Gully Density

AUS-AIF-FOR-GUL General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0 m/ha
Range: 0 to 0 m/ha
Thresholds: Lower: —, 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 5 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 4 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard Point Guard Point Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

Reference Value: ~0 m/ha (for active gullies resulting from land management)

Metric Definition:

Active gully density resulting from land management

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the target active gully density resulting from land management in the specified biome and land use, aiming for a stable landscape with no active gullies.

Justification:

The benchmark of ~0 m/ha for active, management-induced gullies is derived from first principles. It represents the required outcome of applying Australian sustainable forestry codes of practice, which are designed to prevent accelerated erosion, to a biome known to be exceptionally susceptible to catastrophic gully formation upon disturbance.

Sources (1)

Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report, accessed August 12, 2025
Australia's State of the Forests Report, accessed August 12, 2025 Journal

Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in Victoria, accessed March 28, 2026,

View Source

Supporting Sources (9)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell ..., accessed July 20, 2025
Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell ..., accessed July 20, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Forestry in Australia - Gresham House, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Alluvial Gully Erosion: A Dominant Erosion Process Across Tropical Northern Australia - CORE, accessed July 16, 2025,
Alluvial Gully Erosion: A Dominant Erosion Process Across Tropical Northern Australia - CORE, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support

Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin ..., accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Alluvial Gully Erosion: A Dominant Erosion Process Across Tropical Northern Australia: Full Report - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,
Alluvial Gully Erosion: A Dominant Erosion Process Across Tropical Northern Australia: Full Report - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Degradation of the Mitchell River fluvial megafan by alluvial gully erosion increased by post-European land use change, Queensla, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in Victoria, accessed July 20, 2025,
Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in Victoria, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Australia's State of the Forests Report - DAFF, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully density map of the study assessment area (kilometres... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
Gully density map of the study assessment area (kilometres... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Gully erosion prediction across a large region ... - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,
Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Australia's State of the Forests Report, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Long-term contemporary erosion rates in an arid rangelands environment in western New South Wales, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025
Long-term contemporary erosion rates in an arid rangelands environment in western New South Wales, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Long-term contemporary erosion rates in an arid rangelands environment in western New South Wales, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Restoring Soil Quality to Mitigate Soil Degradation - MDPI, accessed August 2, 2025
Restoring Soil Quality to Mitigate Soil Degradation - MDPI, accessed August 2, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Restoring Soil Quality to Mitigate Soil Degradation - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of SOIL CONSERVATION IN AUSTRALIA'S SEMI ARID TROPICS: PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS, AND NEW CHALLENGES - DM Freebairn A and DM Silburn - NSERL, accessed July 8, 2025,
SOIL CONSERVATION IN AUSTRALIA'S SEMI ARID TROPICS: PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS, AND NEW CHALLENGES - DM Freebairn A and DM Silburn - NSERL, accessed July 8, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

SOIL CONSERVATION IN AUSTRALIA'S SEMI ARID TROPICS: PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS, AND NEW CHALLENGES - DM Freebairn A and DM Silburn - NSERL, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 25 Mar 2026

Notes

No direct empirical data exists for this specific land use/biome combination, as commercial forestry is not practiced in Australian arid floodplains. The 'best available condition' is a stable landscape where gully initiation has been successfully prevented. The optimal state is the lowest achievable value, ~0 m/ha. Any active, management-induced gully density > 0 m/ha is detrimental, signifying a failure of management and a departure from a stable state.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AIF-FOR-GUL family.

— m/ha Moderate
Production Forestry · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1