Gully Density

AUS-TMS-CON-GUL General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

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

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is OptimalRange, 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

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

Evidence & Context

Therefore, a gully density > 0 m/ha of active, erosional gullies can be considered the lower critical threshold.

Metric Definition:

Length of active gullies per unit area (meters per hectare) with incision depth >0.3 meters.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark marks the lower critical threshold for gully density, indicating the onset of degradation when any active erosional gullies are present in tropical monsoonal savanna conservation areas.

Justification:

Based on evidence from minimally disturbed areas like Kakadu National Park indicating that any active gully presence signifies degradation.

Sources (1)

Preview of TERN. Soil gully water erosion degrees. TERN Controlled Vocabularies.
TERN. Soil gully water erosion degrees. TERN Controlled Vocabularies.

Duggan K. Erosion and sediment yields in the Kakadu region, Northern Australia. International Association of Hydrological Sciences Publication. 1988;174:373-383.

View Source

Supporting Sources (7)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Alluvial Gully Prevention and Rehabilitation Options for Reducing Sediment Loads in the Normanby Catchment and Northern Australia - Cape York Water Quality, accessed July 16, 2025,
Alluvial Gully Prevention and Rehabilitation Options for Reducing Sediment Loads in the Normanby Catchment and Northern Australia - Cape York Water Quality, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Shellberg JG. Alluvial Gully Erosion in Northern Australia: Biogeomorphic Form, Process, and Integrated Management. PhD Dissertation, James Cook University; 2016.

View Source
Preview of Australia's tropical savannas: vast, ancient and rich landscapes - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed May 11, 2025,
Australia's tropical savannas: vast, ancient and rich landscapes - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Williams RJ, Duff GA, Bowman DMJS, Cook GD. Australia's tropical savannas: vast, ancient and rich landscapes. In: David Keith, editor/s. Australian vegetation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press; 2017. 368-388.

View Source
Preview of McCloskey GL, Wasson RJ, Boggs GS, Douglas MM. Timing and causes of gully erosion in the riparian zone of the semi-arid tropical Victoria River, Australia: Management implications. Geomorphology. 2016;268:149-162.
McCloskey GL, Wasson RJ, Boggs GS, Douglas MM. Timing and causes of gully erosion in the riparian zone of the semi-arid tropical Victoria River, Australia: Management implications. Geomorphology. 2016;268:149-162.
Contextual Support Journal

McCloskey GL, Wasson RJ, Boggs GS, Douglas MM. Timing and causes of gully erosion in the riparian zone of the semi-arid tropical Victoria River, Australia: Management implications. Geomorphology. 2016;268:149-162.

View Source
Preview of National Committee on Soil and Terrain. Australian Soil and Land Survey Field Handbook. 4th Edition. CSIRO Publishing; 2021.
National Committee on Soil and Terrain. Australian Soil and Land Survey Field Handbook. 4th Edition. CSIRO Publishing; 2021.
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Wilkinson SN, Jarihani B, Pringle MJ, et al. Evaluating Hand-Held Laser Scanning for Monitoring Gully Morphology and Erosion. Remote Sensing. 2021;13(19):4004.

View Source
Preview of Reef Trust Phase IV—Gully and Stream Bank Toolbox—A technical guide for the Reef Trust Phase IV Gully and Stream Bank Erosio - DCCEEW, accessed May 13, 2025
Reef Trust Phase IV—Gully and Stream Bank Toolbox—A technical guide for the Reef Trust Phase IV Gully and Stream Bank Erosio - DCCEEW, accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Reef Trust Phase IV Gully and Stream Bank Erosion Control Program - Gully and Stream Bank Toolbox. 2nd Edition. June 2019.

View Source
Preview of Stobo-Wilson AM, Murphy BP, Legge SM, et al. Hollow Dearth: Tree Hollow Availability and Use by Mammals in Northern Australia and the Implications of Frequent Intense Fire. Forest Ecology and Management. 2021;497:119490.
Stobo-Wilson AM, Murphy BP, Legge SM, et al. Hollow Dearth: Tree Hollow Availability and Use by Mammals in Northern Australia and the Implications of Frequent Intense Fire. Forest Ecology and Management. 2021;497:119490.
Contextual Support Government

Stobo-Wilson AM, Murphy BP, Legge SM, et al. Hollow Dearth: Tree Hollow Availability and Use by Mammals in Northern Australia and the Implications of Frequent Intense Fire. Forest Ecology and Management. 2021;497:119490.

View Source
Preview of Woinarski JCZ, Horner P, Fisher A, et al. The Forest Fauna of the Northern Territory: Context, Species Richness, Distribution, Conservation Status and Management. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory; 2004.
Woinarski JCZ, Horner P, Fisher A, et al. The Forest Fauna of the Northern Territory: Context, Species Richness, Distribution, Conservation Status and Management. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory; 2004.
Contextual Support Journal

Woinarski JCZ, Horner P, Fisher A, et al. The Forest Fauna of the Northern Territory: Context, Species Richness, Distribution, Conservation Status and Management. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory; 2004.

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

This threshold is not a minimum required density for ecosystem function but a harm boundary indicating degradation onset.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-CON-GUL family.

0 m/ha Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas ยท Pristine Reference
Point Active v1