Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail

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

Strong evidence indicates that bare ground levels exceeding approximately 30% (i.e., groundcover below 70%) represent a significant detrimental threshold.

Metric Definition:

Percentage of exposed soil surface not covered by live vegetation, plant litter, or rock

Benchmark Definition:

Bare ground levels above 30% indicate a significant detrimental threshold for ecosystem health in Temperate Dry Woodlands and Native Grasslands under conservation management, associated with increased erosion and runoff risks.

Justification:

Research, particularly in NSW pasture systems, demonstrates a rapid and dramatic increase in runoff and soil erosion when groundcover falls below this 70% mark, corresponding to more than 30% bare ground.

Sources (1)

Preview of Environmental Offsets Ecological Monitoring Program Report 2019–20 - Planning

Environmental Offsets Ecological Monitoring Program Report 2019–20 - Planning Journal

Environmental Offsets Ecological Monitoring Program Report 2019 – 2020 (ACT Government) (citing Sato et al. 2019, in prep)

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Supporting Sources (12)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Temperate Woodland Conservation and Management. - ResearchGate

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Full article: Birds on farms: a review of factors influencing bird occurrence in the temperate woodlands of south-eastern Australia - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed May 17, 2025

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Chapter 5. Managing Australia's protected areas - CSIRO, accessed August 2, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Chapter 5. Managing Australia's protected areas - CSIRO, accessed May 17, 2025

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Preview of Foraging ecology of ground-feeding woodland birds in temperate woodlands of southern Australia: Emu - Austral Ornithology: Vol 106, No 1 - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed May 17, 2025,

Foraging ecology of ground-feeding woodland birds in temperate woodlands of southern Australia: Emu - Austral Ornithology: Vol 106, No 1 - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Determining reference conditions for management and ..., accessed May 17, 2025

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Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands of the VVP: Landholders Guide - Greening Australia, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

www.greeningaustralia.org.au, accessed May 17, 2025

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Lindenmayer, D. B., et al. (2022). New restoration approaches are needed to conserve woodland birds. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 122(3-4), 210-220.

Contextual Support Journal

existing environment 5 - components of biodiversity, 5.1 ecological and physical environmental processes, accessed May 17, 2025

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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.

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Natural Temperate Grassland Endangered ... - ACT Government

Contextual Support Journal

Natural Temperate Grassland Endangered ... - ACT Government, accessed May 17, 2025

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Plan of Management Guidelines - DCCEEW, accessed May 17, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Plan of Management Guidelines - DCCEEW, accessed May 17, 2025

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Plots & Transects - TERN Australia, accessed July 15, 2025

Contextual Support Government

How to use TERN's Ecosystem Surveillance Monitoring Data - atlassian

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Preview of The importance of temperate woodland in travelling stock reserves for vertebrate biodiversity conservation | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 15, 2025,

The importance of temperate woodland in travelling stock reserves for vertebrate biodiversity conservation | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Ecosystem engineering by digging mammals: effects on soil fertility ..., accessed May 17, 2025

View Source

Preview of The importance of Travelling Stock Reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - Unpaywall, accessed July 15, 2025,

The importance of Travelling Stock Reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - Unpaywall, accessed July 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The importance of Travelling Stock Reserves for ... - Unpaywall, accessed May 17, 2025

View Source

Preview of The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 15, 2025,

The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 17, 2025

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 9 Jun 2026

Notes

Maintaining bare ground well below 30% is crucial for ecological health. The upper limit of the proposed benchmark (20%) provides a conservative and precautionary buffer against reaching this detrimental state.

Related Benchmarks

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