decades of growth monitoring, accessed April 29, 2025,

Contextual Support

Growth rates of Eucalyptus and other Australian native tree species derived from seven decades of growth monitoring, accessed April 29, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Coastal Forests & Woodlands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Maintaining ground cover above 70% is generally necessary to prevent soil erosion. The tiered approach acknowledges varying land limitations and the need for higher ground cover on more sensitive land. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.