Invasive Species Presence

AUS-TDG-CON-ISP General High confidence

Benchmark Value

50 %

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

Evidence & Context

"A patch is considered to have a 'predominantly native ground layer/understorey' if at least 50 percent of the perennial vegetation cover in the ground layer is composed of native species."

Metric Definition:

Percent cover of exotic perennial vegetation within the ground layer of a designated patch, assessed at a scale of 0.1 hectares () or greater.

Benchmark Definition:

Statutory threshold under the Commonwealth EPBC Act defining the maximum allowable exotic perennial cover to maintain ecological integrity in temperate dry woodlands.

Justification:

The cited source explicitly identifies the value as a binding statutory threshold for conservation target woodlands in the temperate dry woodland biome of Australia.

Sources (1)

Preview of White Box-Yellow Box- Blakely's Red Gum grassy woodlands and derived native grasslands information guide - DCCEEW, accessed August 9, 2025,

White Box-Yellow Box- Blakely's Red Gum grassy woodlands and derived native grasslands information guide - DCCEEW, accessed August 9, 2025, Journal

White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodlands and Derived Grasslands

View Source

Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Delivering Melbourne's Newest Sustainable Communities: Program Report

Direct Evidence Journal

Final Prescription for Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain

View Source

Natural Temperate Grassland Endangered ... - ACT Government

Direct Evidence Journal

Grassy Eucalypt Woodland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain Conservation Advice

View Source

Rehwinkel, R. (2014). Revised Floristic Value Scoring Method for Grassland Condition. Presentation at Friends of Grasslands Forum.

Direct Evidence Journal

Revised Floristic Value Scoring Method for grassland condition

View Source

Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual: Guidelines for applying the habitat hectares scoring method

Direct Evidence Journal

Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual: Guidelines for applying the habitat hectares scoring method

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Conservation Target
Vegetation Woodland
Season Late autumn
Evidence Type RegulatoryTrigger

Lifecycle

Status Rejected
Version 1
Effective From 19 Jun 2026
Effective To 21 Jun 2026

Notes

Late autumn is recommended for assessment because annual weeds have died back, isolating the perennial ground layer for accurate measurement. Rejected during 2026-06-21 data-quality review: source evidence states a native-cover minimum; the invasive/exotic-cover ceiling is an inferred inverse and is not directly stated.

Related Benchmarks

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