Gully Density — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

5 m/ha

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.

Evidence & Context

a landscape exhibiting a high density of even stabilized gullies (e.g., exceeding 5-10 m/ha, cautiously drawing from the lower end of more problematic areas in broader studies like the MDB 15) indicates significant past degradation.

Metric Definition:

Gully density is quantitatively defined as the total length of active gullies per unit area, typically expressed in meters per hectare (m/ha) or kilometers per square kilometer (km/km²).

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum total length of stabilized gullies per hectare in agricultural crop production within the Alpine and Subalpine Complex biome. Values at or above this level indicate significant past degradation.

Justification:

High total gully density, even if stable, indicates significant past degradation and compromised ecosystem function.

Sources (1)

Preview of Future-proofing Australia's Alpine Catchments | NSW Government, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Future-proofing Australia's Alpine Catchments | NSW Government, accessed on May 29, 2025, Government

(PDF) Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray ..., accessed on May 29, 2025

Supporting Sources (25)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of ABARES report examines agriculture's extensive sustainability credentials - DAFF, accessed on May 29, 2025,

ABARES report examines agriculture's extensive sustainability credentials - DAFF, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support

ABARES report examines agriculture's extensive sustainability credentials - DAFF, accessed on May 29, 2025

Preview of Assessing the impacts of mountain biking and hiking on subalpine grassland in Australia using an experimental protocol | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Assessing the impacts of mountain biking and hiking on subalpine grassland in Australia using an experimental protocol | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services, accessed on May 29, 2025

Preview of environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Regulatory Framework

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Preview of environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Preview of environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Preview of environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Preview of environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Preview of environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Regulatory Framework

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Preview of environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Preview of environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Preview of environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Regulatory Framework

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Preview of Factors related to gully erosion in woody encroachment in south-eastern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Factors related to gully erosion in woody encroachment in south-eastern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Discover the Top 6 Benefits of Regenerative Farming in Australia, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Geomorphological and Geoecological Controls and Processes Following Gully Development in Alpine Mires, Lesotho | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Geomorphological and Geoecological Controls and Processes Following Gully Development in Alpine Mires, Lesotho | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Geomorphological and Geoecological Controls and Processes Following Gully Development in Alpine Mires, Lesotho | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 29, 2025

Preview of Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au

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,

Contextual Support Cross Reference GreyLiterature

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

Preview of Identification of gully erosion activity and its influencing factors: A case study of the Sunshui River Basin | PLOS One, accessed July 16, 2025,

Identification of gully erosion activity and its influencing factors: A case study of the Sunshui River Basin | PLOS One, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Cross Reference Journal

Classification of Erosion Gullies by Remote Sensing and Spatial Pattern Analysis in Black Soil Region of Eastern Kebai, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Impacts of snow-farming on alpine soil and vegetation - Infoscience, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Impacts of snow-farming on alpine soil and vegetation - Infoscience, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of snow-farming on alpine soil and vegetation - Infoscience, accessed on May 29, 2025

Preview of Landscape scale contamination of surface environments by atmospheric industrial metals - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Landscape scale contamination of surface environments by atmospheric industrial metals - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Landscape scale contamination of surface environments by atmospheric industrial metals - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed on May 29, 2025

Preview of Native Vegetation Regulation 2005 Environmental Outcomes Assessment Methodology - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Native Vegetation Regulation 2005 Environmental Outcomes Assessment Methodology - Environment and Heritage - NSW Government, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Regulatory Framework

environment.gov.au, accessed on May 29, 2025

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 Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Agriculture and Food, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Agriculture and Food, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source

Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Agriculture and Food

Preview of research-repository.griffith.edu.au, accessed on May 25, 2025,

research-repository.griffith.edu.au, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of Camping and Trampling on Australian Alpine and Subalpine Vegetation and Soils - Griffith Research Online

Preview of Snowy Mountains Alpine Soils. Source: Mark Young, Environment... | Download Scientific Diagram - ResearchGate, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Snowy Mountains Alpine Soils. Source: Mark Young, Environment... | Download Scientific Diagram - ResearchGate, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Snowy Mountains Alpine Soils. Source: Mark Young, Environment... | Download Scientific Diagram - ResearchGate, accessed on May 29, 2025

Preview of theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 29, 2025,

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Conservation in Alpine Catchments - The Kosciuszko Huts Association, accessed August 17, 2025,

Preview of There's gold in them thar hills! Morphology and molecules delimit species in Xerochrysum (Asteraceae; Gnaphalieae) and reveal many new taxa - CSIRO Publishing, accessed on May 29, 2025,

There's gold in them thar hills! Morphology and molecules delimit species in Xerochrysum (Asteraceae; Gnaphalieae) and reveal many new taxa - CSIRO Publishing, accessed on May 29, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

There's gold in them thar hills! Morphology and molecules delimit species in Xerochrysum (Asteraceae; Gnaphalieae) and reveal many new taxa - CSIRO Publishing, accessed on May 29, 2025

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 31 May 2026

Notes

Value cautiously drawn from the lower end of more problematic areas in broader studies like the MDB. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

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