Bare Ground

AUS-TSW-CON-BAR General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 40 to 50 %
Optimal Range: 40 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 6 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard UpperThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

Bare Ground (%) 40 - 50 % BioNet Plant Community Types - Benchmarks Data

Metric Definition:

Percentage of ground surface that is bare soil, excluding vegetated and litter-covered areas.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the optimal range of bare ground percentage for woodland areas in the Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands biome under conservation. It reflects a balance where bare ground is sufficient to support ecological function without causing degradation.

Justification:

Confidence is High due to the use of a quantitative, government-endorsed dataset specifically designed for assessing ecological condition, corroborated by independent erosion control thresholds and biodiversity habitat requirements.

Sources (4)

Preview of BioNet Vegetation Classification: Plant Community Types Benchmarks Data
BioNet Vegetation Classification: Plant Community Types Benchmarks Data

BioNet Vegetation Condition Benchmarks V1.2

View Source
Preview of Report card on sustainable natural resource use in the rangelands
Report card on sustainable natural resource use in the rangelands Journal

Evaluation of tolerable erosion rates and time to critical topsoil loss in Australia., accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Wind erosion | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 23, 2025
Wind erosion | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 23, 2025 Government

Ground cover monitoring for Australia - DAFF

View Source
Preview of Winged Peppercress monitoring - Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research
Winged Peppercress monitoring - Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research GreyLiterature

Winged Peppercress monitoring - Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research

View Source

Supporting Sources (16)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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,
Contextual Support

Revegetation - International Erosion Control Association

View Source
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

View Source
Preview of Chapter 3 : Desertification — Special Report on Climate Change and Land - IPCC, accessed July 7, 2025,
Chapter 3 : Desertification — Special Report on Climate Change and Land - IPCC, accessed July 7, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Chapter 3 : Desertification — Special Report on Climate Change and Land - IPCC, accessed July 16, 2025

View Source
Preview of Climate of South Australia - Britannica, accessed July 22, 2025,
Climate of South Australia - Britannica, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Mediterranean forests, woodlands and scrubs – Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O, accessed July 13, 2025

View Source
Preview of Ground cover indicator for drought resilience - DAFF
Ground cover indicator for drought resilience - DAFF
Contextual Support Journal

Can bare ground cover server as a surrogate for plant biodiversity in grazed tropical woodlands? - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 16, 2025

View Source
Preview of Ground cover monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 16, 2025
Ground cover monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 16, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Ground cover monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 16, 2025

View Source
Preview of MVG 6 - Acacia forests and woodlands (DOCX - DCCEEW, accessed May 15, 2025,
MVG 6 - Acacia forests and woodlands (DOCX - DCCEEW, accessed May 15, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

MVG 6 - Acacia forests and woodlands (DOCX - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of National Ecosystem Accounts, experimental estimates, 2020-21 ..., accessed July 16, 2025
National Ecosystem Accounts, experimental estimates, 2020-21 ..., accessed July 16, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Mallee - Parks Victoria, accessed July 16, 2025

View Source
Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 14 – Mallee woodlands and shrublands - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
NVIS Fact sheet MVG 14 – Mallee woodlands and shrublands - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

NVIS Fact sheet MVG 14 – Mallee woodlands and shrublands - DCCEEW, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Restoration of degraded grazing country in the semi-arid areas of NSW, accessed July 16, 2025
Restoration of degraded grazing country in the semi-arid areas of NSW, accessed July 16, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Terrestrial habitat requirements of a suite of anuran species inhabiting a semi-arid region of South East Queensland | QUT ePrints, accessed July 16, 2025

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

View Source
Preview of Soil Erosion Thresholds and Alternative States in Northeastern ..., accessed July 16, 2025
Soil Erosion Thresholds and Alternative States in Northeastern ..., accessed July 16, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Morphological diversity and abundance of biological soil crusts differ in relation to landscape setting and vegetation type - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed July 16, 2025

View Source
Preview of Structure and functioning of dryland ecosystems in a changing world - PMC, accessed July 16, 2025
Structure and functioning of dryland ecosystems in a changing world - PMC, accessed July 16, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Structure and functioning of dryland ecosystems in a changing world - PMC, accessed July 16, 2025

View Source
Preview of The hidden order of Turing patterns in arid and semi‐arid vegetation ecosystems | PNAS, accessed July 16, 2025
The hidden order of Turing patterns in arid and semi‐arid vegetation ecosystems | PNAS, accessed July 16, 2025
Contextual Support

The hidden order of Turing patterns in arid and semi‐arid vegetation ecosystems | PNAS, accessed July 16, 2025

View Source
Preview of The semi-arid woodlands of eastern Australia showing the location of... | Download Scientific Diagram - ResearchGate, accessed July 31, 2025,
The semi-arid woodlands of eastern Australia showing the location of... | Download Scientific Diagram - ResearchGate, accessed July 31, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The semi-arid woodlands of eastern Australia showing the location of... | Download Scientific Diagram - ResearchGate, accessed July 31, 2025

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

Woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Vegetation Woodland
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 30 %. Upper Detrimental Threshold: 70 %. Bare Ground levels exceeding 60-70% indicate a degraded state with high risk of accelerated soil erosion. 0% bare ground is ecologically suboptimal as patches of bare ground are essential habitat and functional components of the ecosystem.