Bare Ground

AUS-TGP-CON-BAR General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

30 %
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MaximumOnly

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 7 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 6 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

once total ground cover falls below 70%, or conversely, when the percentage of bare ground exceeds 30%, the system crosses a critical detrimental threshold.

Metric Definition:

Percentage of bare ground indicating the upper detrimental threshold beyond which soil erosion and ecosystem degradation occur.

Benchmark Definition:

Critical upper limit of bare ground percentage indicating severe ecosystem degradation and soil erosion risk.

Justification:

Based on empirical research showing that bare ground above 30% leads to accelerated soil erosion and landscape instability.

Sources (1)

Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern Highlands: a nationally protected ecological community - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025, Journal

Natural Temperate Grassland of the South Eastern ... - DCCEEW

View Source

Supporting Sources (23)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed August 5, 2025,
(PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Stock Grazing on Biodiversity Values in Temperate Native Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands in SE Australia: A Literature Review - ACT Government

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
(PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

section 2 water quality in the darwin region - Environment and Natural Resources

View Source
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

View Source
Preview of Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Conservation Advice for Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion

View Source
Preview of BioCondition: A condition assessment framework for terrestrial biodiversity in Queensland, accessed August 12, 2025,
BioCondition: A condition assessment framework for terrestrial biodiversity in Queensland, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support

Melbourne Water stream network: user's manual - 7 Tree canopy cover, accessed May 19, 2025

View Source
Preview of BioCondition: A condition assessment framework for terrestrial biodiversity in Queensland, accessed August 5, 2025
BioCondition: A condition assessment framework for terrestrial biodiversity in Queensland, accessed August 5, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

BioCondition: A condition assessment framework for terrestrial ...

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 Determining reference conditions for management and restoration of temperate grassy woodlands: relationships among trees, topsoils and understorey flora in little-grazed remnants - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,
Determining reference conditions for management and restoration of temperate grassy woodlands: relationships among trees, topsoils and understorey flora in little-grazed remnants - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Soil and Landscape Grid National Soil Attribute Maps - Total Nitrogen (3" resolution) - Release 2 - CSIRO Data Access Portal

View Source
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 ...

View Source
Preview of Environmental Stewardship - Box Gum Grassy Woodland Project - Information Booklet - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Environmental Stewardship - Box Gum Grassy Woodland Project - Information Booklet - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The Nature of Soil - Local Land Services

View Source
Preview of Eucalypt woodlands Regrowth Benefits - Management Guideline - Queensland Government, accessed August 12, 2025,
Eucalypt woodlands Regrowth Benefits - Management Guideline - Queensland Government, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Grassy Eucalypt Woodlands Wiyn Murrup Monitoring Program (2020–2023) - Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, accessed August 12, 2025,

View Source
Preview of EVALUATION OF RESTORATION: A GRASSY WOODLAND
EVALUATION OF RESTORATION: A GRASSY WOODLAND
Direct Evidence

EVALUATION OF RESTORATION: A GRASSY WOODLAND

View Source
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,

View Source
Preview of How Effective is Plant Cover for Soil Erosion Control? - CID Bio-Science, accessed August 12, 2025,
How Effective is Plant Cover for Soil Erosion Control? - CID Bio-Science, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

How Effective is Plant Cover for Soil Erosion Control? - CID Bio-Science, accessed August 12, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025,
Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Lang, D. (1979). Groundcover for pastures. Journal of Soil Conservation NSW.

View Source
Preview of Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. (2006). Woodland Remnants and Dryland Salinity: Impacts of dryland salinity on woodland remnants in the Southern Tablelands and South-West Slopes of New South Wales.

View Source
Preview of Natural Temperate Grassland of the Southern Tablelands of NSW and the Australian Capital Territory. - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Natural Temperate Grassland of the Southern Tablelands of NSW and the Australian Capital Territory. - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

NVIS Fact sheet MVG 19  Tussock grasslands, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 5 – Eucalypt woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
NVIS Fact sheet MVG 5 – Eucalypt woodlands - DCCEEW, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Restoring Australia's temperate grasslands and grassy woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 12, 2025,
Restoring Australia's temperate grasslands and grassy woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support

Restoring Australia's temperate grasslands and grassy woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 4, 2025
Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia, accessed August 4, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

Plant nutrients in the soil - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source
Preview of The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,
The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Vegetation Assessment Guide - DCCEEW, accessed May 15, 2025
Vegetation Assessment Guide - DCCEEW, accessed May 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Vegetation Assessment Guide - DCCEEW

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 Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Vegetation Woodland
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

This threshold marks the transition from a stable, functioning ecosystem to an unstable, degrading one, requiring urgent management intervention.

Related Benchmarks

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

— % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Pristine Reference · Woodland
OptimalRange Active v1
2 % Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target · Woodland
MinimumOnly Active v1