Ground Cover - Shrubs

AUS-TDG-CON-GCS General High confidence

Benchmark Value

30 %
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

Box-Gum Woodland is characterised by a diverse understorey, rich in native tussocks grasses, herbs and scattered shrubs (i.e. less than 30% cover) (NSW Government 2010).

Metric Definition:

Percent foliage cover of native ground shrubs (woody plants under 1 m in height) within the woodland understorey.

Benchmark Definition:

Reference-condition ceiling for ground shrub cover in Box-Gum Woodland to prevent transitions to a woody shrub-thickened state.

Justification:

The cited source explicitly identifies the value in a reference-site context for critically endangered Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands in southeastern Australia.

Sources (1)

Preview of Pinnacle Nature Reserve Offset 2015 Monitoring Report
Pinnacle Nature Reserve Offset 2015 Monitoring Report

Pinnacle Nature Reserve Offset 2015 Monitoring Report

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of International Vegetation Classification Hierarchy
International Vegetation Classification Hierarchy
Irrelevant

International Vegetation Classification Hierarchy

View Source
Preview of MANAGING NATIVE GRASSLAND - Hotspots Fire Project, accessed August 10, 2025
MANAGING NATIVE GRASSLAND - Hotspots Fire Project, accessed August 10, 2025
Direct Evidence

Managing native grassland: a guide to management for conservation, production and landscape protection

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Vegetation Woodland
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 18 Jun 2026

Notes

This upper limit prevents transitions to an undesirable, woody shrub-thickened state which suppresses the species-rich grassy ground layer.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-CON-GCS family.

10 % High
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target · Grassland
MaximumOnly Active v1