Gully Density — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Range: 0 to 0 m/ha

Optimal Range: 0 to 0

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: OptimalRange

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

The optimal condition for a protected tropical rainforest is a gully density of 0 m/ha of active, eroding channels.

Metric Definition:

Gully Density is a measure of active gully erosion within a landscape, specifically focusing on active eroding channels.

Benchmark Definition:

The optimal range of gully density for a protected tropical rainforest.

Justification:

This represents a landscape in dynamic equilibrium with its high-energy environment, capable of absorbing the force of intense rainfall without initiating systemic, channelized erosion.

Sources (2)

Preview of Measurement and prediction of natural and anthropogenic sediment sources in a tropical island catchment

Measurement and prediction of natural and anthropogenic sediment sources in a tropical island catchment Journal

Measurement and prediction of natural and anthropogenic sediment sources, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, accessed July 22, 2025,

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Sedimentation Resulting from Road Development, Cape Tribulation Area - GBRMPA eLibrary, accessed July 22, 2025,

Measurement and prediction of natural and anthropogenic sediment sources, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, accessed July 22, 2025

Supporting Sources (28)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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,

Preview of A scientific review of the impacts of land clearing on threatened species in Queensland 2016, accessed August 10, 2025,

A scientific review of the impacts of land clearing on threatened species in Queensland 2016, accessed August 10, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW, accessed August 10, 2025

Preview of Alluvial Gully Erosion: A Dominant Erosion Process Across Tropical Northern Australia: Full Report - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,

Alluvial Gully Erosion: A Dominant Erosion Process Across Tropical Northern Australia: Full Report - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Degradation of the Mitchell River fluvial megafan by alluvial gully erosion increased by post-European land use change, Queensla, accessed July 20, 2025

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 Direct Evidence Journal

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

Preview of AUSTRALIA'S STATE OF THE FORESTS REPORT - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

AUSTRALIA'S STATE OF THE FORESTS REPORT - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Final report Advice on finalising Draft Private Native Forestry Codes of Practice March 2022

Preview of Catchment and Process Studies in Forest Hydrology: Implications for Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management - CABI Digital Library, accessed July 22, 2025,

Catchment and Process Studies in Forest Hydrology: Implications for Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management - CABI Digital Library, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Preventing and managing erosion | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of Degradation and restoration of sandy soils under different agricultural land uses in Northeast Thailand: A review | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,

Degradation and restoration of sandy soils under different agricultural land uses in Northeast Thailand: A review | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Degradation and restoration of sandy soils under different agricultural land uses in Northeast Thailand: A review | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of Erosion and sediment control - Brisbane City Council, accessed July 22, 2025,

Erosion and sediment control - Brisbane City Council, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

Erosion and sediment control - Brisbane City Council, accessed July 22, 2025

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,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

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

Preview of Hillslope gully erosion in savanna rangelands tributary to the Great Barrier Reef: Investigation of hydrogeomorphic processes - USC Research Bank, accessed July 22, 2025,

Hillslope gully erosion in savanna rangelands tributary to the Great Barrier Reef: Investigation of hydrogeomorphic processes - USC Research Bank, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Hillslope gully erosion in savanna rangelands tributary to the Great Barrier Reef: Investigation of hydrogeomorphic processes, sediment and nutrient yields (PhD Thesis)

Preview of Identification of priority pollutants and priority areas in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - Reef & Rainforest Research Centre, accessed July 20, 2025,

Identification of priority pollutants and priority areas in the Great Barrier Reef catchments - Reef & Rainforest Research Centre, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Brodie, J., Pearson, R., Lewis, S., Bainbridge, Z., Waterhouse, J. and Prange, J. (2009) Water Quality Research: Baseline Synthesis and Year 1 Summary - ResearchOnline@JCU - James Cook University

Preview of Little left to lose: deforestation and forest degradation in Australia since European colonization | Journal of Plant Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 12, 2025,

Little left to lose: deforestation and forest degradation in Australia since European colonization | Journal of Plant Ecology | Oxford Academic, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Little left to lose: deforestation and forest degradation in Australia since European colonization | Journal of Plant Ecology | Oxford Academic

Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 1 – Rainforests and vine thickets, accessed July 22, 2025,

NVIS Fact sheet MVG 1 – Rainforests and vine thickets, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Rainforest - Australian forest profiles, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of Preventing and managing erosion | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 20, 2025,

Preventing and managing erosion | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 20, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Guide to Erosion and Sediment Control in Urban Areas - NRCS Irrigation ToolBox Home Page

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 Queensland deforestation - Wilderness Society, accessed July 22, 2025,

Queensland deforestation - Wilderness Society, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Queensland deforestation - Wilderness Society, accessed July 20, 2025,

Preview of Queensland's deforestation shame: six Brisbane CBDs cleared every day, accessed July 22, 2025,

Queensland's deforestation shame: six Brisbane CBDs cleared every day, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Gully initiation and road-to-stream linkage in a forested catchment, southeastern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of Rainforest - Australian forest profiles, accessed July 22, 2025,

Rainforest - Australian forest profiles, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Rainforest - Australian forest profiles, accessed July 22, 2025,

Preview of Rainforests, accessed July 22, 2025,

Rainforests, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Rainforests, accessed July 22, 2025,

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

Preview of Register of planning documents | Parks and forests, accessed July 22, 2025,

Register of planning documents | Parks and forests, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

Register of planning documents | Parks and forests, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of REPAIRING THE RAINFOREST - Wet Tropics Management Authority, accessed July 22, 2025,

REPAIRING THE RAINFOREST - Wet Tropics Management Authority, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Soil and solute losses from the waste rock dump, other mined areas and natural slopes - DCCEEW, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of Resilience of a sub-tropical riparian rainforest in Australia to major flood - Cross Connect, accessed July 22, 2025,

Resilience of a sub-tropical riparian rainforest in Australia to major flood - Cross Connect, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Resilience of a sub-tropical riparian rainforest in Australia to major flood - Cross Connect, accessed July 22, 2025,

Preview of Resilient Coast Strategic Plan - Douglas Shire Council, accessed July 22, 2025,

Resilient Coast Strategic Plan - Douglas Shire Council, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Resilient Coast Strategic Plan - Douglas Shire Council, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 13, 2025,

Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING

Preview of Water balance of tropical rainforest canopies in north Queensland, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,

Water balance of tropical rainforest canopies in north Queensland, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Catchment and Process Studies in Forest Hydrology: Implications for Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management - CABI Digital Library, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of WET TROPICS OF QUEENSLAND - World Heritage Datasheet - UNEP-WCMC, accessed July 30, 2025,

WET TROPICS OF QUEENSLAND - World Heritage Datasheet - UNEP-WCMC, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

REPAIRING THE RAINFOREST - Wet Tropics Management Authority, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of WILSONS RIVER REACH AUDIT AND PLANNING: ELTHAM TO BOATHARBOUR - Rous County Council, accessed July 22, 2025,

WILSONS RIVER REACH AUDIT AND PLANNING: ELTHAM TO BOATHARBOUR - Rous County Council, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Resilience of a sub-tropical riparian rainforest in Australia to major flood - Cross Connect, accessed July 22, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Vegetation Forest
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 31 May 2026

Notes

Optimal state can include legacy gullies from past land uses, provided they are fully stabilized and revegetated.