Ground Cover - Shrubs

AUS-ASC-CON-GCS General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 10 to 40 %
Optimal Range: 10 to 40
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

The data indicates that shrub cover is a dominant component of the understorey in these montane wet sclerophyll forests: Native Ground Cover - Shrubs (GCS) 10% to 40%.

Metric Definition:

Native Ground Cover - Shrubs (GCS) percentage cover in the ground layer of Alpine Ash - Mountain Gum moist shrubby tall open forest

Benchmark Definition:

Percentage cover of native shrubs in the ground layer as a structural benchmark for subalpine forest understorey.

Justification:

Derived from data-driven benchmarks comparing current site conditions against a reference state for the specific Plant Community Type (PCT 1191).

Sources (1)

Preview of Biodiversity Certification Assessment Report (BCAR) - AWS
Biodiversity Certification Assessment Report (BCAR) - AWS Journal

Biodiversity Certification Assessment Report (BCAR) - AWS

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Highlands – Northern Fall bioregion - Environment
Highlands – Northern Fall bioregion - Environment
Direct Evidence Journal

vegetation | Australian Alps National Parks

View Source
Preview of WDA Eucalyptus dalrympleana forest: subalpine heathland facies
WDA Eucalyptus dalrympleana forest: subalpine heathland facies
Direct Evidence Journal

Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority. (2004). Assessment of Habitat Quality: Subalpine.

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Vegetation Forest
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

This benchmark represents the natural range of shrub cover in the ground layer of montane wet sclerophyll forests in the Australian Alps bioregion.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASC-CON-GCS family.

5 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference · Forest
Point Active v2
5 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference · Forest
Point Superseded v1