Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

30 %

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: UpperThreshold

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

Bare ground exceeding 30% is widely cited as the point of significantly increased erosion risk on gentle slopes

Metric Definition:

Bare ground is the inverse of ground cover; it is the percentage of the soil surface left exposed, without any protective layer of vegetation or litter.

Benchmark Definition:

The point at which the percentage of bare ground becomes detrimental to ecosystem health due to increased erosion risk.

Justification:

Below 70% cover (above 30% bare ground), patches of bare ground begin to connect, allowing runoff to gain velocity and erosive power, leading to sheet and rill erosion.

Sources (1)

Preview of Assessing groundcover | MBFP | More Beef from Pastures - MLA, accessed August 10, 2025,

Assessing groundcover | MBFP | More Beef from Pastures - MLA, accessed August 10, 2025,

Revegetation - International Erosion Control Association

Supporting Sources (35)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A Revegetation Guide for Eucalypt Woodlands - Greening Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

A Revegetation Guide for Eucalypt Woodlands - Greening Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Native Vegetation Framework - DAFF

Preview of ABARES report reaffirms sustainability, sovereign capability and climate credentials of Australian native forestry, accessed August 10, 2025,

ABARES report reaffirms sustainability, sovereign capability and climate credentials of Australian native forestry, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Review of fertiliser use in Australian forestry - Forest & Wood Products Australia

Preview of Assessing the Extent and Severity of the Impact on Forest Soils of Two Different Fully Mechanized Timber Harvesting Operations - MDPI, accessed August 10, 2025,

Assessing the Extent and Severity of the Impact on Forest Soils of Two Different Fully Mechanized Timber Harvesting Operations - MDPI, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Assessing the Extent and Severity of the Impact on Forest Soils of Two Different Fully Mechanized Timber Harvesting Operations - MDPI, accessed August 10, 2025

Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report - DAFF, accessed August 10, 2025,

Australia's State of the Forests Report - DAFF, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Baselines for Soil Health and Stability in NSW RFA Regions

Preview of BioMetric: Vegetation condition benchmarks, short-term review, accessed August 10, 2025,

BioMetric: Vegetation condition benchmarks, short-term review, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

The assessment of ecological condition in South-East Queensland

Preview of Changing covers?How TERN has fostered greater research collaboration for Land Management, accessed August 10, 2025,

Changing covers?How TERN has fostered greater research collaboration for Land Management, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Australia's State of the Forests Report, accessed August 10, 2025

Preview of Criteria, Indicators, Targets and monitoring processes of Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management for Southern RFA Region, accessed August 10, 2025,

Criteria, Indicators, Targets and monitoring processes of Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management for Southern RFA Region, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Criteria, Indicators, Targets and monitoring processes of Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management for Southern RFA Region, accessed August 10, 2025

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

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

Contextual Support Journal

www.forestry.org.au

Preview of Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management Criteria and Indicators for the NSW Forest Agreement regions - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed August 10, 2025,

Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management Criteria and Indicators for the NSW Forest Agreement regions - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management Criteria and Indicators for the NSW Forest Agreement regions - NSW Environment Protection Authority, accessed August 10, 2025,

Preview of Effects of Stock Grazing on Biodiversity Values in ... - ACT Government, accessed August 4, 2025

Effects of Stock Grazing on Biodiversity Values in ... - ACT Government, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Yellow Box – Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived ...

Preview of Eight steps to conserve diverse understoreys in grassy woodlands, accessed August 10, 2025,

Eight steps to conserve diverse understoreys in grassy woodlands, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Eight steps to conserve diverse understoreys in grassy woodlands, accessed August 12, 2025

Preview of Examining links between soil management, soil health, and public benefits in agricultural landscapes: An Australian perspective | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 10, 2025,

Examining links between soil management, soil health, and public benefits in agricultural landscapes: An Australian perspective | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Forest and woodland structure as an index of biodiversity: a review - CiteSeerX, accessed August 10, 2025,

Forest and woodland structure as an index of biodiversity: a review - CiteSeerX, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Forest and woodland stand structural complexity: Its definition ...

