Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 0 to 30 %

Thresholds: Lower: 0, Upper: —

Optimal Range: 0 to 30

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

Based on the evidence for critical thresholds and aspirational targets, the optimal range for Bare Ground (%) in well-managed livestock grazing systems within Australia's tropical rainforest biome is 0% to 30%.

Metric Definition:

Bare Ground (%) is defined as the percentage of the soil surface that is exposed and not covered by living or dead plant material (litter).

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal range of bare ground percentage in well-managed livestock grazing systems in Australia's tropical rainforest biome, indicating healthy soil cover that minimizes erosion and runoff.

Justification:

This benchmark represents the best available condition for grazing lands in Australia's tropical rainforest biome, derived from the official management target for the Wet Tropics region, which aims for 90% of grazing lands to have >70% ground cover. It is strongly supported by industry guidelines (MLA) and research (CSIRO) showing that maintaining ≤30% bare ground is critical for minimizing erosion and runoff in high-rainfall environments.

Sources (3)

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 - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 18, 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 - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 18, 2025, Journal

Case Study - Regenerative Rangelands - Landcare Australia, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

Manage ground cover | EverGraze More livestock from perennials, accessed August 10, 2025,

Maintain and improve groundcover - Local Land Services

View Source

Reef Water Quality Report Card, accessed July 19, 2025, Journal

Reef Water Quality Report Card, accessed July 19, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Best practice farming in Great Barrier Reef catchments | Business ..., accessed July 25, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Best practice farming in Great Barrier Reef catchments | Business Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 5 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 0 %. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. The optimal range 0-30% bare ground corresponds to high environmental health and function. The literature does not support a numerical detrimental threshold for very low bare ground; negative outcomes relate to pasture quality and composition, not quantity. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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