Gully Density

AUS-TSR-AGR-GUL General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0 m/ha
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: Point

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

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

Based on this triangulation of evidence, the "best available condition" for a sustainable or regenerative cropping system is a state of geomorphic stability where active gully erosion is absent.

Metric Definition:

Active Gully Density, representing the length of actively eroding channels per unit area.

Benchmark Definition:

Active Gully Density measures the length of actively eroding channels per unit area in tropical and subtropical rainforest agricultural cropping systems. A value of zero represents a stable landscape with no active gully erosion, indicating the best available condition for sustainability.

Justification:

The value is derived by triangulating multiple lines of evidence including erosion rate reduction, landscape-scale observations, gully remediation efficacy, and principles of regenerative agriculture.

Sources (3)

Preview of Economic assessment of best management practices for banana growing - Queensland Government publications
Economic assessment of best management practices for banana growing - Queensland Government publications Journal

Economic assessment of best management practices for banana growing - Queensland Government publications

View Source
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, GreyLiterature

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

View Source
Preview of How does sediment affect the Great Barrier Reef?
How does sediment affect the Great Barrier Reef? Journal

How does sediment affect the Great Barrier Reef?

View Source

Supporting Sources (22)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Effect of Gully Erosion on the Environment - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
(PDF) Effect of Gully Erosion on the Environment - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) The topographic threshold of gully erosion and contributing factors - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of A Revegetation Guide for Sub-Tropical Forest - Greening Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,
A Revegetation Guide for Sub-Tropical Forest - Greening Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

World Heritage places - Gondwana Rainforests of Australia - DCCEEW, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell River Fluvial Megafan in Northern Queensland, Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed July 18, 2025
Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell River Fluvial Megafan in Northern Queensland, Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell River Fluvial Megafan in Northern Queensland, Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of CGTN Nature: Jianfengling Series | Episode 8: Rainforest Gullies, accessed July 18, 2025
CGTN Nature: Jianfengling Series | Episode 8: Rainforest Gullies, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

CGTN Nature: Jianfengling Series | Episode 8: Rainforest Gullies, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of CSIRO Permanent Rainforest Plots of North Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025,
CSIRO Permanent Rainforest Plots of North Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

CSIRO Permanent Rainforest Plots of North Queensland

View Source
Preview of Digging up the dirt on water quality on the Great Barrier Reef - CSIRO, accessed July 19, 2025,
Digging up the dirt on water quality on the Great Barrier Reef - CSIRO, accessed July 19, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Digging up the dirt on water quality on the Great Barrier Reef - CSIRO, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully - Wikipedia, accessed July 18, 2025
Gully - Wikipedia, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Gully - Wikipedia, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion - Enviro Data SA, accessed July 18, 2025
Gully erosion - Enviro Data SA, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Gully erosion - Enviro Data SA

View Source
Preview of Gully Morphological Characteristics and Topographic Threshold Determined by UAV in a Small Watershed on the Loess Plateau - MDPI, accessed July 16, 2025,
Gully Morphological Characteristics and Topographic Threshold Determined by UAV in a Small Watershed on the Loess Plateau - MDPI, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Lessons for Gully Management | NESP TWQ

View Source
Preview of Landscape rehydration and regenerative agriculture improves soil health, accessed July 30, 2025,
Landscape rehydration and regenerative agriculture improves soil health, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture - Southern Queensland Landscapes, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of nesplandscapes.edu.au, accessed May 15, 2025,
nesplandscapes.edu.au, accessed May 15, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell ...

View Source
Preview of Nitrogen leaching from the root zone of sugarcane and bananas in the humid tropics of Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,
Nitrogen leaching from the root zone of sugarcane and bananas in the humid tropics of Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Addressing the nitrogen problem in sugarcane production to reduce pollution of the Great Barrier Reef - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed May 13, 2025
Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Report card on sustainable natural resource use in the rangelands

View Source
Preview of Program - CSIRO, accessed August 1, 2025,
Program - CSIRO, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Rehabilitation effects on gully sediment yields and vegetation in a savanna rangeland - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

View Source
Preview of Rainforests, accessed July 18, 2025
Rainforests, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Gully Erosion - ESDAC - European Commission

View Source
Preview of Reef protection regulations Sugarcane Sediment and erosion control guide Version 2 - Queensland Government, accessed July 18, 2025
Reef protection regulations Sugarcane Sediment and erosion control guide Version 2 - Queensland Government, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Reef protection regulations Sugarcane Sediment and erosion control guide Version 2 - Queensland Government, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of Reef Trust Gully and Stream Bank Toolbox 3rd Edition ... - DCCEEW, accessed July 22, 2025,
Reef Trust Gully and Stream Bank Toolbox 3rd Edition ... - DCCEEW, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Reef Trust Gully and Stream Bank Toolbox 3rd Edition ... - DCCEEW, accessed July 22, 2025

View Source
Preview of Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 26, 2025
Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of Serious gully erosion on a cane farm at Childers, 1950. - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
Serious gully erosion on a cane farm at Childers, 1950. - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support

Serious gully erosion on a cane farm at Childers, 1950. - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of The Topographic Threshold of Gully Erosion and Contributing Factors - SciSpace, accessed August 12, 2025
The Topographic Threshold of Gully Erosion and Contributing Factors - SciSpace, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The Topographic Threshold of Gully Erosion and Contributing Factors - SciSpace

View Source
Preview of Using high-resolution topography for spatial prioritisation of gully erosion management across catchments of the Great Barrier Reef, accessed July 18, 2025
Using high-resolution topography for spatial prioritisation of gully erosion management across catchments of the Great Barrier Reef, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Gully | Erosion, Landforms, Depressions - Britannica, accessed July 18, 2025

View Source
Preview of www.publications.qld.gov.au, accessed May 13, 2025
www.publications.qld.gov.au, accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — any active gully density is detrimental, and more is always worse. The benchmark is for actively eroding channels, not stable, vegetated gullies which are natural landscape features. Derived by triangulating multiple lines of evidence including erosion rate reduction and regenerative agriculture principles.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-AGR-GUL family.

0 m/ha Moderate
Agricultural Crop Production · Conservation Target
MaximumOnly Active v1