Ground Cover - Tree Canopy

AUS-TMS-FOR-TCC General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 30 to 60 %

Optimal Range: 30 to 60

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. The scoring engine uses 4 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 3 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

an indicative operational range of 30% to 60% Tree Canopy Cover is proposed for well-managed native savanna woodlands that are utilized for sustainable production while aiming for high environmental health.

Metric Definition:

Tree Canopy Cover (TCC), expressed as a percentage (%), refers to the proportion of the ground area shaded by the vertical projection of tree crowns

Benchmark Definition:

An indicative operational range for well-managed native savanna woodlands utilized for sustainable production aiming for high environmental health.

Justification:

This range aims to balance timber/product yield with the maintenance of savanna ecosystem integrity, including understory diversity and appropriate fire regimes.

Sources (1)

Preview of prod-media.coolaustralia.org, accessed May 17, 2025,

prod-media.coolaustralia.org, accessed May 17, 2025, Journal

Entirely happy to burn Northern Australian savannas: Fire law and ..., accessed May 17, 2025

Supporting Sources (33)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Groundwater use by riparian vegetation in the wet–dry tropics of northern Australia, accessed May 17, 2025,

(PDF) Groundwater use by riparian vegetation in the wet–dry tropics of northern Australia, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Groundwater use by riparian vegetation in the wet–dry tropics of northern Australia, accessed May 17, 2025,

Preview of (PDF) Savannas in a Changing Earth System. The NASA Terrestrial Ecology Tree-Grass Project - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

(PDF) Savannas in a Changing Earth System. The NASA Terrestrial Ecology Tree-Grass Project - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Savannas in a Changing Earth System. The NASA Terrestrial Ecology Tree-Grass Project - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of (PDF) Seasonal differences in fire activity and intensity in tropical savannas of northern Australia using satellite measurements of fire radiative power - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

(PDF) Seasonal differences in fire activity and intensity in tropical savannas of northern Australia using satellite measurements of fire radiative power - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

The impact of fire on riparian vegetation in Australia's tropical savanna - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of A national accounting framework for fire and carbon dynamics in Australian savannas - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 17, 2025,

A national accounting framework for fire and carbon dynamics in Australian savannas - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Public submission - Independent Planning Commission, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of An assessment of the accuracy of satellite-derived woody and grass foliage cover estimates for Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

An assessment of the accuracy of satellite-derived woody and grass foliage cover estimates for Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

An assessment of the accuracy of satellite-derived woody and grass foliage cover estimates for Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

Preview of Assessment Of Promising Forest Management Practices And Technologies For Enhancing The Conservation And Sequestration Of Atmospheric Carbon And Their Costs At The Site Level - epa nepis, accessed May 17, 2025,

Assessment Of Promising Forest Management Practices And Technologies For Enhancing The Conservation And Sequestration Of Atmospheric Carbon And Their Costs At The Site Level - epa nepis, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Assessment Of Promising Forest Management Practices And Technologies For Enhancing The Conservation And Sequestration Of Atmospheric Carbon And Their Costs At The Site Level - epa nepis, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Australian Savanna Biome, accessed May 17, 2025,

Australian Savanna Biome, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Tropical Savannas of Northern Australia - Charles Darwin University, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Comparative water use by the riparian trees Melaleuca argentea and Eucalyptus bella in the wet/dry tropics of Northern Austral - OPUS at UTS, accessed May 17, 2025,

Comparative water use by the riparian trees Melaleuca argentea and Eucalyptus bella in the wet/dry tropics of Northern Austral - OPUS at UTS, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Comparative water use by the riparian trees Melaleuca argentea and Eucalyptus bella in the wet/dry tropics of Northern Austral - OPUS at UTS, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Delivering biodiversity and socio economic co-benefits through the adoption of Beef Cattle Herd Management emission reduction pr - Southern Gulf NRM, accessed May 17, 2025,

Delivering biodiversity and socio economic co-benefits through the adoption of Beef Cattle Herd Management emission reduction pr - Southern Gulf NRM, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Sitemap - Forest & Wood Products Australia, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT - Forestry Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT - Forestry Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

www.forestry.org.au

Preview of Enhancing ecosystem productivity and stability with increasing canopy structural complexity in global forests - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed May 17, 2025,

Enhancing ecosystem productivity and stability with increasing canopy structural complexity in global forests - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support

Enhancing ecosystem productivity and stability with increasing canopy structural complexity in global forests - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed May 17, 2025,

Preview of Entirely happy to burn Northern Australian savannas: Fire law and ..., accessed May 17, 2025,

Entirely happy to burn Northern Australian savannas: Fire law and ..., accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Seasonal differences in fire activity and intensity in tropical savannas of northern Australia using satellite measurements of fire radiative power - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Evening Report | Independent Analysis and Reportage | Page 198, accessed May 17, 2025,

Evening Report | Independent Analysis and Reportage | Page 198, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant

Enhancing ecosystem productivity and stability with increasing canopy structural complexity in global forests - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Impact of Aboriginal landscape burning on woody vegetation in ..., accessed May 17, 2025,

Impact of Aboriginal landscape burning on woody vegetation in ..., accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Evening Report | Independent Analysis and Reportage | Page 198, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Impact of storm-burning on Melaleuca viridiflora invasion of grasslands and grassy woodlands on Cape York Peninsula, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

