Litter Cover

AUS-AKW-CON-LIT General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

15 %
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. The scoring engine uses 18 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 17 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

A litter cover value falling consistently below 15% is proposed as this critical threshold.

Metric Definition:

Litter cover as the proportion of ground surface covered by natural, non-living organic matter.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the critical lower threshold of litter cover below which essential ecosystem functions, such as soil protection, are compromised in Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands.

Justification:

Based on ecological function loss and analogues from other Australian rangeland condition frameworks.

Sources (1)

Preview of Opportunities for Integrated Ecological Analysis across Inland Australia with Standardised Data from Ausplots Rangelands
Opportunities for Integrated Ecological Analysis across Inland Australia with Standardised Data from Ausplots Rangelands Journal

Opportunities for Integrated Ecological Analysis across Inland ...

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Supporting Sources (4)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region - DPIRD's Digital library
An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region - DPIRD's Digital library
Contextual Support Journal

Pastoral Land Condition Report - 2007/2008 Financial Year

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Preview of BioCondition: A condition assessment framework for terrestrial biodiversity in Queensland, accessed August 5, 2025
BioCondition: A condition assessment framework for terrestrial biodiversity in Queensland, accessed August 5, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

BioCondition: A condition assessment framework for terrestrial ...

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Preview of On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone: 'Fire Regimes and Ecology of Arid Australia', accessed July 15, 2025
On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone: 'Fire Regimes and Ecology of Arid Australia', accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone: 'Fire Regimes and Ecology of Arid Australia', accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Opportunities for Integrated Ecological Analysis across Inland Australia with Standardised Data from Ausplots Rangelands | PLOS One, accessed May 13, 2025,
Opportunities for Integrated Ecological Analysis across Inland Australia with Standardised Data from Ausplots Rangelands | PLOS One, accessed May 13, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Chapter 9 AUSTRALIAN GRASSLANDS - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 2 Jun 2026

Notes

Below 15% litter cover, bare ground dominates, exposing fragile soils to irreversible wind erosion.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AKW-CON-LIT family.

— % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1
70 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
MaximumOnly Active v1