Vegetation Woody Cover

AUS-ASC-LVG-VWC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 20 to 30 %
Optimal Range: 20 to 30
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

Altitudinal Zone Elevation Range (Approx.) Dominant Woody Form Typical Woody Cover (%) Montane Slopes 800 - 1500m Tall Eucalypt Forest (e.g., Alpine Ash) 40% - 75% Subalpine Woodland 1500 - 1850m Low Woodland (Snow Gums) 20% - 30% Alpine Zone > 1850m Dwarf Shrubs, Prostrate Heath < 5% (Trees 0%) Frost Hollows Variable (Basins) Treeless Grasslands/Bogs 0%

Metric Definition:

Vegetation Woody Cover (VWC) as the percentage of ground area covered by woody vegetation in different altitudinal zones

Justification:

The subalpine woodland zone is characterized by low woodland dominated by Snow Gums with moderate woody cover.

Sources (1)

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

vegetation | Australian Alps National Parks

View Source

Supporting Sources (17)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Predicting decay in functional diversity in plant communities under future climates
(PDF) Predicting decay in functional diversity in plant communities under future climates
Methodology Source Government

(PDF) Predicting decay in functional diversity in plant communities under future climates

View Source
Preview of 2024 State of the Environment Report - Tasmanian Planning Commission, accessed on May 25, 2025,
2024 State of the Environment Report - Tasmanian Planning Commission, accessed on May 25, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Biodiversity impacts of Chilean needle grass Nassella neesiana on Australia's indigenous grasslands - VU Research Repository

View Source
Preview of accessed April 1
accessed April 1
Direct Evidence Government

Australian total, woody and grass foliage cover (version 3) - CSIRO Data Access Portal

View Source
Preview of ACT native grassland conservation strategy and action plans
ACT native grassland conservation strategy and action plans
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

ACT native grassland conservation strategy and action plans

View Source
Preview of ASSESSMENT OF HABITAT QUALITY Self-assessment method
ASSESSMENT OF HABITAT QUALITY Self-assessment method
Contextual Support Journal

ASSESSMENT OF HABITAT QUALITY Self-assessment method

View Source
Preview of Bioregions and EVC benchmarks - Environment, accessed August 5, 2025,
Bioregions and EVC benchmarks - Environment, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

TASVEG VCA Manual: A manual for assessing vegetation condition in Tasmania, Version 2.0. Natural and Cultural Heritage, Department of

View Source
Preview of Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution | The Rangeland Journal | ConnectSci
Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution | The Rangeland Journal | ConnectSci
Contextual Support Journal

Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution | The Rangeland Journal | ConnectSci

View Source
Preview of Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services
Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services
Direct Evidence Journal

Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services

View Source
Preview of Mapping Windthrow Severity as Change in Canopy Cover in a Temperate Eucalypt Forest
Mapping Windthrow Severity as Change in Canopy Cover in a Temperate Eucalypt Forest
Direct Evidence Journal

Somerville, M. et al. (2019). Function attribute benchmarks for the Biodiversity Assessment Method. NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

View Source
Preview of Monaro REF Appendix 3 Biodiversity Assessment - Transport for NSW
Monaro REF Appendix 3 Biodiversity Assessment - Transport for NSW
Contextual Support Journal

Jindabyne Education Campus - School Infrastructure NSW, accessed April 6, 2026

View Source
Preview of NSW BioMetric Vegetation Condition Benchmarks
NSW BioMetric Vegetation Condition Benchmarks
Contextual Support Government

NSW Environment Protection Authority (2024). Ecological Thinning Guide.

View Source
Preview of research report - University of Technology Sydney, accessed July 15, 2025
research report - University of Technology Sydney, accessed July 15, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

Net woody vegetation increase confined to seasonally inundated lowlands in an Australian tropical savanna, Victoria River District, Northern Territory - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of research report - UTS
research report - UTS
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Conservation in agricultural landscapes: Impact of privately managed interventions on habitat condition and woody cover - ResearchGate

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 Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW ...
Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW ...
Contextual Support Journal

Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW ...

View Source
Preview of Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 6, 2025,
Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 6, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 10, 2026

View Source
Preview of TASVEG Vegetation Condition Monitoring | Department of Natural ..., accessed August 11, 2025, )/vegetation-condition-monitoring
TASVEG Vegetation Condition Monitoring | Department of Natural ..., accessed August 11, 2025, )/vegetation-condition-monitoring
Contextual Support

CATTLE HILL WIND FARM FLORA OFFSET MANAGEMENT PLAN

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

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

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Woody cover ranges from 20% to 30% in subalpine woodlands, reflecting stunted tree growth due to climatic exposure.

Related Benchmarks

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

20 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target · Forest
MinimumOnly Active v2
— % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target · Woodland
OptimalRange Active v2
— % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
5 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference · Shrubland
MaximumOnly Active v1
0 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference · Grassland
Point Active v1
50 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target · Shrubland
Point Active v1
20 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target · Woodland
Point Active v1
— % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target · Woodland
OptimalRange Active v1
20 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target · Forest
MinimumOnly Superseded v1
— % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target · Woodland
OptimalRange Superseded v1