Tree Recruitment

AUS-TDG-FOR-TRE General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1000 stems/ha
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

Thickets with poor understorey and densities of more than 1,000 stems/ha are considered a high priority for ecological thinning. They are often associated with a lack of large old trees, lack of shrubs, lack of grass cover and poor soil health.

Metric Definition:

Stand density limit above which severe successional lock-up occurs, suppressing understory cover, ground layer biomass, and soil health.

Benchmark Definition:

Ecological degradation threshold at which over-recruitment actively harms woodland understory diversity and structural complexity.

Justification:

Identifies the ecological degradation threshold at which over-recruitment actively harms woodland understory diversity and structural complexity.

Sources (1)

Preview of Australia's forests and forestry glossary, accessed August 9, 2025
Australia's forests and forestry glossary, accessed August 9, 2025 Journal

Trust for Nature EcoThinning Brochure: Canʼt see the forest for the trees? Improving tree density for habitat

View Source

Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Ecological thinning guide
Ecological thinning guide
Direct Evidence Government

Ecological Thinning Guide: Environmental Protection Works on Regulated Rural Land

View Source
Preview of Forest Management Options for Private Landowners, accessed July 12, 2025,
Forest Management Options for Private Landowners, accessed July 12, 2025,
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Forest Management Options for Private Landowners

View Source
Preview of Guidelines for Assessing Regeneration and Stocking: Private Native Forestry Code of Practice Guideline No. 1
Guidelines for Assessing Regeneration and Stocking: Private Native Forestry Code of Practice Guideline No. 1
Direct Evidence Journal

Guidelines for Assessing Regeneration and Stocking: Private Native Forestry Code of Practice Guideline No. 1

View Source
Preview of guidelines for sustainable forestry on private lands in nsw - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
guidelines for sustainable forestry on private lands in nsw - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
Direct Evidence

Guidelines for Sustainable Forestry on Private Lands in NSW

View Source
Preview of Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Cypress and Western Hardwood Forests
Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Cypress and Western Hardwood Forests
Direct Evidence Journal

Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Cypress and Western Hardwood Forests

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Rehabilitation Target
  • Vegetation Woodland
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Superseded
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 10 Jul 2026
  • Effective To 15 Jul 2026

Notes

Represents a high-priority trigger for silvicultural ecological thinning.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-FOR-TRE family.

stems/ha Moderate
OptimalRange Active v2
400 stems/ha Moderate
Point Active v2
1000 stems/ha Moderate
MaximumOnly Active v2
5 individuals/ha High
MinimumOnly Active v2
230 stems/ha High
MinimumOnly Active v2
300 stems/ha High
MinimumOnly Active v2
150 stems/ha High
MinimumOnly Active v2
225 stems/ha Moderate
MinimumOnly Active v2
80 % High
MinimumOnly Active v1
55 % High
MinimumOnly Active v1
stems/ha Moderate
OptimalRange Superseded v1
400 stems/ha Moderate
Point Superseded v1
5 individuals/ha High
MinimumOnly Superseded v1
230 stems/ha High
MinimumOnly Superseded v1
300 stems/ha High
MinimumOnly Superseded v1
150 stems/ha High
MinimumOnly Superseded v1
225 stems/ha Moderate
MinimumOnly Superseded v1