Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail

Benchmark Value

10 %

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.

Evidence & Context

A value of <10% bare ground, averaged across the managed estate over time, represents this state.

Metric Definition:

Bare Ground (%) is defined as the percentage of the soil surface that is exposed mineral soil, lacking any protective cover.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum acceptable percentage of bare ground in production forestry within the Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands biome, indicating minimal soil erosion risk and high ecological health.

Justification:

Derived by synthesis from foundational principles, analogous systems, and case studies in the target biome.

Sources (3)

Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 - Montreal Process

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 - Montreal Process Government

Australia's State of the Forests Report - DAFF

View Source

Preview of Certification | Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed August 1, 2025,

Certification | Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, accessed August 1, 2025, Journal

Code of practice for native forest timber production on Queensland's State Forest estate 2020

View Source

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

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

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (30)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 7 technical bases of management plans - Tropical forest management techniques: a review of the sustainability of forest management practices in tropical countries, accessed August 1, 2025,

7 technical bases of management plans - Tropical forest management techniques: a review of the sustainability of forest management practices in tropical countries, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

7 technical bases of management plans - Tropical forest management techniques: a review of the sustainability of forest management practices in tropical countries

View Source

Australia – Sub-tropical – temperate - Earthdive, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australia – Sub-tropical – temperate - Earthdive

View Source

Benefits of Leaf Litter for Forest Regeneration - Tunley Environmental

Contextual Support Journal

Stubble Retention in Cropping Systems in Southern Australia ..., accessed August 13, 2025

View Source

Chapter 6: Tree-compatible ground covers for reforestation and erosion control, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Chapter 6: Tree-compatible ground covers for reforestation and erosion control

View Source

Climate & Seasons | Australian Wildlife Journeys, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil erosion as a resilience drain in disturbed tropical forests

View Source

Describing Indicators of Rangeland Health, Technical Reference 1734-9 - Bureau of Land Management, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Describing Indicators of Rangeland Health, Technical Reference 1734-9 - Bureau of Land Management

View Source

Further-Assessment-of-Matters-Report-2019-Intro.docx - Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Environmental values (DOCX, 1.8 MB) - Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

View Source

Growing the Norfolk Island Pine — Reforestation, Nurseries and Genetics Resources, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Growing the Norfolk Island Pine — Reforestation, Nurseries and Genetics Resources

View Source

How Effective is Plant Cover for Soil Erosion Control? - CID Bio-Science, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

How Effective is Plant Cover for Soil Erosion Control? - CID Bio-Science

View Source

HQPlantations, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

HQPlantations

View Source

Lord Howe Island - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Lord Howe Island - Wikipedia

View Source

Lord Howe Island Group - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

Lord Howe Island Group - UNESCO World Heritage Centre

View Source

Lord Howe Island Subtropical Forests | One Earth, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Lord Howe Island Subtropical Forests | One Earth

View Source

Lord Howe Island Subtropical Forests | One Earth, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Safeguarding Lord Howe Island World Heritage Area - Local Land Services

View Source

Maintain ground cover to protect soils | Media releases - Agriculture Victoria, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Preventing creek erosion - Australian River Restoration Centre

View Source

Mapping ground cover management - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source

Mulch Options for Erosion Control on Construction Sites | NC State Extension Publications, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Mulch Options for Erosion Control on Construction Sites | NC State Extension Publications

View Source

Norfolk Island - Wikipedia, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support

Norfolk Island - Wikipedia

View Source

Nutrient distribution and cycling in a subtropical rainforest in New South Wales

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Climate & Seasons | Australian Wildlife Journeys

View Source

Preventing and managing erosion | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Preventing and managing erosion | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government

View Source

Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021

Contextual Support Government

Linkages between forest soils and water quality and quantity

View Source

Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021

View Source

Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

D11 Control of Erosion and Sedimentation (Design) - Wingecarribee Shire Council

View Source

Soil erosion as a resilience drain in disturbed tropical forests, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The impact of deforestation - The Tropical Rainforest

View Source

Preview of Soil health: the foundation of sustainable agriculture - 2001 workshop proceedings - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 1, 2025,

Soil health: the foundation of sustainable agriculture - 2001 workshop proceedings - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil health: the foundation of sustainable agriculture - 2001 workshop proceedings - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source

Preview of Soil management for sustainable agriculture : background papers from a workshop organized by the Research Review Committee of th, accessed July 7, 2025

Soil management for sustainable agriculture : background papers from a workshop organized by the Research Review Committee of th, accessed July 7, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries

View Source

The Effect of Leaf Litter Cover on Surface Runoff and Soil Erosion in Northern China - PMC, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support

The Effect of Leaf Litter Cover on Surface Runoff and Soil Erosion in Northern China - PMC

View Source

The future role of the National Park Forestry Zone in a ... - DCCEEW, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Norfolk Island Native Plants

View Source

Preview of TREE-COMPATIBLE GROUND COVERS FOR REFORESTATION AND EROSION CONTROL - Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, accessed August 1, 2025,

TREE-COMPATIBLE GROUND COVERS FOR REFORESTATION AND EROSION CONTROL - Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support

TREE-COMPATIBLE GROUND COVERS FOR REFORESTATION AND EROSION CONTROL - Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

View Source

TROPICAL SOILS | Terrain NRM, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

A Revegetation Guide for Sub-Tropical Forest - Greening Australia, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 7 Jun 2026

Notes

The benchmark reflects a 'best-on-offer' condition with minimal soil erosion risk. The optimal range is <10% bare ground. Levels between 10-30% indicate increasing risk, with >30% representing significant degradation.