Litter Cover

AUS-TMS-CON-LIT General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

97 %

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

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 4 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 3 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

The maximum observed value of 97% litter cover is particularly noteworthy, likely occurring in sites with a TSLB of ²64 years.

Metric Definition:

Litter Cover (%)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the high state of litter accumulation achievable under current conservation management practices in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas, specifically in sites with moderate fire exclusion periods.

Justification:

This value is based on field data from well-managed conservation areas in Australian Tropical Monsoonal Savannas and represents a high state of litter accumulation achievable under current conservation management practices.

Sources (1)

Preview of Influence of Fire Mosaics, Habitat Characteristics and Cattle Disturbance on Mammals in Fire-Prone Savanna Landscapes of the Northern Kimberley - PubMed Central

Influence of Fire Mosaics, Habitat Characteristics and Cattle Disturbance on Mammals in Fire-Prone Savanna Landscapes of the Northern Kimberley - PubMed Central Journal

Legge et al. (2015) "The influence of fire mosaics on small-medium mammal communities in Australian tropical savannas"

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Monitoring ground cover: an online tool for Australian regions - eo-data.csiro.au, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Erosion and sediment yields in the Kakadu region of northern Australia - INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES

View Source

Preview of Relationships between livestock management and the ecological condition of riparian habitats along an Australian floodplain river - Charles Sturt University Research Output, accessed July 23, 2025

Relationships between livestock management and the ecological condition of riparian habitats along an Australian floodplain river - Charles Sturt University Research Output, accessed July 23, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Fire in Australian savannas: from leaf to landscape - PMC - PubMed Central

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

This value is associated with sites unburnt for moderate periods (²64 years) and is linked to specific biodiversity and ecosystem functional benefits.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-CON-LIT family.