Tree Recruitment

AUS-ASC-LVG-TRE General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

5 stems/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. The scoring engine uses 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

"minimum stocking of 5 recruitment trees per hectare is considered sufficient to ensure that large old trees with hollows are replaced"

Metric Definition:

Minimum recruitment tree density to maintain habitat continuity

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the minimum density of recruitment trees needed to ensure replacement of large old trees with hollows in managed grazing landscapes.

Justification:

Target to ensure future hollow-bearing trees in managed landscapes.

Sources (1)

Preview of Smith, A. (2019). Guidelines for Sustainable Forestry on Private Lands in NSW. 26
Smith, A. (2019). Guidelines for Sustainable Forestry on Private Lands in NSW. 26 GreyLiterature

Smith, A. (2019). Guidelines for Sustainable Forestry on Private Lands in NSW.

View Source

Supporting Sources (24)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) A framework to predict the effects of livestock grazing and grazing exclusion on conservation values in natural ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
(PDF) A framework to predict the effects of livestock grazing and grazing exclusion on conservation values in natural ecosystems in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Direct Evidence

Can livestock grazing coexist with plant diversity in Australian rangelands?, accessed July 29, 2025

View Source
Preview of Adaptive management of river red gum forests
Adaptive management of river red gum forests
Contextual Support Journal

Boland, D. J. et al. (1984). Forest Trees of Australia. CSIRO Publishing. 3

View Source
Preview of Alpine Ecosystems | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Alpine Ecosystems | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Alpine Ecosystems | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Barker, M. J. et al. (2005). Impact of climate on tree growth in alpine woodlands. Tree Physiology. 1
Barker, M. J. et al. (2005). Impact of climate on tree growth in alpine woodlands. Tree Physiology. 1
Contextual Support Government

Barker, M. J. et al. (2005). Impact of climate on tree growth in alpine woodlands. Tree Physiology. 1

View Source
Preview of Comparing human-elicited and data-driven condition algorithms
Comparing human-elicited and data-driven condition algorithms
Methodology Source Journal

Zerger, A. et al. (2022). Comparing human-elicited and data-driven condition algorithms for biodiversity assessment. Biological Conservation, 268, 109505.

View Source
Preview of Composition, age-structure and dendroecology of high altitude treeline forest in the western Himalaya, India | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,
Composition, age-structure and dendroecology of high altitude treeline forest in the western Himalaya, India | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,
Direct Evidence Journal

Composition, age-structure and dendroecology of high altitude treeline forest in the western Himalaya, India | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Czembor, C. A., and Vesk, P. A. (2009). Expert-elicited estimates of historical healthy stem densities. Forest Ecology and Management. 30
Czembor, C. A., and Vesk, P. A. (2009). Expert-elicited estimates of historical healthy stem densities. Forest Ecology and Management. 30
Contextual Support Journal

Brookhouse, M. (2008). Factors influencing germination and establishment of Eucalyptus pauciflora near the alpine tree line. Tree Physiology, 4(1), 27-43. 7

View Source
Preview of Ecological thinning guide
Ecological thinning guide
Contextual Support Government

Guide to using ecological thinning - NSW Government, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Function Attribute Benchmarks for the Biodiversity Assessment Method - Environment and Heritage, accessed May 11, 2026,
Function Attribute Benchmarks for the Biodiversity Assessment Method - Environment and Heritage, accessed May 11, 2026,
Direct Evidence Journal

Function Attribute Benchmarks for the Biodiversity Assessment Method - Environment and Heritage, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Gibbons, P., et al. (2010). Benchmark stem densities for forests and woodlands in south-eastern Australia under conditions of relatively little modification by humans since European settlement. Forest Ecology and Management, 260(12), 2125-2133.
Gibbons, P., et al. (2010). Benchmark stem densities for forests and woodlands in south-eastern Australia under conditions of relatively little modification by humans since European settlement. Forest Ecology and Management, 260(12), 2125-2133.
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Scientific Assessment of Vegetation Condition Protocols - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (2004). Assessment of Habitat Quality: Subalpine. 4
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (2004). Assessment of Habitat Quality: Subalpine. 4
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source
Preview of guidelines for sustainable forestry on private lands in nsw - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,
guidelines for sustainable forestry on private lands in nsw - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

guidelines for sustainable forestry on private lands in nsw - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Longterm effects of grazing on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,
Longterm effects of grazing on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,
Direct Evidence

Longterm effects of grazing on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,

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 Nocturnal and diurnal root elongation of Eucalyptus pauciflora and E. nitens seedlings
Nocturnal and diurnal root elongation of Eucalyptus pauciflora and E. nitens seedlings
Contextual Support Journal

Sands, R. (1996). Nocturnal and diurnal root elongation of Eucalyptus pauciflora and E. nitens seedlings. Tree Physiology, 16(11-12), 877-884.

