Bare Ground

AUS-AKW-LVG-BAR General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 10 to 20 %
Optimal Range: 10 to 20
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: OptimalRange

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 16 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 15 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The analysis identifies a benchmark of 10–20% Bare Ground as representative of a healthy, functional landscape under best-practice grazing.

Metric Definition:

Percentage of bare ground in the landscape representing a healthy, functional state under best-practice grazing management.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the healthy range of bare ground percentage in arid karstic woodlands and shrublands under best-practice livestock grazing, indicating a functional landscape with minimal soil exposure.

Justification:

The benchmark is derived from multiple lines of evidence, primarily from the Nullarbor Plain as the archetype for this biome. It is informed by the minimum foliar cover of 15% required to prevent wind erosion, implying a healthy system must maintain significantly lower bare ground levels.

Sources (1)

Preview of Resource condition, accessed July 27, 2025
Resource condition, accessed July 27, 2025 Journal

KARST - Earth Science Australia, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (22)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Can we benchmark annual ground cover maintenance?
Can we benchmark annual ground cover maintenance?
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Monitoring Australian Rangeland Sites Using Landscape ...

View Source
Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation ...
Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation ...
Contextual Support Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation ...

View Source
Preview of fie cljulhacCin c.Ran9Eranct cSociEty - Rangelands Gateway
fie cljulhacCin c.Ran9Eranct cSociEty - Rangelands Gateway
Contextual Support Government

fie cljulhacCin c.Ran9Eranct cSociEty - Rangelands Gateway

View Source
Preview of Ground cover and fire in the grazing lands (RP64G) - Queensland Government publications
Ground cover and fire in the grazing lands (RP64G) - Queensland Government publications
Contextual Support Journal

Ground cover management practices in cropping and improved pasture grazing systems: ground cover monitoring using remote sensing

View Source
Preview of Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF
Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF
Contextual Support

Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF

View Source
Preview of Hans Lambers Editor - On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone - eScholarship, accessed July 6, 2025,
Hans Lambers Editor - On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone - eScholarship, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Hans Lambers Editor - On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone - eScholarship.org

View Source
Preview of Is ground cover a useful indicator of grazing land condition? - CSIRO Publishing
Is ground cover a useful indicator of grazing land condition? - CSIRO Publishing
Contextual Support Journal

Is ground cover a useful indicator of grazing land condition? - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of Maintain and improve groundcover - Local Land Services, accessed July 27, 2025
Maintain and improve groundcover - Local Land Services, accessed July 27, 2025
Direct Evidence

Norfolk Island Environmental Assessment Executive Summary

View Source
Preview of Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025
Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support

Working Draft - Grower Group Alliance

View Source
Preview of Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025
Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion - Agriculture Victoria

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor 1 (NUL1 – Nullarbor Northern Band subregion) - DBCA Library
Nullarbor 1 (NUL1 – Nullarbor Northern Band subregion) - DBCA Library
Contextual Support Journal

Nullarbor 1 (NUL1 – Nullarbor Northern Band subregion) - DBCA Library

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plain | Desert, Limestone, Cave - Britannica
Nullarbor Plain | Desert, Limestone, Cave - Britannica
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain | Desert, Limestone, Cave - Britannica, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Orhard & Livestock - Regenerative Grazing Australia
Orhard & Livestock - Regenerative Grazing Australia
Contextual Support Journal

Orhard & Livestock - Regenerative Grazing Australia

View Source
Preview of Rangeland condition monitoring: A guide for pastoral lessees - DPIRD's Digital library
Rangeland condition monitoring: A guide for pastoral lessees - DPIRD's Digital library
Contextual Support

Rangeland condition monitoring: A guide for pastoral lessees - DPIRD's Digital library

View Source
Preview of RCS Regenerative Grazing Principles - Resource Consulting Services
RCS Regenerative Grazing Principles - Resource Consulting Services
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

RCS Regenerative Grazing Principles - Resource Consulting Services

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA
Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025,
Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Managing grazing to increase ground cover in rangelands - Open Research Repository

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com, accessed August 5, 2025,
Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com

View Source
Preview of Semi-arid woodlands (shrubby sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science
Semi-arid woodlands (shrubby sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science
Contextual Support Journal

Semi-arid woodlands (shrubby sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science

View Source
Preview of The Ecograze Project - developing guidelines to better ... - FutureBeef, accessed July 10, 2025,
The Ecograze Project - developing guidelines to better ... - FutureBeef, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

finalrepport - MLA, accessed July 23, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Not Stated
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 4 Jun 2026

Notes

This range accounts for the natural patchiness of the ecosystem and applies to productive areas away from high-impact zones near water points. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AKW-LVG-BAR family.

50 % Low
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Not Stated
MaximumOnly Active v1