Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

25 %

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, 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

CompositeFramework Primary MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

The transition from a 'fair' condition state (with ~20% bare ground) to a 'poor' state (>25% bare ground) represents a critical ecological tipping point.

Metric Definition:

Bare Ground (or Bare Soil): The fraction of the soil surface that is exposed and not covered by any of the above components, nor by rock or biological crusts.

Benchmark Definition:

A bare ground level of >25% indicates a transition to a 'poor', degraded state with high erosion risk and low ecological function.

Justification:

At this point, the protective layers of litter and biological soil crust have collapsed to less than 15% combined cover, and the system becomes dominated by bare soil and exotic weeds.

Sources (1)

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Victorian Semi-arid Woodlands - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed July 12, 2025, Journal

Management approaches | Australia state of the environment 2021

Supporting Sources (39)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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(PDF) Does above‐average rainfall stimulate a recruitment pulse in ..., accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

(PDF) Does above‐average rainfall stimulate a recruitment pulse in ..., accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of 1 OVERVIEW ARTICLE Degraded or just dusty? Examining ecological change in arid lands J.L. SilcockA,B,D & R.J. FenshamA,C A C, accessed July 12, 2025,

1 OVERVIEW ARTICLE Degraded or just dusty? Examining ecological change in arid lands J.L. SilcockA,B,D & R.J. FenshamA,C A C, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

AUS-AIF-URB-ISR - Intersect-Based Species Richness Benchmark Research for Nature Index (2024 Synthesis)

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Agricultural production system in arid and semi-arid regions, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

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AUSTRALIA'S STATE OF THE FORESTS REPORT - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Final report Advice on finalising Draft Private Native Forestry Codes of Practice March 2022

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Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

How should we manage our soils to increase soil carbon?, accessed May 10, 2026

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Biodiversity Conservation Trust Ecological Thinning Guidelines, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Estimating the relative magnitude of expected increases in soil ...

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Determining baselines, drivers and trends of soil health and stability ..., accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Phosphorus: a finite resource essential for life, critical for agriculture and food security

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Does above-average rainfall stimulate a recruitment pulse in semi-arid woodlands of southeastern Australia? - vegsciblog.org, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Carbon | Australia state of the environment 2021

Preview of Effects of Forest Thinning and Chipping on Soil Properties and Understory Vegetation at - Boulder County, accessed July 12, 2025,

Effects of Forest Thinning and Chipping on Soil Properties and Understory Vegetation at - Boulder County, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

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Estimating ground cover percentage - DCCEEW, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Biodiversity Conservation Trust Livestock grazing guidelines, accessed April 29, 2025,

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Estimating woody vegetation cover in arid and semi-arid rangelands - Murdoch Research Portal, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Agronomic and ecological studies on potassium excess effects

Preview of Fact sheet 4: Groundcover, accessed July 12, 2025,

Fact sheet 4: Groundcover, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Fire in Semi-Arid Shrublands and Woodlands: Spatial and Temporal Patterns in an Australian Landscape - Frontiers, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Fire in Semi-Arid Shrublands and Woodlands: Spatial and Temporal Patterns in an Australian Landscape - Frontiers, accessed July 12, 2025,

Fire in Semi-Arid Shrublands and Woodlands: Spatial and Temporal Patterns in an Australian Landscape - Frontiers, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Fire in Semi-Arid Shrublands and Woodlands: Spatial and Temporal Patterns in an Australian Landscape - Frontiers, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,

Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

The Rangeland Journal - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed May 13, 2025

Preview of Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2025

Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Grazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed April 29, 2025,

Preview of Impacts of shrub encroachment on ecosystem structure and functioning: towards a global synthesis - PubMed Central, accessed July 12, 2025,

Impacts of shrub encroachment on ecosystem structure and functioning: towards a global synthesis - PubMed Central, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Carbon sequestration in forests and woodlands (savannas)., accessed July 15, 2025

Preview of Improved forest management - CSIRO, accessed July 12, 2025,

Improved forest management - CSIRO, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Ecosystem wicks: Woodland trees enhance water infiltration in a fragmented agricultural landscape in eastern Australia, accessed May 15, 2025,

Preview of Improving semi-arid non-eucalypt woodland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed July 12, 2025,

Improving semi-arid non-eucalypt woodland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Improving semi-arid non-eucalypt woodland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Mallee Bounceback - Environment, accessed July 12, 2025,

Mallee Bounceback - Environment, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Determining baselines, drivers and trends of soil health and stability ..., accessed July 12, 2025,

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

Preview of Managing ground cover on erosion prone soils: Guidelines to follow, accessed July 12, 2025,

Managing ground cover on erosion prone soils: Guidelines to follow, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Management of sugarcane harvest residues: consequences for soil carbon and nitrogen, accessed July 26, 2025

Preview of Monitoring ground cover: an online tool for Australian regions - eo-data.csiro.au, accessed July 18, 2025,

Monitoring ground cover: an online tool for Australian regions - eo-data.csiro.au, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Erosion and sediment yields in the Kakadu region of northern Australia - INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES

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Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion - Agriculture Victoria

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Native Forest Stand Management Guide - No 1 - Private Forestry Service Queensland, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Quantifying the biodiversity values of reforestation: perspectives, design issues and outcomes in Australian rainforest landscapes | Conservation of Australia's Forest Fauna - Allen Press, accessed July 20, 2025

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Reshaping forest management in Australia to provide nature-based solutions to global challenges - Independent Planning Commission, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Top 6 Sustainable Forest Management Techniques, accessed July 24, 2025,

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Role of plant cover and stock trampling on runoff and soil-erosion from semi-arid wooded rangelands - ResearchGate, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Fact sheet 4: Groundcover, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of SECURING AUSTRALIA'S SOIL For profitable industries and healthy landscapes - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

SECURING AUSTRALIA'S SOIL For profitable industries and healthy landscapes - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Wind erosion, accessed July 12, 2025,

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Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )

Contextual Support Government

Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia

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Semi-arid woodlands (shrubby sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )

Contextual Support Government

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

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Spatial indicators of fire risk in the arid and semi-arid zone of Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

AUSTRALIA'S STATE OF THE FORESTS REPORT - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

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Temperate woodlands in Victoria: distribution, composition and conservation - ozecopdf, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

SECURING AUSTRALIA'S SOIL For profitable industries and healthy landscapes - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Temporary cropping in semi-arid shrublands increases native perennial grasses, accessed July 12, 2025,

Temporary cropping in semi-arid shrublands increases native perennial grasses, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Temporary cropping in semi-arid shrublands increases native perennial grasses, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of The effect of thinning on structural attributes of a low rainfall forest in eastern Australia, accessed July 12, 2025,

The effect of thinning on structural attributes of a low rainfall forest in eastern Australia, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

PARKS VICTORIA TECHNICAL SERIES - AWS, accessed July 12, 2025

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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

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Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of understorey biomass in semi-arid woodlands of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Western Australian Soil Health Strategy 2021-2031 - SoilsWest, accessed July 12, 2025,

Western Australian Soil Health Strategy 2021-2031 - SoilsWest, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

SOIL BIOLOGICAL HEALTH—WHAT IS IT AND HOW CAN WE IMPROVE IT? - Wet Tropics Plan

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Wind erosion | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

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Wind erosion | Land and soil - Environment and Heritage, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Wind erosion | Land and soil - Environment and Heritage

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Wind erosion, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Wind erosion, accessed July 12, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Not Stated
Vegetation Woodland
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 28 May 2026

Notes

Exceeding this value indicates that the system has likely crossed a threshold into a degraded state where ecological functions are significantly compromised. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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