Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

0 %

Range: 0 to 1 %

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 5

Optimal Range: 0 to 1

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 MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

For the "Littoral Rainforests" ecosystem type, the benchmark value for "Bare Ground" is explicitly stated as 0%.36

Metric Definition:

Persistent bare ground percentage in a healthy, stable tropical or subtropical rainforest under conservation management.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the best available condition for persistent bare ground in a healthy, stable tropical or subtropical rainforest under conservation management, where minimal bare ground is desirable to protect soil and maintain ecosystem integrity.

Justification:

This value is derived from an expert-led government ecosystem assessment protocol that defines reference conditions for high-integrity rainforests. Confidence is 'High' because this value is strongly supported by fundamental ecological principles: healthy rainforests maximise ground cover (via a continuous leaf litter layer) to protect nutrient-poor soils from erosion and to facilitate rapid nutrient cycling.

Sources (3)

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Supporting Sources (45)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

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(PDF) TERN AusCover: Delivering Imagery and Services to Industry and Landholders in the Rangelands - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support

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Contextual Support Irrelevant

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Contextual Support

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Contextual Support

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Contextual Support Irrelevant null

How does litter cover, litter diversity and fauna affect sediment discharge and runoff?

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Contextual Support Journal

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Change in ground cover levels - Queensland State of the Environment Report, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Change in ground cover levels - Queensland State of the Environment Report, accessed July 22, 2025,

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Contextual Support Irrelevant Journal

Healthy Soil and Leaf Litter Layers - Where do ... - Land for Wildlife

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Contextual Support Methodology Source GreyLiterature

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Contextual Support Journal

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Ecology of streams in a biogeographic isolate—the Queensland Wet Tropics, Australia | Freshwater Science: Vol 34, No 2, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC/ARMCANZ)

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Effect of Groundcovers on Reducing Soil Erosion and Non-Point Source Pollution in Citrus Orchards on Red Soil Under Frequent Heavy Rainfall - MDPI, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effect of Groundcovers on Reducing Soil Erosion and Non-Point Source Pollution in Citrus Orchards on Red Soil Under Frequent Heavy Rainfall - MDPI, accessed July 22, 2025,

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ENV509 | Module 3: Australian rainforests - an overview - Learnline, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

NUTRIENT CYCLING IN MOIST TROPICAL ... - Annual Reviews

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Contextual Support Methodology Source GreyLiterature

fractional_cover: Fractional cover based on TERN AusPlots data. in ausplotsR - rdrr.io, accessed July 22, 2025,

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Contextual Support Journal

Gondwana Rainforests of Australia State of Conservation update - April 2020 - DCCEEW, accessed July 22, 2025,

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Ground cover | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Ground cover | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 22, 2025,

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Healthy Soil and Leaf Litter Layers - Where do most animals live in - Land for Wildlife, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support

Healthy Soil and Leaf Litter Layers - Where do most animals live in - Land for Wildlife, accessed July 22, 2025,

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Contextual Support

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Contextual Support Journal

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Managing Environmental Impacts of Recreation and Tourism in ..., accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

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Module 3: Rainforest diversity, disturbance and gap-phase dynamics - Learnline, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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Rangeland biodiversity assessment using fine scale on-ground survey, time series of remotely sensed ground cover and climate data: an Australian savanna case study - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Cross Reference

Rangeland biodiversity assessment using fine scale on-ground survey, time series of remotely sensed ground cover and climate data: an Australian savanna case study - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025,

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

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Robson Creek Rainforest SuperSite | Atherton Tablelands | QLD - TERN Australia, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

ASC - DERMOSOLS - Soil Science Australia

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Contextual Support Cross Reference

Differences in gully wall erosion rates between the four catchments... - ResearchGate, accessed July 22, 2025

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Seasonal ground cover - Landsat, JRSRP algorithm, Australia Coverage - TERN Data Discovery Portal, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Contextual Support

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The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 22, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support

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Contextual Support Irrelevant

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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Contextual Support Journal

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Contextual Support Government

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Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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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

Upper Detrimental Threshold: 5 %. The optimal range is 0% to <1% persistent bare ground acknowledging micro-disturbances can exist but significant, non-recovering bare patches are undesirable.