Ground Cover - Shrubs

AUS-TDG-LVG-GCS General High confidence

Benchmark Value

30 %

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

"Therefore, a remnant with a continuous shrub layer, in which the shrub cover is greater than 30%, is considered to be a shrubby woodland and so is not part of the listed ecological community."

Metric Definition:

Total projective canopy cover of shrubs across the remnant

Benchmark Definition:

Degradation threshold indicating that shrub cover above 30% marks a structural state transition from open grassy understorey to shrubby woodland, degrading conservation value.

Justification:

Federal environmental guidelines identify shrub cover above 30% as a degradation threshold for Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands and Derived Grasslands.

Sources (1)

Preview of Box - Gum Grassy Woodlands and Derived Grasslands

Box - Gum Grassy Woodlands and Derived Grasslands Journal

Box - Gum Grassy Woodlands and Derived Grasslands

Supporting Sources (9)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of BioCondition Benchmarks for Regional Ecosystem ... - WordPress.com, accessed August 3, 2025,

BioCondition Benchmarks for Regional Ecosystem ... - WordPress.com, accessed August 3, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

BioCondition benchmarks for Regional Ecosystems

Preview of EVC 175: Grassy Woodland - Gippsland Plain bioregion

EVC 175: Grassy Woodland - Gippsland Plain bioregion

Direct Evidence Journal

EVC 175: Grassy Woodland - Gippsland Plain bioregion

Preview of EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland - Otway Plain bioregion

EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland - Otway Plain bioregion

Direct Evidence Journal

EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland - Otway Plain bioregion

Preview of EVC 55: Plains Grassy Woodland - Goldfields bioregion benchmark document

EVC 55: Plains Grassy Woodland - Goldfields bioregion benchmark document

Direct Evidence Journal

EVC 55: Plains Grassy Woodland - Goldfields bioregion

Preview of EVC/Bioregion Benchmark for Vegetation Quality Assessment: Dundas Tablelands bioregion

EVC/Bioregion Benchmark for Vegetation Quality Assessment: Dundas Tablelands bioregion

Direct Evidence Journal

EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland - Dundas Tablelands bioregion

Preview of Highlands – Southern Fall bioregion - Environment, accessed April 6, 2026

Highlands – Southern Fall bioregion - Environment, accessed April 6, 2026

Direct Evidence Journal

EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland - Highlands - Southern Fall bioregion

Preview of Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland

Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland

Contextual Support Government

Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland

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

Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion - Environment, accessed August 12, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

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

Preview of Wimmera Bioregion EVC Benchmarks - Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland (EVC 3)

Wimmera Bioregion EVC Benchmarks - Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland (EVC 3)

Direct Evidence Journal

EVC 3: Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland - Wimmera bioregion