View Source
Preview of NSW BioMetric Vegetation Condition Benchmarks
NSW BioMetric Vegetation Condition Benchmarks
Direct Evidence Government

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

View Source
Preview of Population Structure of Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieb ex Spreng) Subalpine Woodland in Kosciusko National-Park | Australian Journal of Botany | ConnectSci, accessed May 11, 2026,
Population Structure of Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieb ex Spreng) Subalpine Woodland in Kosciusko National-Park | Australian Journal of Botany | ConnectSci, accessed May 11, 2026,
Direct Evidence Journal

An overview of climate change adaptation in Australian primary industries  impacts, options and priorities - CSIRO, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Population Structure of Snow Gum Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieb. ex Spreng.
Population Structure of Snow Gum Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieb. ex Spreng.
Contextual Support Journal

Leigh, J. H., and Noble, I. R. (1981). Population Structure of Snow Gum Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieb. ex Spreng. Australian Journal of Botany, 36(%), 483-504.

View Source
Preview of Recent Forest Encroachment into Subalpine Grasslands near Mount Hotham, Victoria, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Recent Forest Encroachment into Subalpine Grasslands near Mount Hotham, Victoria, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Williams, R. J., and Ladiges, P. Y. (1985). Seed Generation of Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieb. ex Spreng. From Low and High Altitude Populations in Victoria. Australian Journal of Botany. 3

View Source
Preview of Recent Forest Encroachment into Subalpine Grasslands near Mount Hotham, Victoria, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,
Recent Forest Encroachment into Subalpine Grasslands near Mount Hotham, Victoria, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,
Direct Evidence

Recent Forest Encroachment into Subalpine Grasslands near Mount Hotham, Victoria, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Snowy Strategic Activation Precinct - NSW Planning Portal
Snowy Strategic Activation Precinct - NSW Planning Portal
Direct Evidence Journal

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

View Source
Preview of The Potential of Tree Rings in Eucalyptus pauciflora for Climatological and Hydrological Reconstruction | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,
The Potential of Tree Rings in Eucalyptus pauciflora for Climatological and Hydrological Reconstruction | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Potential of Tree Rings in Eucalyptus pauciflora for Climatological and Hydrological Reconstruction | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source
Preview of Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual – Guidelines ... - Environment, accessed August 6, 2025,
Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual – Guidelines ... - Environment, accessed August 6, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual: Version 1.3 - The Habitat Hectares approach

View Source
Preview of Woody encroachment and related soil properties in different tenure-based management systems of semiarid rangelands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,
Woody encroachment and related soil properties in different tenure-based management systems of semiarid rangelands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,
Direct Evidence

Woody encroachment and related soil properties in different tenure-based management systems of semiarid rangelands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Rehabilitation Target
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 2
  • Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Minimum recruitment density for sustainable forestry.

Related Benchmarks

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

235 stems/ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target
Point Active v2
70 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
MinimumOnly Active v2
— % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target
LowerThreshold Active v2
— stems/ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v2
400 stems/ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target
MaximumOnly Active v2
50 stems/ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Condition Assessment
MinimumOnly Active v1
— stems/ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1
230 stems/ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Agricultural Biodiversity Target
MinimumOnly Active v1
— stems/ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated · Woodland
OptimalRange Active v1
— stems/ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Rehabilitation Target
OptimalRange Active v1
30 % High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target
LowerThreshold Superseded v2
235 stems/ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target
Point Superseded v1
70 % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
MinimumOnly Superseded v1
— stems/ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Superseded v1
5 stems/ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Rehabilitation Target
MinimumOnly Superseded v1
30 % High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target
LowerThreshold Superseded v1
400 stems/ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target
MaximumOnly Superseded v1