Impact of storm-burning on Melaleuca viridiflora invasion of grasslands and grassy woodlands on Cape York Peninsula, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source

The Forest Canopy: Structure, Roles & Measurement - CID Bio-Science, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Impacts of grazing, selective logging and hyper-aggressors on diurnal bird fauna in intact forest landscapes of the Brigalow Belt, Queensland | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

Impacts of grazing, selective logging and hyper-aggressors on diurnal bird fauna in intact forest landscapes of the Brigalow Belt, Queensland | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence

The effects of tree canopy cover on soil fertilityin a Nigerian savanna - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Impacts of the 2019–2020 Black Summer Drought on Eastern Australian Forests - MDPI, accessed May 17, 2025,

Impacts of the 2019–2020 Black Summer Drought on Eastern Australian Forests - MDPI, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of the 2019–2020 Black Summer Drought on Eastern Australian Forests - MDPI, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Indicator 7.1a: Extent to which the legal framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests (2024) - DAFF, accessed May 17, 2025,

Indicator 7.1a: Extent to which the legal framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests (2024) - DAFF, accessed May 17, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Territory NRM - Sustainable Forestry Practices Guidelines for the NT, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Indicator 7.1a: Extent to which the legal framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests (2024), accessed May 17, 2025,

Indicator 7.1a: Extent to which the legal framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests (2024), accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Indicator 7.1a: Extent to which the legal framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests (2024), accessed May 17, 2025,

Preview of Indicators for monitoring minesite rehabilitation: Trends on waste-rock dumps, northern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

Indicators for monitoring minesite rehabilitation: Trends on waste-rock dumps, northern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence

An assessment of the accuracy of satellite-derived woody and grass foliage cover estimates for Australia - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Linking Woody Plants, Climate, and Evapotranspiration in a Temperate Savanna - EGUsphere, accessed May 17, 2025,

Linking Woody Plants, Climate, and Evapotranspiration in a Temperate Savanna - EGUsphere, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Impact of Aboriginal landscape burning on woody vegetation in ..., accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Pine trees structure plant biodiversity patterns in savannas - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed May 17, 2025,

Pine trees structure plant biodiversity patterns in savannas - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Pine trees structure plant biodiversity patterns in savannas - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed May 17, 2025,

Preview of Public submission - Independent Planning Commission, accessed May 17, 2025,

Public submission - Independent Planning Commission, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Delivering biodiversity and socio economic co-benefits through the adoption of Beef Cattle Herd Management emission reduction pr - Southern Gulf NRM, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Remote Sensing to Quantify Woodland Canopy Cover | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, accessed May 17, 2025,

Remote Sensing to Quantify Woodland Canopy Cover | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Why is Riparian Canopy Cover important for Water Quality and Wildlife - CID Bio-Science, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Science Leading The Way in Sustainable Forest Management, accessed May 17, 2025,

Science Leading The Way in Sustainable Forest Management, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Science Leading The Way in Sustainable Forest Management, accessed May 17, 2025,

Preview of Sitemap - Forest & Wood Products Australia, accessed May 16, 2025,

Sitemap - Forest & Wood Products Australia, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework GreyLiterature

fwpa.com.au, accessed May 16, 2025,

Preview of Territory NRM - Sustainable Forestry Practices Guidelines for the NT, accessed May 16, 2025,

Territory NRM - Sustainable Forestry Practices Guidelines for the NT, accessed May 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

Indicator 7.1a: Extent to which the legal framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests (2024), accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of The effects of tree canopy cover on soil fertilityin a Nigerian savanna - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

The effects of tree canopy cover on soil fertilityin a Nigerian savanna - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Remote Sensing to Quantify Woodland Canopy Cover | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of The Forest Canopy: Structure, Roles & Measurement - CID Bio-Science, accessed May 17, 2025,

The Forest Canopy: Structure, Roles & Measurement - CID Bio-Science, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Pine trees structure plant biodiversity patterns in savannas - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of The impact of fire on riparian vegetation in Australia's tropical savanna - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

The impact of fire on riparian vegetation in Australia's tropical savanna - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Bird distribution in riparian vegetation in the extensive natural landscape of Australia's tropical Savanna: a broad-scale survey and analysis of a distributional data base - ResearchGate

Preview of The role of urban tree canopies in environmental justice and conserving biodiversity - USDA Forest Service, accessed May 17, 2025,

The role of urban tree canopies in environmental justice and conserving biodiversity - USDA Forest Service, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support

The role of urban tree canopies in environmental justice and conserving biodiversity - USDA Forest Service, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Welcome to ForestSAT 2018 - Agritrop, accessed May 17, 2025,

Welcome to ForestSAT 2018 - Agritrop, accessed May 17, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Welcome to ForestSAT 2018 - Agritrop, accessed May 17, 2025

Preview of Why is Riparian Canopy Cover important for Water Quality and Wildlife - CID Bio-Science, accessed May 17, 2025,

Why is Riparian Canopy Cover important for Water Quality and Wildlife - CID Bio-Science, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Groundwater use by riparian vegetation in the wet–dry tropics of northern Australia, accessed May 17, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Conservation Target
Vegetation Woodland
Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 30 May 2026

Notes

The range is a conceptual target; actual TCC would ideally vary spatially and temporally reflecting adaptive management.

Related Benchmarks

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