Gully Density — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

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 MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The presence of any active gully (>0 m/ha) signifies a degradation threshold has been crossed.

Metric Definition:

Gully density

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the maximum acceptable active gully density in the Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome under livestock grazing, where any presence of active gullies above zero indicates ecosystem degradation.

Justification:

Any increase in active gully density is unequivocally detrimental to ecosystem health and productivity in this biome.

Sources (1)

Preview of Chapter 13 Gully erosion and its control - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 12, 2025

Chapter 13 Gully erosion and its control - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 12, 2025 Journal

The hydrogeomorphic influences on alluvial gully erosion along the Mitchell River fluvial megafan

Supporting Sources (37)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Australia - Interior, Lowlands, Outback | Britannica

Australia - Interior, Lowlands, Outback | Britannica

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australia - Interior, Lowlands, Outback | Britannica

Preview of Australia's Sustainable Forest Management - DAFF, accessed July 31, 2025

Australia's Sustainable Forest Management - DAFF, accessed July 31, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

The Topographic Threshold of Gully Erosion and Contributing Factors

Preview of cdn.environment.sa.gov.au, accessed May 12, 2025

cdn.environment.sa.gov.au, accessed May 12, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Best practice land management guidelines for small grazing properties - Department for Environment and Water

Preview of Climate change impacts on northern Australian rangeland livestock carrying capacity: a review of issues - CSIRO Publishing

Climate change impacts on northern Australian rangeland livestock carrying capacity: a review of issues - CSIRO Publishing

Contextual Support Journal

Best-bet practices for managing grazing lands in the Alice Springs region of the Northern Territory

Preview of Desert Uplands bioregion - DCCEEW

Desert Uplands bioregion - DCCEEW

Contextual Support Journal

Desert Uplands bioregion - DCCEEW

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025

Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Investigating Intensive Grazing Systems in Northern Australia

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025,

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Preview of Does reducing grazing pressure or predation conserve kowaris? A case study at Diamantina National Park - BioOne Complete

Does reducing grazing pressure or predation conserve kowaris? A case study at Diamantina National Park - BioOne Complete

Contextual Support Journal

Does reducing grazing pressure or predation conserve kowaris? A case study at Diamantina National Park - BioOne Complete

Preview of Drivers of seedling establishment success in dryland restoration efforts - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

Drivers of seedling establishment success in dryland restoration efforts - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health Technical Reference 1734-6, Version 5 August 2020

Preview of ecollaboration.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

ecollaboration.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Gully Erosion | ECOllaboration

Preview of Effects of grazing on gully erosion rates in red goldfields soil on Upper Burdekin catchment

Effects of grazing on gully erosion rates in red goldfields soil on Upper Burdekin catchment

Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Effects of grazing on gully erosion rates in red goldfields soil on Upper Burdekin catchment

Preview of Experience and science a winning combo in arid-lands monitoring | TERN Australia, accessed May 13, 2025,

Experience and science a winning combo in arid-lands monitoring | TERN Australia, accessed May 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

ARID LANDS OF AUSTRALIA - Open Research Repository

Preview of Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - Collins Library Primo Search, accessed August 28, 2025,

Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - Collins Library Primo Search, accessed August 28, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - The Australian National University

Preview of Great Dividing Range - Wikipedia

Great Dividing Range - Wikipedia

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Desert Uplands - Wikipedia

Preview of Gully density map of the study assessment area (kilometres... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,

Gully density map of the study assessment area (kilometres... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

(PDF) Gully erosion prediction across a large region ... - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025

Preview of Gully erosion | Erosion | Soil | Farm management | Agriculture Victoria, accessed May 13, 2025

Gully erosion | Erosion | Soil | Farm management | Agriculture Victoria, accessed May 13, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - ResearchGate

Preview of Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin catchment (RP66G) Summary Report - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 1, 2025,

Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin catchment (RP66G) Summary Report - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 1, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - The Australian National University

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,

Methodology Source Journal

Lessons for Gully Management | NESP TWQ

Preview of Impacts of grazing systems on soil compaction and pasture production in Alberta, accessed July 28, 2025,

Impacts of grazing systems on soil compaction and pasture production in Alberta, accessed July 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Pasture growth

Preview of Improving gully density maps for modelling water quality within Great Barrier Reef Catchments - MSSANZ, accessed July 30, 2025

Improving gully density maps for modelling water quality within Great Barrier Reef Catchments - MSSANZ, accessed July 30, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Improving gully density maps for modelling water quality within Great Barrier Reef Catchments - MSSANZ

Preview of IS GULLY EXPANSION A MAJOR ISSUE FOR KEY BIODIVERSITY IN ARID LANDS?

IS GULLY EXPANSION A MAJOR ISSUE FOR KEY BIODIVERSITY IN ARID LANDS?

Contextual Support Government

IS GULLY EXPANSION A MAJOR ISSUE FOR KEY BIODIVERSITY IN ARID LANDS?

Preview of Land condition - FutureBeef

Land condition - FutureBeef

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Rates of erosion and sediment transport in Australia - INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES

Preview of Lessons for Gully Management | NESP TWQ, accessed August 1, 2025,

Lessons for Gully Management | NESP TWQ, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

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

Preview of Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate

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 ...

Preview of Pasture Degradation and Recovery in Australia's Rangelands: Learning from History - LongPaddock

Pasture Degradation and Recovery in Australia's Rangelands: Learning from History - LongPaddock

Contextual Support Journal

Pasture Degradation and Recovery in Australia's Rangelands: Learning from History - LongPaddock

Preview of Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed August 1, 2025,

Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Are gullies best for biodiversity? An empirical examination of Australian wet forest types

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

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 August 12, 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 August 12, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Chapter 13 Gully erosion and its control - Queensland Government ...

Preview of risks and impacts of plant industries on soil condition - Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, accessed July 31, 2025

risks and impacts of plant industries on soil condition - Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, accessed July 31, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Long-term contemporary erosion rates in an arid rangelands ...

Preview of SA Land Condition Monitoring Review - WaterConnect

SA Land Condition Monitoring Review - WaterConnect

Contextual Support Journal

SA Land Condition Monitoring Review - WaterConnect

Preview of Saving soil and water for successful farming - DAFF

Saving soil and water for successful farming - DAFF

Contextual Support Journal

Rivers and Water Quality : Managing gullies on wool producing farms

Preview of The conservation value of mesic gullies in dry forest landscapes: Avian assemblages in the box-ironbark ecosystem of southern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

The conservation value of mesic gullies in dry forest landscapes: Avian assemblages in the box-ironbark ecosystem of southern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Gully Erosion: Options for prevention and rehabilitation - Land for Wildlife

Preview of The Rangeland Journal - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 16, 2025,

The Rangeland Journal - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 16, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Arid erosion mapping: comparing LiDAR and structure from motion - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of What determines soil organic carbon stocks in the grazing lands of north-eastern Australia?

What determines soil organic carbon stocks in the grazing lands of north-eastern Australia?

Contextual Support Journal

MACKAY WHITSUNDAY REGION SUSTAINABLE GRAZING GUIDE - WetlandInfo

Preview of www.publications.qld.gov.au, accessed May 13, 2025

www.publications.qld.gov.au, accessed May 13, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Rule K: For GUL (HID=0), reference/threshold of 0 is encoded as MaximumOnly + UpperGuard.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AMR-LVG-GUL family.