Gully Density

AUS-TDG-CON-GUL General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0 m/ha
Range: 0 to 0 m/ha
Thresholds: Lower: 0, Upper: 0
Optimal Range: 0 to 0
Direction: Lower 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 6 benchmarks together — the Point form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary Point Guard Point Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

The logical benchmark for active gully density is thus 0 m/ha. This value represents a state of high landscape stability where ongoing, human-influenced or accelerated gully erosion is not occurring.

Metric Definition:

Gully density is quantitatively defined as "the total gully length per area of the whole study area".

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the ideal state of zero active gully density, indicating high landscape stability and absence of ongoing erosion in Australian Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands under conservation management.

Justification:

This benchmark is inferred due to the lack of specific empirical studies defining a "good" gully density in such pristine or well-managed conservation settings; rather, literature consistently frames gully erosion as a degradative process to be minimized.

Sources (3)

Preview of Ecological Impact Assessment - Whitehaven Coal
Ecological Impact Assessment - Whitehaven Coal Journal

Mokota Conservation Park Management Plan - Department for Environment and Water

View Source
Preview of National Reserve System protected area requirements - DCCEEW
National Reserve System protected area requirements - DCCEEW Government

National Reserve System protected area requirements - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Audit 2019-22 - WaterNSW
Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Audit 2019-22 - WaterNSW Journal

Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Audit 2019-22 - WaterNSW

View Source

Supporting Sources (12)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A global comparison of soil erosion associated with land use and climate type
A global comparison of soil erosion associated with land use and climate type
Contextual Support Journal

A global comparison of soil erosion associated with land use and climate type

View Source
Preview of Australia's Strategy for the National Reserve System 2009–2030 - DCCEEW
Australia's Strategy for the National Reserve System 2009–2030 - DCCEEW
Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Strategy for the National Reserve System 2009–2030 - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Can Coarse Woody Debris Be Used for Carbon Storage in Open Grazed Woodlands?
Can Coarse Woody Debris Be Used for Carbon Storage in Open Grazed Woodlands?
Contextual Support Journal

Can Coarse Woody Debris Be Used for Carbon Storage in Open Grazed Woodlands?

View Source
Preview of Developing good practice guidance for estimating land degradation in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Developing good practice guidance for estimating land degradation in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals | Request PDF - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Developing good practice guidance for estimating land degradation in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Ecological site R075XY059NE - Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool
Ecological site R075XY059NE - Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool
Contextual Support Journal

Ecological site R075XY059NE - Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool

View Source
Preview of Influence of Topographic Factors on the Characteristics of Gully Systems in Mountainous Areas of Ningnan Dry-Hot Valley, SW China - PubMed Central
Influence of Topographic Factors on the Characteristics of Gully Systems in Mountainous Areas of Ningnan Dry-Hot Valley, SW China - PubMed Central
Contextual Support Journal

Influence of Topographic Factors on the Characteristics of Gully Systems in Mountainous Areas of Ningnan Dry-Hot Valley, SW China - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen balance in Australian farmlands - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed May 11, 2025
Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen balance in Australian farmlands - Agronomy Australia Proceedings, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Letnic, M. (2019). What are native grasslands, and why do they matter? UNSW Newsroom.

View Source
Preview of OFFICIAL - DCCEEW
OFFICIAL - DCCEEW
Contextual Support Journal

OFFICIAL - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of parks - IUCN Portals
parks - IUCN Portals
Contextual Support Journal

parks - IUCN Portals

View Source
Preview of Soil erosion impacts on crop yields in North America. Adv Agron - ResearchGate
Soil erosion impacts on crop yields in North America. Adv Agron - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

Soil physical properties of the studied gully sidewall (means ± standard error). - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of The International Journal of Protected Areas and Conservation
The International Journal of Protected Areas and Conservation
Contextual Support Journal

The International Journal of Protected Areas and Conservation

View Source
Preview of Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support

Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed May 19, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 24 Mar 2026

Notes

The benchmark of 0 m/ha of active gullies is inferred as representing the "best available condition" for landscape stability and minimal erosion in Australian Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands under Conservation / Protected Natural Areas land use. This is based on ecological principles where active gully erosion is a degradation process and conservation land management aims to preserve ecological integrity and control erosion. No direct empirical study providing this specific value for "best condition" in the target context was found in the provided materials; hence, confidence is 'Moderate'. The focus is on active gullies, distinct from stabilized historical features.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TDG-CON-GUL family.

— m/ha Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
LowerThreshold Active v1
0 m/ha Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
UpperThreshold Active v1