Gully Density — Benchmark Detail

Benchmark Value

0 m/ha

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary Point Guard UpperThreshold Guard Point Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The benchmark of "effectively zero active, human-induced gully density" is proposed due to the absence of specific quantitative gully density values from verifiably "best-practice" managed alpine/subalpine production forestry sites in the reviewed literature.

Metric Definition:

Gully density is defined as the length of active gullies per hectare, serving as an indicator of landscape stability and the effectiveness of erosion control measures under sustainable land uses.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the target of zero active, human-induced gully density in Australian Alpine and Subalpine Complex production forestry, reflecting the goal of preventing soil erosion and maintaining landscape stability under best-practice sustainable forestry management.

Justification:

This benchmark is derived from the overarching objective of Australian Forest Practices Codes, which is to prevent soil erosion and protect water quality through stringent planning and operational controls. Given the high erodibility of alpine and subalpine soils once their protective vegetation cover is disturbed, best-practice sustainable forestry management is fundamentally designed to prevent the conditions that lead to the initiation or exacerbation of active gullies.

Sources (4)

Preview of Derived from the preventative principles embedded in Australian State Forest Practices Codes (e.g., Victorian Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014; NSW Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Southern NSW; Tasmanian Forest Practices Code) and the documented high sensitivity and erodibility of alpine/subalpine soils when disturbed.

Derived from the preventative principles embedded in Australian State Forest Practices Codes (e.g., Victorian Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014; NSW Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Southern NSW; Tasmanian Forest Practices Code) and the documented high sensitivity and erodibility of alpine/subalpine soils when disturbed. Journal

Tasmanian Forest Practices Code

View Source

Preview of Development of a RIS for variations to the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014 - Victorian Government, accessed May 26, 2025

Development of a RIS for variations to the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014 - Victorian Government, accessed May 26, 2025 Journal

Victorian Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014

View Source

Preview of Post-fire hillslope erosion response in a sub-alpine environment, south-eastern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 28, 2025

Post-fire hillslope erosion response in a sub-alpine environment, south-eastern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 28, 2025 Journal

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 – Criterion 4 - DAFF

View Source

Preview of Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Southern NSW - Local Land Services, accessed May 26, 2025

Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Southern NSW - Local Land Services, accessed May 26, 2025 Journal

NSW Private Native Forestry Code of Practice for Southern NSW

View Source

Supporting Sources (7)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

2024 State of the Environment Report - Tasmanian Planning Commission, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

Biodiversity impacts of Chilean needle grass Nassella neesiana on Australia's indigenous grasslands - VU Research Repository

View Source

Australia's State of the Forests Report - DAFF, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support

Baselines for Soil Health and Stability in NSW RFA Regions

View Source

Australia's State of the Forests Report - updated indicators - DAFF, accessed May 26, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Australia's State of the Forests Report - updated indicators - DAFF, accessed May 26, 2025

View Source

Forest safety: Code of practice (Tasmania), accessed May 26, 2025

Irrelevant

Forest safety: Code of practice (Tasmania), accessed May 26, 2025

View Source

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). The Australian Alps Bioregion.

Contextual Support Journal

Australian Alps Montane Grasslands | One Earth, accessed May 11, 2026,

View Source

Post-fire hillslope erosion response in a sub-alpine environment ..., accessed May 26, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Post-fire hillslope erosion response in a sub-alpine environment ..., accessed May 26, 2025

View Source

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Conservation in Alpine Catchments - The Kosciuszko Huts Association, accessed August 17, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

The presence of any new, active gullies resulting from current forestry operations would signify a failure of these preventative measures and a departure from the "best available condition" of landscape stability. Active gullies are indicative of ongoing land degradation. Any measurable density of active, human-induced gullies is considered detrimental to environmental health within this land use and biome. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.