Vegetation Extent

AUS-ASC-FOR-VEX General High confidence

Benchmark Value

12 m²/ha

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.

Evidence & Context

"The target range is between 12 m²/ha and 16 m²/ha. Retaining below 12 m²/ha results in reduced seedling recruitment."

Metric Definition:

Basal area per hectare retained to protect regeneration.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the minimum basal area per hectare to retain in shelterwood systems to protect seedling recruitment in the Alpine and Subalpine Complex biome under production forestry.

Justification:

Critical lower limit for seedling protection from frost and exposure.

Sources (1)

Technical Bulletin 5: Silvicultural systems for native eucalypt forests

Technical Bulletin 5: Silvicultural systems for native eucalypt forests

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Supporting Sources (8)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Buffel grass in Queensland's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025

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Bago State Forest - Snowy Valleys Tourism Upgrade Program - Forestry Corporation

Direct Evidence Journal

Forest Biodiversity Declines and Extinctions Linked with Forest ...

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Forestry Tasmania. (2010). Silvicultural systems for native eucalypt forests. Technical Bulletin No. 5.

Direct Evidence Journal

Thinning regrowth eucalypts Technical Bulletin

View Source

Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations

Direct Evidence

Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations

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Monitoring Eucalyptus delegatensis in Tasmania

Direct Evidence

Monitoring Eucalyptus delegatensis in Tasmania

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Policy for Maintaining a Permanent Native Forest Estate

Direct Evidence

Policy for Maintaining a Permanent Native Forest Estate

View Source

Silvicultural monitoring in uneven-aged highland dry Eucalyptus delegatensis forests in Tasmania

Direct Evidence

Silvicultural monitoring in uneven-aged highland dry Eucalyptus delegatensis forests in Tasmania, accessed April 1, 2026,

View Source

VNPA-Alpine-Ash-forests-of-mainland-Australia

Direct Evidence

VNPA-Alpine-Ash-forests-of-mainland-Australia

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Shelterwood systems
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 12 m²/ha. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

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