Vegetation Extent

AUS-ASC-LVG-VEX General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 60 to 80 %
Optimal Range: 60 to 80
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

Poa hiemata (Tussock Grass): This was the most common species (40.3% of all species hits). It showed no consistent trends over time on either plot, remaining at 60–80% cover throughout the study.

Metric Definition:

Percent ground cover of the dominant structural species.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the stable percent ground cover range of the dominant tussock grass species in subalpine grassland, representing the core vegetation structure.

Justification:

This range defines the stable structural core of the subalpine grassland biome.

Sources (1)

Preview of aff.org.au, accessed on May 28, 2025,
aff.org.au, accessed on May 28, 2025, Journal

Vegetation change in the Pretty Valley alpine grasslands from 1945 ..., accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source

Supporting Sources (21)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 2. Native Vegetation, accessed May 11, 2026,
2. Native Vegetation, accessed May 11, 2026,
Contextual Support Journal

Accounting for Nature - Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of a history of cooperative management of the Australian Alps national parks, accessed May 11, 2026,
a history of cooperative management of the Australian Alps national parks, accessed May 11, 2026,
Contextual Support Journal

a history of cooperative management of the Australian Alps national parks, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Alpine - Victorian Ecosystems - Viridans Biological Databases, accessed May 11, 2026,
Alpine - Victorian Ecosystems - Viridans Biological Databases, accessed May 11, 2026,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Running a sustainable grazing business | Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Australia's Native Vegetation Framework - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2026,
Australia's Native Vegetation Framework - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2026,
Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Native Vegetation Framework - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Australian alpine environment bushfire recovery
Australian alpine environment bushfire recovery
Contextual Support Government

Australian alpine environment bushfire recovery

View Source
Preview of Australian Alps Montane Grasslands | One Earth, accessed on May 28, 2025
Australian Alps Montane Grasslands | One Earth, accessed on May 28, 2025
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Long-term Vegetation Change in Relation to Cattle ... - DCCEEW, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of CLEAN-20230314-Forico - Tasmanian Vegetation Condition Assessment Method - Accounting for Nature, accessed May 11, 2026,
CLEAN-20230314-Forico - Tasmanian Vegetation Condition Assessment Method - Accounting for Nature, accessed May 11, 2026,
Methodology Source Journal

CLEAN-20230314-Forico - Tasmanian Vegetation Condition Assessment Method - Accounting for Nature, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNT FIVE RIVERS RESERVE, accessed May 11, 2026,
ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNT FIVE RIVERS RESERVE, accessed May 11, 2026,
Direct Evidence Journal

Native Vegetation 2021 - NSW State of the Environment Report, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Extensive Livestock - NSW Department of Primary Industries
Extensive Livestock - NSW Department of Primary Industries
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Extensive Livestock - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Five Rivers Environmental Account
Five Rivers Environmental Account
Direct Evidence Journal

Five Rivers Environmental Account

View Source
Preview of How Sustainable Grazing Impacts Farm Profitability - AGDATA Holdings, accessed May 11, 2026,
How Sustainable Grazing Impacts Farm Profitability - AGDATA Holdings, accessed May 11, 2026,
Irrelevant

How Sustainable Grazing Impacts Farm Profitability - AGDATA Holdings, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Increasing soil organic carbon of agricultural land - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 7, 2026,
Increasing soil organic carbon of agricultural land - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 7, 2026,
Contextual Support Journal

vegetation | Australian Alps National Parks, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Long-term Vegetation Change in Relation to Cattle Grazing in Subalpine Grassland and Heathland on the Bogong High Plains - DCCEEW, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Long-term Vegetation Change in Relation to Cattle Grazing in Subalpine Grassland and Heathland on the Bogong High Plains - DCCEEW, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Wood, S. W., et al. (2015). The Ausplots Forest Monitoring Network: Tall eucalypt forests. PLOS ONE.

View Source
Preview of Native vegetation 2021 (NSW)
Native vegetation 2021 (NSW)
Contextual Support Government

Native vegetation 2021 (NSW)

View Source
Preview of NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). The Australian Alps Bioregion.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). The Australian Alps Bioregion.
Contextual Support Journal

Australian Alps Montane Grasslands | One Earth, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of NSW State of the Environment pt 7 (Biodiversity)
NSW State of the Environment pt 7 (Biodiversity)
Contextual Support

Biodiversity - NSW Parliament, accessed May 11, 2026, ).pdf

View Source
Preview of Plants 2024 | NSW State of the Environment
Plants 2024 | NSW State of the Environment
Contextual Support Government

NSW State of the Environment 2024 - Plants

View Source
Preview of Snowy Strategic Activation Precinct - NSW Planning Portal
Snowy Strategic Activation Precinct - NSW Planning Portal
Contextual Support Journal

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. (2006). Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania Listing Advice.

View Source
Preview of Strategic placement of mineral mix supplements
Strategic placement of mineral mix supplements
Contextual Support Journal

Use of mineral mix supplements to modify the grazing patterns by cattle for the restoration of sub-alpine and alpine shrub-encroached grasslands | The Rangeland Journal - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Sustainable grazing systems (SGS) survey - MLA, accessed May 11, 2026,
Sustainable grazing systems (SGS) survey - MLA, accessed May 11, 2026,
Contextual Support Government

Sustainable grazing systems (SGS) survey - MLA, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Sustainable Grazing Systems (SGS) survey report
Sustainable Grazing Systems (SGS) survey report
Direct Evidence Journal

Sustainable Grazing Systems (SGS) survey report

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Subalpine Grassland
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

Canonical value is 60-80% of the 7 ha experimental site.

Related Benchmarks

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

38 % High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Ungrazed Subalpine Grassland
Point Active v2
1 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Grazed Subalpine Grassland
Point Active v2
— % High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Australian Alps Bioregion
OptimalRange Active v1
5.73E+05 ha High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Post-fire Alpine Region · 2019-20
MaximumOnly Active v1
11113 ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
Point Active v1
80 % High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · High Rainfall Zone / Subalpine border
Point Active v1
50 % High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Ungrazed Subalpine Grassland
Point Superseded v1
4 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Grazed Subalpine Grassland
Point Superseded v1