Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

5 %

Range: 0 to 2 %

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 5

Optimal Range: 0 to 2

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. The scoring engine uses 4 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 3 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

Based on the available evidence, this detrimental threshold is defined as >5% persistent bare ground.

Metric Definition:

Bare Ground (%) in vegetated conservation areas within this biome

Benchmark Definition:

The percentage of bare ground in vegetated conservation areas, derived from the BioCondition framework using 'best-on-offer' reference sites. Levels above 5% indicate degraded conditions with increased erosion risk.

Justification:

The threshold is justified as it represents a significant departure from the reference condition, corresponds to an unacceptable increase in erosion risk, and serves as a critical management trigger.

Sources (3)

Preview of BioCondition Benchmarks for Regional Ecosystem ... - WordPress.com, accessed August 3, 2025,

BioCondition Benchmarks for Regional Ecosystem ... - WordPress.com, accessed August 3, 2025, Journal

BioCondition Benchmarks for Regional Ecosystem Condition Assessment - South East Queensland Bioregion

Preview of BioCondition: A condition assessment framework for terrestrial ..., accessed August 3, 2025,

BioCondition: A condition assessment framework for terrestrial ..., accessed August 3, 2025, Government

BioCondition: A condition assessment framework for terrestrial biodiversity in Queensland

Preview of Norfolk Island Environmental Assessment, accessed August 3, 2025,

Norfolk Island Environmental Assessment, accessed August 3, 2025, Journal

Overgrazing & Reducing Grazing Pressure | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 28, 2025

Supporting Sources (37)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 'Tolerable' hillslope soil erosion rates in Australia: Linking science and policy | Request PDF, accessed August 3, 2025,

'Tolerable' hillslope soil erosion rates in Australia: Linking science and policy | Request PDF, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Gully density map of the study assessment area (kilometres... - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of 1 Background - Lord Howe Island Board, accessed August 3, 2025,

1 Background - Lord Howe Island Board, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

A Systematic Flora Survey, Floristic Classification and High ..., accessed August 3, 2025

Preview of BioCondition | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed August 3, 2025,

BioCondition | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Biodiversity conservation and agricultural sustainability: towards a new paradigm of 'ecoagriculture' landscapes - PMC - PubMed Central

Preview of BioCondition | Project - BioCollect - Atlas of Living Australia, accessed August 3, 2025,

BioCondition | Project - BioCollect - Atlas of Living Australia, accessed August 3, 2025,

Methodology Source

BioCondition | Project - BioCollect - Atlas of Living Australia, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of BioCondition | State of the Environment Report 2020, accessed August 3, 2025,

BioCondition | State of the Environment Report 2020, accessed August 3, 2025,

Methodology Source

BioCondition | State of the Environment Report 2020, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of BioCondition Assessment Framework - WetlandInfo, accessed August 3, 2025,

BioCondition Assessment Framework - WetlandInfo, accessed August 3, 2025,

Methodology Source Government

BioCondition: A condition assessment framework for terrestrial ..., accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of BioCondition benchmarks | Environment, land and water ..., accessed August 3, 2025,

BioCondition benchmarks | Environment, land and water ..., accessed August 3, 2025,

Direct Evidence Methodology Source Government

Appendix E TEC Lowland rainforest offset area monitoring report year 1 - Transport and Main Roads

Preview of BIOCONDITION SITE ASSESSMENT DATASHEET SITE INFORMATION 50 x 10m area - BioCollect, accessed August 3, 2025,

BIOCONDITION SITE ASSESSMENT DATASHEET SITE INFORMATION 50 x 10m area - BioCollect, accessed August 3, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

BIOCONDITION SITE ASSESSMENT DATASHEET SITE INFORMATION 50 x 10m area - BioCollect, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Conservation | Lord Howe Island, accessed August 3, 2025,

Conservation | Lord Howe Island, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

History | Christmas Island National Park | Parks Australia

Preview of Conservation | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia, accessed August 3, 2025,

Conservation | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Conservation | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Coral Sea Marine Park - Australian Marine Conservation Society, accessed August 3, 2025,

Coral Sea Marine Park - Australian Marine Conservation Society, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant

Coral Sea Marine Park - Australian Marine Conservation Society, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Crofton Weed biological control - CSIRO Research, accessed August 3, 2025,

Crofton Weed biological control - CSIRO Research, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Crofton Weed biological control - CSIRO Research, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Erosion and deposition vulnerability of small (<5000 km2) tropical islands - PubMed Central, accessed August 3, 2025,

Erosion and deposition vulnerability of small (<5000 km2) tropical islands - PubMed Central, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Erosion and deposition vulnerability of small (<5000 km2) tropical islands - PubMed Central, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Estimating the relative magnitude of expected increases in soil erosion from tree clearing and agricultural development on Cape York, accessed August 3, 2025,

Estimating the relative magnitude of expected increases in soil erosion from tree clearing and agricultural development on Cape York, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Estimating the relative magnitude of expected increases in soil erosion from tree clearing and agricultural development on Cape York, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Floristics and structure of the mossy cloud forest of Mt Gower summit, Lord Howe Island - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 3, 2025,

