Vegetation Extent

AUS-TDG-CON-VEX General High confidence

Benchmark Value

0.1 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.

Evidence & Context

"be 0.1 hectare (ha) or greater in size and contain 12 or more native understorey species (excluding grasses), including one or more identified important species"

Metric Definition:

Minimum patch size of native understorey (excluding canopy) required to qualify as the listed critically endangered Box-Gum Grassy Woodland ecological community under the EPBC Act.

Benchmark Definition:

Minimum viable spatial extent for protecting high-diversity understorey remnants in the biome.

Justification:

This is the legally binding, peer-reviewed federal conservation recovery plan standard defining the minimum viable spatial extent for protecting high-diversity understorey remnants in the biome.

Sources (1)

White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland National Recovery Plan Government

White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland National Recovery Plan

View Source

Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

An introduction to ecological thresholds

Irrelevant

An introduction to ecological thresholds

View Source

Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

Direct Evidence

Approved Conservation Advice for the Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-east Australia

View Source

Landscape-level thresholds of habitat cover for woodland-dependent birds - ResearchGate

Direct Evidence

Landscape-level thresholds of habitat cover for woodland-dependent birds

View Source

Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Approved Conservation Advice for the Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 20 Jun 2026

Notes

Requires that the ground layer is predominantly native (>50% of the perennial vegetative ground cover comprises native species).

Related Benchmarks

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