Ground Cover - Tree Canopy

AUS-TMS-LVG-TCC General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

5 %

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 19 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 18 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Based on these ecological roles, a Lower Critical Threshold of < 5-10% TCC is proposed.

Metric Definition:

Tree Canopy Cover (TCC), defined as the percentage of ground shaded by tree canopies

Benchmark Definition:

Lower critical threshold for TCC.

Justification:

Below this level, the landscape begins to function more like an open grassland, losing many of the structural and functional attributes that trees contribute to the savanna mosaic, including shade provision and habitat niches.

Sources (1)

Preview of The patterns of grazed pasture associated with scattered trees across an Australian temperate landscape - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 10, 2025,

The patterns of grazed pasture associated with scattered trees across an Australian temperate landscape - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 10, 2025, Journal

The patterns of grazed pasture associated with scattered trees across an Australian temperate landscape - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed May 14, 2025

Supporting Sources (15)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Ecological thresholds at the savanna-forest boundary: How plant traits, resources and fire govern the distribution of tropical biomes - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,

(PDF) Ecological thresholds at the savanna-forest boundary: How plant traits, resources and fire govern the distribution of tropical biomes - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support

(PDF) Ecological thresholds at the savanna-forest boundary: How plant traits, resources and fire govern the distribution of tropical biomes - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025

Preview of A.1 Tropical Lowland Grassland, Savanna & Shrubland Formation - NVCS, accessed May 14, 2025,

A.1 Tropical Lowland Grassland, Savanna & Shrubland Formation - NVCS, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

A.1 Tropical Lowland Grassland, Savanna & Shrubland Formation - NVCS, accessed May 14, 2025,

Preview of An assessment of the accuracy of satellite-derived woody and grass foliage cover estimates for Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed July 22, 2025,

An assessment of the accuracy of satellite-derived woody and grass foliage cover estimates for Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source

An assessment of the accuracy of satellite-derived woody and grass foliage cover estimates for Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany

Preview of An assessment of the accuracy of satellite-derived woody and grass foliage cover estimates for Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 11, 2025

An assessment of the accuracy of satellite-derived woody and grass foliage cover estimates for Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

An assessment of the accuracy of satellite-derived woody and grass foliage cover estimates for Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed May 14, 2025

Preview of Decadal dynamics of tree cover in an Australian tropical savanna - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,

Decadal dynamics of tree cover in an Australian tropical savanna - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support

(PDF) Ecological thresholds at the savanna-forest boundary: How plant traits, resources and fire govern the distribution of tropical biomes - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

Preview of DRAFT REPORT Active and adaptive cypress management in the Brigalow and Nandewar State Conservation Areas, accessed May 14, 2025,

DRAFT REPORT Active and adaptive cypress management in the Brigalow and Nandewar State Conservation Areas, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nutrient enrichment, biodiversity loss, and consequent declines in ecosystem productivity

Preview of Dynamics of the ground layer communities of tropical eucalypt woodlands of northern Queensland - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed May 14, 2025,

Dynamics of the ground layer communities of tropical eucalypt woodlands of northern Queensland - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Plantation tree growth responses to P, N, K and minor and trace elements on low fertility savanna soils - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of era.dpi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

era.dpi.qld.gov.au, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes

Preview of Management of total grazing pressure, accessed May 14, 2025,

Management of total grazing pressure, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

DRAFT REPORT Active and adaptive cypress management in the Brigalow and Nandewar State Conservation Areas, accessed May 14, 2025

Preview of Optimal cover of trees in grazing systems (Part 2) - YouTube, accessed May 14, 2025,

Optimal cover of trees in grazing systems (Part 2) - YouTube, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Optimal cover of trees in grazing systems (Part 2) - YouTube, accessed May 14, 2025

Preview of Some tree-grass dynamics in Queensland's grazing lands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

Some tree-grass dynamics in Queensland's grazing lands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Some tree-grass dynamics in Queensland's grazing lands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

Preview of The Rangeland Journal - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed May 14, 2025,

The Rangeland Journal - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Some tree-grass dynamics in Queensland's grazing lands | Request ..., accessed May 14, 2025

Preview of Tree size and herbivory determine below-canopy grass quality and species composition in savannahs - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,

Tree size and herbivory determine below-canopy grass quality and species composition in savannahs - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Tree size and herbivory determine below-canopy grass quality and species composition in savannahs - ResearchGate, accessed May 14, 2025

Preview of Untitled - UKnowledge, accessed May 14, 2025,

Untitled - UKnowledge, accessed May 14, 2025,

Contextual Support

Untitled - UKnowledge, accessed May 14, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 30 May 2026

Notes

The document specifies a range of 5-10%; 5% is extracted as the absolute minimum threshold. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-LVG-TCC family.