Gully Density — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

0 m/ha

Range: 0 to 0 m/ha

Thresholds: Lower: 0, Upper: 0

Optimal Range: 0 to 0

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: Point

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 2 benchmarks together — the Point form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary Point Guard

Evidence & Context

The benchmark of 0 m/ha for active gullies is based on overwhelming evidence that undisturbed tropical rainforests are exceptionally resistant to erosion due to dense canopy, ground cover, and root systems.

Metric Definition:

Gully Density as the linear extent of active gullies per unit area in protected Australian Tropical and Subtropical Rainforests.

Benchmark Definition:

The benchmark represents the highest state of environmental health and landscape integrity with zero active gully erosion in tropical and subtropical rainforest conservation areas.

Justification:

The geomorphic stability of an intact rainforest is one of its defining characteristics. Gully formation in this biome is almost exclusively linked to anthropogenic disturbance.

Sources (1)

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,

Supporting Sources (29)

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 Journal

A Revegetation Guide for Sub-Tropical Forest - Greening Australia, accessed July 18, 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

A scientific review of the impacts of land clearing on threatened species in Queensland 2016

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 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 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

The Influence of Compaction and Soil Strength on the Establishment of Four Australian Landscape Trees | Arboriculture & Urban Forestry, accessed May 15, 2025

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

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

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 Journal

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 Journal

Using high-resolution topography for spatial prioritisation of gully erosion management across catchments of the Great Barrier Reef, accessed July 25, 2025,

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

Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed July 19, 2025

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, accessed July 12, 2025,

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

NVIS Fact sheet MVG 1 – Rainforests and vine thickets, 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,

Direct Evidence Government

Erosion & Sediment Control Guide for Building Sites - Clearwater, accessed July 20, 2025

Preview of Program - CSIRO, accessed August 1, 2025,

Program - CSIRO, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Review of soil erosion modelling involving water with field applications - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 27, 2025,

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 GreyLiterature

Queensland's deforestation shame: six Brisbane CBDs cleared every day, 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

Landscape rehydration and regenerative agriculture improves soil health, accessed July 18, 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,

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 Journal

The Line-Intercept Method: A Tool for Introductory Plant Ecology Laboratories, accessed July 21, 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 Sedimentation Resulting from Road Development, Cape Tribulation Area - GBRMPA eLibrary, accessed July 22, 2025,

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

Contextual Support

Sedimentation Resulting from Road Development, Cape Tribulation Area - GBRMPA eLibrary, 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

Assessing gully erosion and rehabilitation using multi temporal LiDAR DEMs: Case study from the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 20, 2025

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 GreyLiterature

Water balance of tropical rainforest canopies in north Queensland, Australia - ResearchGate, 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

WET TROPICS OF QUEENSLAND - World Heritage Datasheet - UNEP-WCMC, 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 Journal

WILSONS RIVER REACH AUDIT AND PLANNING: ELTHAM TO BOATHARBOUR - Rous County Council, 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 15 Mar 2026

Notes

The presence of active gullies indicates a departure from the best available condition of high landscape stability. Historic, stabilized gullies do not detract from current ecological function.