Preview of Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Is there a close association between 'soils' and 'vegetation'? A case study from central western New South Wales, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of Harvest operations and soil sustainability: A review - USDA Forest Service, accessed August 10, 2025,

Harvest operations and soil sustainability: A review - USDA Forest Service, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Significant and persistent impact of timber harvesting on soil ..., accessed August 9, 2025

Preview of How do fire regimes affect ecosystem structure, function and diversity in grasslands and grassy woodlands of southern Australia?, accessed August 10, 2025,

How do fire regimes affect ecosystem structure, function and diversity in grasslands and grassy woodlands of southern Australia?, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Contrasting Soil pH Effects on Fungal and Bacterial Growth Suggest ...

Preview of Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Identifying ecological barriers to restoration in temperate grassy woodlands: soil changes associated with different degradation states - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

Preview of INFLUENCE OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER ON FOREST PRODUCTIVITY* - Scion Research, accessed August 10, 2025,

INFLUENCE OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER ON FOREST PRODUCTIVITY* - Scion Research, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Eight steps to conserve diverse understoreys in grassy woodlands, accessed August 10, 2025

Preview of Interim Benchmarks for the BioMetric Tool, accessed August 10, 2025,

Interim Benchmarks for the BioMetric Tool, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Private Native Forestry information package - Sustainable Forest Management, accessed August 10, 2025

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

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

Contextual Support

Maintain and improve groundcover - Local Land Services

Preview of Management of Natural regeneration in eucalypt plantations

Management of Natural regeneration in eucalypt plantations

Direct Evidence Journal

Management of natural regeneration in eucalypt plantations, accessed August 10, 2025

Preview of Management of natural regeneration in eucalypt plantations, accessed August 10, 2025,

Management of natural regeneration in eucalypt plantations, accessed August 10, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

establishment, management and protection, accessed August 10, 2025,

Preview of Managing ground cover to reduce run-off and water loss - FutureBeef, accessed August 10, 2025,

Managing ground cover to reduce run-off and water loss - FutureBeef, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Managing ground cover to reduce run-off and water loss - FutureBeef, accessed August 10, 2025

Preview of Mapping ground cover management - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2025

Mapping ground cover management - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 20, 2025,

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

Direct Evidence Government

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion - Agriculture Victoria

Preview of Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Northern NSW - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 10, 2025,

Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Northern NSW - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Cypress and Western ...

Preview of Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Northern NSW | AustLII, accessed August 10, 2025,

Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Northern NSW | AustLII, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Northern NSW | AustLII, accessed July 12, 2025

Preview of Private Native Forestry Field Guide for Northern NSW, accessed August 10, 2025,

Private Native Forestry Field Guide for Northern NSW, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerating a Forest - UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, accessed August 10, 2025

Preview of Private Native Forestry information package - Sustainable Forest Management, accessed August 10, 2025,

Private Native Forestry information package - Sustainable Forest Management, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6], accessed August 10, 2025

Preview of Regenerating a Forest - UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, accessed August 10, 2025,

Regenerating a Forest - UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

A Revegetation Guide for Eucalypt Woodlands - Greening Australia, accessed August 10, 2025

Preview of Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Analysing water sensitive urban design options - Australian Water Association

Preview of Sustaining forest soil quality and productivity [Chapter 3], accessed August 10, 2025,

Sustaining forest soil quality and productivity [Chapter 3], accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

INFLUENCE OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER ON FOREST PRODUCTIVITY* - Scion Research, accessed August 10, 2025

Preview of Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6], accessed August 10, 2025,

Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6], accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

A review of the potential impacts of different fire regimes on soil erosion and sedimentation, nutrient and carb

Preview of The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

View of Efficacy of the Ecosystem Services Approach in Transitioning to Regenerative Agriculture in Australia | Reinvention, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Working together to improve land-management outcomes | TERN Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

Working together to improve land-management outcomes | TERN Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

BioMetric: Vegetation condition benchmarks, short-term review, accessed August 10, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 28 May 2026

Notes

Upper Detrimental Threshold: 30 %. This threshold is not absolute and becomes more stringent as environmental constraints increase. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-FOR-BAR family.