Ground Cover - Tree Canopy

AUS-TSW-LVG-TCC General High confidence

Benchmark Value

20 %
Range: 10 to 30 %
Thresholds: Lower: 10, Upper: 30
Optimal Range: 10 to 30
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 11 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 10 guard(s) constrain the result.

Evidence & Context

The recommended 'best-on-offer' benchmark for Tree Canopy Cover is 20%.

Metric Definition:

Tree Canopy Cover within Australian Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands managed for livestock grazing.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the best available ecological condition achievable under sustainable land management practices for tree canopy cover in temperate semi-arid shrublands and open woodlands used for livestock grazing.

Justification:

This value is derived from state-level vegetation condition benchmarks for relatively unmodified semi-arid grassy woodlands and is supported by national vegetation classification systems.

Sources (1)

Preview of NSW BioMetric Vegetation Condition Benchmarks
NSW BioMetric Vegetation Condition Benchmarks Government

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Supporting Sources (53)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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Contextual Support Direct Evidence

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(PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Fertilisers and the environment - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 11, 2025

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(PDF) The Extraordinary Nature of the Great Western Woodlands - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

(PDF) The Extraordinary Nature of the Great Western Woodlands - ResearchGate

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(PDF) The influence of individual native trees and grazing regime on soil properties and groundcover patterns in a temperate landscape of New South Wales, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence

(PDF) The influence of individual native trees and grazing regime on soil properties and groundcover patterns in a temperate landscape of New South Wales, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

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016 - Forest Grazing: Managing your Land for Trees, Forage, and Livestock | Fact Sheets | Publications | Forestry | Extension | USU, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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A synthesis of outcomes from pilot projects on national monitoring and evaluation indicators on native vegetation condition in A - DCCEEW, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Native vegetation condition in Australia: a synthesis of outcomes from pilot projects on national monitoring and evaluation indicators - DCCEEW

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Agroforestry : integration of trees into the agricultural landscape - DPIRD's Digital library, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

Agroforestry : integration of trees into the agricultural landscape - DPIRD's Digital library

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BioCondition benchmarks | Environment, land and water ..., accessed August 3, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

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BioMetric: Vegetation condition benchmarks, short-term review, accessed August 10, 2025,
Direct Evidence

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Classifying animals into ecologically meaningful groups: A case study on woodland birds - Threatened Species Recovery Hub, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Classifying animals into ecologically meaningful groups: A case study on woodland birds - Threatened Species Recovery Hub, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Climate change mitigation as a co-benefit of regenerative ranching: insights from Australia and the United States - PMC, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Long term effects of different stocking strategies on land condition and profitabilty in a highly variable climate, accessed July 18, 2025

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collation and review of stem density data and thinning prescriptions ..., accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

collation and review of stem density data and thinning prescriptions for the vegetation communities of new south - Environment and Heritage, accessed July 19, 2025

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Preview of Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,
Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate

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Preview of CREATING HABITAT FOR BIRDS No. 6, accessed July 10, 2025,
CREATING HABITAT FOR BIRDS No. 6, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

CREATING HABITAT FOR BIRDS No. 6, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,
Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

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Eaten Out of House and Home: Impacts of Grazing on Ground ..., accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Eaten Out of House and Home: Impacts of Grazing on Ground ..., accessed July 10, 2025,

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Preview of Effect of silvopasture, paddock trees and linear agroforestry systems on agricultural productivity: A global quantitative analysis - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 10, 2025,
Effect of silvopasture, paddock trees and linear agroforestry systems on agricultural productivity: A global quantitative analysis - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Effect of silvopasture, paddock trees and linear agroforestry systems on agricultural productivity: A global quantitative analysis - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Preview of Eucalypt woodlands Regrowth Benefits - Management Guideline - Queensland Government, accessed July 12, 2025,
Eucalypt woodlands Regrowth Benefits - Management Guideline - Queensland Government, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Australia's forests – overview - DAFF, accessed April 29, 2025,

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Preview of Farmers' impressions of the influences of trees in Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,
Farmers' impressions of the influences of trees in Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Farmers' impressions of the influences of trees in Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Preview of Forest Grazing: Managing your Land for Trees, Forage, and Livestock - University of Idaho, accessed July 10, 2025,
Forest Grazing: Managing your Land for Trees, Forage, and Livestock - University of Idaho, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

Forest Grazing: Managing your Land for Trees, Forage, and Livestock - University of Idaho, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Preview of Function Attribute Benchmarks for the Biodiversity Assessment Method: Data audit, compilation and analysis - Environment and Heritage, accessed July 10, 2025,
Function Attribute Benchmarks for the Biodiversity Assessment Method: Data audit, compilation and analysis - Environment and Heritage, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Irrelevant

Function Attribute Benchmarks for the Biodiversity Assessment Method: Data audit, compilation and analysis - Environment and Heritage, accessed May 19, 2025

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Preview of Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,
Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Boom and bust for biodiversity in arid Australia

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Preview of Great Western Woodlands - Wikipedia, accessed July 10, 2025,
Great Western Woodlands - Wikipedia, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Great Western Woodlands - Wikipedia, accessed July 12, 2025,

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Preview of Great Western Woodlands SuperSite | Climate Change Impacts - TERN Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,
Great Western Woodlands SuperSite | Climate Change Impacts - TERN Australia, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

