Litter Cover

AUS-TMS-CON-LIT General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

30 %
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. The scoring engine uses 2 benchmarks together — the MinimumOnly form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

MinimumOnly Primary MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Levels falling below 30-50% are likely to initiate negative impacts.

Metric Definition:

Litter Cover (%)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the minimum litter cover percentage below which ecosystem functions are impaired in tropical savannas.

Justification:

Based on general soil conservation principles and erosion control thresholds, litter cover below this level compromises soil protection and other ecosystem functions.

Sources (1)

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

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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
Contextual Support Journal

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

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 Not Stated
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

This threshold is derived from the role of litter in soil protection, moisture retention, nutrient cycling, and habitat provision for invertebrates. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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

97 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
— % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1
100 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
MaximumOnly Active v1