Gully Density

AUS-AMR-FOR-GUL General High confidence

Benchmark Value

0 m/ha
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary Point Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Therefore, the reference benchmark for active gully density is 0 m/ha.

Metric Definition:

a gully as an open, incised erosion channel in the landscape, typically greater than 30 cm deep, formed by the concentration of surface runoff

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the best achievable condition of active gully density in the Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome under sustainable Production Forestry management, where no active gullies are present.

Justification:

The benchmark is based on two facts: 1) The Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome is inherently highly susceptible to gully erosion. 2) Australian Sustainable Forest Management codes (e.g., NSW PNF Guidelines 21) mandate the prevention of accelerated erosion and the exclusion of operations from high-risk areas (e.g., slopes >30°, extreme hazard soils). Therefore, any presence of active, management-induced gullies signifies a failure of these mandatory best practices.

Sources (1)

Preview of ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT - Forestry Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,
ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT - Forestry Australia, accessed August 10, 2025, Journal

www.forestry.org.au

View Source

Supporting Sources (21)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE FLINDERS RANGES SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Enviro Data SA
A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE FLINDERS RANGES SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Enviro Data SA
Contextual Support Journal

A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE FLINDERS RANGES SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Enviro Data SA, accessed July 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of An Overview of Land Degradation in Australia - KG2, accessed July 8, 2025,
An Overview of Land Degradation in Australia - KG2, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 31, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australia - Soils, Climate, Erosion | Britannica
Australia - Soils, Climate, Erosion | Britannica
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

SOIL TESTING

View Source
Preview of Australia's Sustainable Forest Management - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,
Australia's Sustainable Forest Management - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support

Sustainable forest management: the Australian context - DAFF

View Source
Preview of Australia's Sustainable Forest Management - DAFF, accessed July 31, 2025
Australia's Sustainable Forest Management - DAFF, accessed July 31, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The Topographic Threshold of Gully Erosion and Contributing Factors

View Source
Preview of Chapter 13 Gully erosion and its control - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 12, 2025
Chapter 13 Gully erosion and its control - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The hydrogeomorphic influences on alluvial gully erosion along the Mitchell River fluvial megafan

View Source
Preview of Contribution of physical and anthropogenic factors to gully erosion initiation - DiVA portal, accessed July 31, 2025
Contribution of physical and anthropogenic factors to gully erosion initiation - DiVA portal, accessed July 31, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Contribution of physical and anthropogenic factors to gully erosion initiation - DiVA portal, accessed July 31, 2025

View Source
Preview of Desertification in Australia: Definition, Causes and Environmental Impact - Access EP, accessed July 13, 2025,
Desertification in Australia: Definition, Causes and Environmental Impact - Access EP, accessed July 13, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin ...

View Source
Preview of ecollaboration.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025,
ecollaboration.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Gully Erosion | ECOllaboration

View Source
Preview of guidelines for sustainable forestry on private lands in nsw - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
guidelines for sustainable forestry on private lands in nsw - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Regulatory Framework

guidelines for sustainable forestry on private lands ... - ResearchGate, accessed July 30, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully density map of the study assessment area (kilometres... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
Gully density map of the study assessment area (kilometres... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

(PDF) Gully erosion prediction across a large region ... - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion - Enviro Data SA, accessed July 18, 2025
Gully erosion - Enviro Data SA, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Gully erosion - Enviro Data SA

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,
Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australia's State of the Forests Report, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of MacDonnell Ranges - Wikipedia
MacDonnell Ranges - Wikipedia
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

MacDonnell Ranges - Wikipedia, accessed July 31, 2025

View Source
Preview of management of inland arid and semi-arid woodland ... - DBCA Library, accessed July 12, 2025,
management of inland arid and semi-arid woodland ... - DBCA Library, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

management of inland arid and semi-arid woodland ... - DBCA Library

View Source
Preview of NORTHERN FLINDERS RANGES - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 30, 2025
NORTHERN FLINDERS RANGES - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 30, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

NORTHERN FLINDERS RANGES - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 31, 2025

View Source
Preview of Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed August 1, 2025,
Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Are gullies best for biodiversity? An empirical examination of Australian wet forest types

View Source
Preview of Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed May 13, 2025
Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Report card on sustainable natural resource use in the rangelands

View Source
Preview of Reef Trust Phase IV—Gully and Stream Bank Toolbox—A technical guide for the Reef Trust Phase IV Gully and Stream Bank Erosio - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025
Reef Trust Phase IV—Gully and Stream Bank Toolbox—A technical guide for the Reef Trust Phase IV Gully and Stream Bank Erosio - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Chapter 13 Gully erosion and its control - Queensland Government ...

View Source
Preview of The Impact of land use and Soil Characteristics on Gully ... - NSERL, accessed July 31, 2025
The Impact of land use and Soil Characteristics on Gully ... - NSERL, accessed July 31, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The Impact of land use and Soil Characteristics on Gully ... - NSERL, accessed July 31, 2025

View Source
Preview of The study area defined as the Mount Lofty Ranges in this report - ResearchGate, accessed July 31, 2025
The study area defined as the Mount Lofty Ranges in this report - ResearchGate, accessed July 31, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The study area defined as the Mount Lofty Ranges in this report - ResearchGate, accessed July 31, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 27 May 2026

Notes

The benchmark of 0 m/ha for active, human-induced gully density is derived from first principles, as no direct empirical data exists for this specific land use/biome combination. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.