Floristics and structure of the mossy cloud forest of Mt Gower summit, Lord Howe Island - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

Floristics and structure of the mossy cloud forest of Mt Gower summit, Lord Howe Island - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Great Barrier Reef islands | Parks and forests | Department of the ..., accessed August 3, 2025,

Great Barrier Reef islands | Parks and forests | Department of the ..., accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Great Barrier Reef islands | Parks and forests | Department of the ..., accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - Wikipedia, accessed August 3, 2025,

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - Wikipedia, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - Wikipedia, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, accessed August 3, 2025,

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of K'gari - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed August 3, 2025,

K'gari - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

K'gari - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of kit 3 '1234' biocondition assessment | mla, accessed August 3, 2025,

kit 3 '1234' biocondition assessment | mla, accessed August 3, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

kit 3 '1234' biocondition assessment | mla, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,

Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

Lord Howe Island biodiversity management plan - DCCEEW, accessed July 28, 2025

Preview of Lord Howe Island Group - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed August 3, 2025,

Lord Howe Island Group - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

Lord Howe Island Group - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of Lord Howe Island subtropical forests | EBSCO Research Starters, accessed August 3, 2025,

Lord Howe Island subtropical forests | EBSCO Research Starters, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

Vegetation Rehabilitation Plan - Adopted March 2003.pdf - Lord Howe Island Board, accessed August 3, 2025

Preview of Management and conservation - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,

Management and conservation - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

Management and conservation - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025

Preview of Mapping and evaluating Capricornia Cays vegetation and regional ..., accessed August 3, 2025,

Mapping and evaluating Capricornia Cays vegetation and regional ..., accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Mapping and evaluating Capricornia Cays vegetation and regional ..., accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of National Soil Strategy, accessed August 3, 2025,

National Soil Strategy, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of New South Wales Marine Parks - Australian Marine Conservation Society, accessed August 3, 2025,

New South Wales Marine Parks - Australian Marine Conservation Society, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

New South Wales Marine Parks - Australian Marine Conservation Society, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Norfolk Island Environmental Assessment Executive Summary, accessed August 3, 2025,

Norfolk Island Environmental Assessment Executive Summary, accessed August 3, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Litter Inputs, but Not Litter Diversity, Maintain Soil Processes in Degraded Tropical Forests—A Cross-Continental Comparison - Frontiers, accessed August 3, 2025

Preview of Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic ... - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,

Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic ... - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic ... - DCCEEW, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Predicting the impact of logging activities on soil erosion and water quality in steep, forested tropical islands - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,

Predicting the impact of logging activities on soil erosion and water quality in steep, forested tropical islands - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

Predicting the impact of logging activities on soil erosion and water quality in steep, forested tropical islands - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Protecting our Great Barrier Reef - Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI), Queensland, accessed August 3, 2025,

Protecting our Great Barrier Reef - Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI), Queensland, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Protecting our Great Barrier Reef - Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI), Queensland, accessed August 2, 2025,

Preview of Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 3, 2025,

Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

The effects of clipping frequency and nitrogen fertilisation on greenhouse gas emissions and net ecosystem exchange in an Australian temperate grassland - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal

Preview of Soil Erosion Characteristics in Tropical Island Watersheds Based on CSLE Model: Discussion of Driving Mechanisms - MDPI, accessed August 3, 2025,

Soil Erosion Characteristics in Tropical Island Watersheds Based on CSLE Model: Discussion of Driving Mechanisms - MDPI, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Erosion Characteristics in Tropical Island Watersheds Based on CSLE Model: Discussion of Driving Mechanisms - MDPI, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of The Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan: An integrated approach to recovery planning - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,

The Lord Howe Island Biodiversity Management Plan: An integrated approach to recovery planning - ResearchGate, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

Plants & Animals | Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Project, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of The Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication: Social and Technical Lessons for Inhabited Islands - DigitalCommons@USU, accessed August 3, 2025,

The Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication: Social and Technical Lessons for Inhabited Islands - DigitalCommons@USU, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant

Torres Strait Island Biosecurity Action Plans, accessed July 28, 2025,

Preview of The Ultimate Guide to Australia's 8 Most Important Marine Conservation Zones, accessed August 3, 2025,

The Ultimate Guide to Australia's 8 Most Important Marine Conservation Zones, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

The Ultimate Guide to Australia's 8 Most Important Marine Conservation Zones, accessed August 3, 2025,

Preview of Weeding out a pesky problem on Lord Howe Island - CSIRO, accessed August 3, 2025,

Weeding out a pesky problem on Lord Howe Island - CSIRO, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

How regenerative farming practices are revolutionising biodiversity in agriculture - Institute of Sustainability Studies

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: concept of bare ground being too low is not supported. The benchmark excludes naturally unvegetated areas like active beaches and rock platforms. Optimal range is 0-2%, reflecting near-complete protective cover by vegetation and litter.