Ground Cover - Grasses

AUS-TDG-LVG-GCG General High confidence

Benchmark Value

80 %
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

Minimum ground cover (80%) and herbage mass (800 kg DM/ha) trigger points are in place.

Metric Definition:

Percentage of total ground cover containing living perennial grass basal and canopy areas, annual species, and flat litter.

Benchmark Definition:

Minimum ground cover threshold to maintain stable native perennial species composition under managed grazing.

Justification:

Grounded in robust, multi-year empirical results from the EverGraze Panuara Proof Site, confirming that maintaining this threshold preserves native perennial species composition.

Sources (1)

Preview of Composition of pastures with a high native perennial component is stable under managed grazing
Composition of pastures with a high native perennial component is stable under managed grazing

Composition of pastures with a high native perennial component is stable under managed grazing

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Supporting Sources (6)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Adaptive Management Guidelines for Box Gum Grassy Woodlands
Adaptive Management Guidelines for Box Gum Grassy Woodlands
Direct Evidence Journal

Box-Gum Grassy Woodland Adaptive Management

View Source
Preview of Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland
Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland
Direct Evidence Journal

Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland

View Source
Preview of Composition and production from native pastures in response to fertiliser and rotational grazing | EverGraze More livestock from perennials
Composition and production from native pastures in response to fertiliser and rotational grazing | EverGraze More livestock from perennials
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Native pastures are resilient

View Source
Preview of Land Management Control Policy
Land Management Control Policy
Direct Evidence Journal

Land Management Control Policy

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Preview of Lowland Grassy Woodland on your property
Lowland Grassy Woodland on your property
Direct Evidence Journal

Lowland Grassy Woodland on your property

View Source
Preview of Managing ground cover in the cropping zone of southern NSW, accessed May 11, 2025
Managing ground cover in the cropping zone of southern NSW, accessed May 11, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

Managing ground cover in the cropping zone of southern NSW

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Agricultural Biodiversity Target
  • Vegetation Grassland
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 10 Jul 2026

Notes

This target represents a conservative operational threshold to protect steeper slope classes from rainfall-driven erosion events.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-LVG-GCG family.

80 % High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target · Woodland
MinimumOnly Active v1
70 % High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Agricultural Biodiversity Target · Grassland
MinimumOnly Active v1
50 % High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target · Woodland
MinimumOnly Active v1
90 % High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target · Woodland
MinimumOnly Active v1
— % High
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Agricultural Biodiversity Target · Grassland
OptimalRange Active v1