Gully Density

AUS-AIF-FOR-GUL General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 10 to 50 m/ha

Optimal Range: 10 to 50

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 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

Based on regional studies in the Murray-Darling Basin, densities > 10 m/ha (0.1 km/km2) can be considered indicative of significant, widespread erosion problems requiring intervention, while densities approaching or exceeding 50 m/ha (0.5 km/km2) represent a severely degraded landscape state.

Metric Definition:

Gully density indicative of degradation severity

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark range indicates gully density levels that signify significant to severe landscape degradation in the biome and land use context, based on regional studies.

Justification:

These values represent thresholds for significant and severe degradation based on empirical data from analogous grazing systems in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Sources (1)

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, Journal

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (8)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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

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

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

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 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

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 DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 25 Mar 2026

Notes

This range is used to assess the severity of degradation once the detrimental threshold of 0 m/ha is crossed.

Related Benchmarks

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