URBAN FOREST STRATEGY - Your Say South Perth, accessed July 13, 2025

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Preview of IGC Proceedings (1989-2023): Effect of Grazing on Pasture Production in South-West Western Australia - UKnowledge, accessed July 10, 2025,
IGC Proceedings (1989-2023): Effect of Grazing on Pasture Production in South-West Western Australia - UKnowledge, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

IGC Proceedings (1989-2023): Effect of Grazing on Pasture Production in South-West Western Australia - UKnowledge, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Preview of Landscape-level thresholds of habitat cover for woodland-dependent birds, accessed July 10, 2025,
Landscape-level thresholds of habitat cover for woodland-dependent birds, accessed July 10, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Landscape-level thresholds of habitat cover for woodland-dependent birds

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Preview of Little left to lose: deforestation and forest degradation in Australia since European colonization | Journal of Plant Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 12, 2025,
Little left to lose: deforestation and forest degradation in Australia since European colonization | Journal of Plant Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Little left to lose: deforestation and forest degradation in Australia since European colonization | Journal of Plant Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 12, 2025,

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Preview of MVG 8 - Casuarina forests and woodlands (DOCX - DCCEEW, accessed July 10, 2025,
MVG 8 - Casuarina forests and woodlands (DOCX - DCCEEW, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

MVG 8 - Casuarina forests and woodlands (DOCX - DCCEEW, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Preview of Native forests and woodlands | Natural Capital Measurement Catalogue, accessed July 10, 2025,
Native forests and woodlands | Natural Capital Measurement Catalogue, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Biodiversity Conservation Trust Restoring Native Vegetation, accessed May 19, 2025

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Preview of New South Wales Vegetation Classification and Assessment: Part 2 Plant communities of the NSW South-western Slopes Bioregion an - CORE, accessed July 10, 2025,
New South Wales Vegetation Classification and Assessment: Part 2 Plant communities of the NSW South-western Slopes Bioregion an - CORE, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

New South Wales Vegetation Classification and Assessment: Part 2 Plant communities of the NSW South-western Slopes Bioregion an - CORE, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 14 – Mallee woodlands and shrublands - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
NVIS Fact sheet MVG 14 – Mallee woodlands and shrublands - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

NVIS Fact sheet MVG 19 – Tussock grasslands, accessed August 28, 2025

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Preview of On the interaction between tree canopy position and environmental effects on soil attributes and plant communities, accessed July 10, 2025,
On the interaction between tree canopy position and environmental effects on soil attributes and plant communities, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

On the interaction between tree canopy position and environmental effects on soil attributes and plant communities, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Preview of Regenerative Grazing Affects Biodiversity - Frontiers, accessed July 10, 2025,
Regenerative Grazing Affects Biodiversity - Frontiers, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Impact of Grazing on Diversity of Semi-Arid Rangelands in Crete Island in the Context of Climatic Change - PubMed Central, accessed July 11, 2025,

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Preview of Responses of grass productivity traits to bush clearing in semi-arid rangelands in North-West Province of South Africa - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,
Responses of grass productivity traits to bush clearing in semi-arid rangelands in North-West Province of South Africa - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Responses of grass productivity traits to bush clearing in semi-arid rangelands in North-West Province of South Africa - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Restoration of degraded grazing country in the semi-arid areas of ..., accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Pasture and grazing land: assessment of sustainability using invertebrate bioindicators

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Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia

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Preview of Semi-arid woodlands (shrubby sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )
Semi-arid woodlands (shrubby sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )
Contextual Support Government

Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )

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Preview of Soil phosphorus and tree cover modify the effects of livestock grazing on plant species richness in Australian grassy woodland - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,
Soil phosphorus and tree cover modify the effects of livestock grazing on plant species richness in Australian grassy woodland - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 5, 2025,

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Some tree-grass dynamics in Queensland's grazing lands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Some tree-grass dynamics in Queensland's grazing lands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Preview of Southeast Australia temperate savanna - Wikipedia, accessed August 4, 2025
Southeast Australia temperate savanna - Wikipedia, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support

Southeast Australia temperate savanna - Wikipedia

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Sustainable grazing management for temporal and spatial variability in north Australian rangelands - A synthesis of the latest evidence and recommendations - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

Sustainable grazing management for temporal and spatial variability in north Australian rangelands - A synthesis of the latest evidence and recommendations - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Sustainable Grazing Management for Temporal and Spatial Variability in North Australian Rangelands–A Synthesis of the Latest Evidence and Recommendations - UKnowledge, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

Sustainable Grazing Management for Temporal and Spatial Variability in North Australian Rangelands–A Synthesis of the Latest Evidence and Recommendations - UKnowledge, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Contextual Support Journal

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The impact of tree removal on standing grass biomass, seedling establishment and growth of woody species - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

The impact of tree removal on standing grass biomass, seedling establishment and growth of woody species - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Preview of The impact of tree removal on standing grass biomass, seedling establishment and growth of woody species - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,
The impact of tree removal on standing grass biomass, seedling establishment and growth of woody species - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,
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The impact of tree removal on standing grass biomass, seedling establishment and growth of woody species - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 10, 2025,

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The patterns of grazed pasture associated with scattered trees across an Australian temperate landscape - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

The patterns of grazed pasture associated with scattered trees across an Australian temperate landscape - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 10, 2025,

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Three reasons why removing grazing animals from Australia's arid lands for carbon credits is a bad idea - UNSW, accessed July 10, 25,
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Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of understorey biomass in semi-arid woodlands of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 15, 2025
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Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 19, 2025,

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 10 %. Upper Detrimental Threshold: 30 %. The optimal range for balancing ecological and production values is 10-30%.