Vegetation Woody Cover

AUS-TDG-CON-VWC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

15 %
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Evidence & Context

EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland. Description: A low, grassy or bracken-dominated eucalypt forest or open woodland to 15 m tall with a large shrub layer and ground layer rich in herbs, grasses, and orchids. Occurs mainly on flat or undulating areas on moderately fertile, relatively well-drained, deep sandy or loamy topsoils over heavier subsoils (duplex soils). ... Tree Canopy Cover: %cover. Character Species. Common Name. 15% Eucalyptus baxteri s.s. Brown Stringybark.

Metric Definition:

Tree Canopy Cover; defined as the total percentage foliage cover of the dominant upper woody stratum in a mature, natural condition.

Benchmark Definition:

Reference-condition canopy cover benchmark for the Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland in the Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion.

Justification:

Authoritative state vegetation condition benchmark framework providing explicit quantitative reference points for canopy cover in temperate woodlands.

Sources (1)

Preview of Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion - Environment, accessed August 12, 2025
Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion - Environment, accessed August 12, 2025 Journal

EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland - Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion

View Source

Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). (2014). EVC/Bioregion Benchmark for Vegetation Quality Assessment. Gippsland Plain bioregion. State of Victoria.
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). (2014). EVC/Bioregion Benchmark for Vegetation Quality Assessment. Gippsland Plain bioregion. State of Victoria.
Direct Evidence Journal

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). (2014). EVC/Bioregion Benchmark for Vegetation Quality Assessment. Gippsland Plain bioregion. State of Victoria.

View Source
Preview of Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). (2004). Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) Benchmarks for the Murray Mallee Bioregion. State of Victoria.
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). (2004). Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) Benchmarks for the Murray Mallee Bioregion. State of Victoria.
Direct Evidence Journal

Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). (2004). Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) Benchmarks for the Murray Mallee Bioregion. State of Victoria.

View Source
Preview of DSE (2007). EVC 56: Floodplain Riparian Woodland – Murray Fans bioregion. Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment.
DSE (2007). EVC 56: Floodplain Riparian Woodland – Murray Fans bioregion. Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment.
Direct Evidence Journal

EVC/Bioregion Benchmark for Vegetation Quality Assessment: Murray Fans bioregion

View Source
Preview of Eyre, T. J., Kelly, A. L., Neldner, V. J., Wilson, B. A., Ferguson, D. J., Laidlaw, M. J., & Franks, A. J. (2015). BioCondition Benchmarks for Regional Ecosystems: Brigalow Belt. Queensland Herbarium, Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Brisbane.
Eyre, T. J., Kelly, A. L., Neldner, V. J., Wilson, B. A., Ferguson, D. J., Laidlaw, M. J., & Franks, A. J. (2015). BioCondition Benchmarks for Regional Ecosystems: Brigalow Belt. Queensland Herbarium, Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Brisbane.
Direct Evidence Journal

Eyre, T. J., Kelly, A. L., Neldner, V. J., Wilson, B. A., Ferguson, D. J., Laidlaw, M. J., & Franks, A. J. (2015). BioCondition Benchmarks for Regional Ecosystems: Brigalow Belt. Queensland Herbarium, Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Brisbane.

View Source
Preview of www.environment.vic.gov.au, accessed May 19, 2025,
www.environment.vic.gov.au, accessed May 19, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). (2004). Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) Benchmarks for the Central Victorian Uplands Bioregion. State of Victoria.

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 21 Jun 2026

Notes

Assessed as projective foliage cover.

Related Benchmarks

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

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Point Active v1
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Point Active v1
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Point Active v1
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Point Active v1
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