Vegetation Woody Cover

Benchmark Value

50 %

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

• a patch with more than 50% canopy cover is too dense to be considered a BGGW. (Department of Environment Climate Change and Water NSW, 2010).

Metric Definition:

Tree canopy cover estimated over a neighborhood area (typically utilizing a 75m radius filter representing 1.2 ha) to verify woodland density.

Benchmark Definition:

The upper ecological canopy boundary above which the open grassy woodland transitions into a dense forest state, shading out the diverse herbaceous layer.

Justification:

This represents the upper ecological canopy boundary above which the open grassy woodland transitions into a dense forest state, which shades out the diverse herbaceous layer.

Sources (1)

Estimating the changes in the distribution of box gum grassy woodlands in south-eastern Australia

Estimating the changes in the distribution of box gum grassy woodlands in south-eastern Australia

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Supporting Sources (5)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Conservation Assessment of White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025,

Conservation Assessment of White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed August 12, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - Conservation Assessment

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