Bare Ground — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

15 %

Range: 10 to 20 %

Optimal Range: 10 to 20

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

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

For 'good-condition' woodlands, the average percent cover of bare ground is shown to be in the range of 10% to 20%. To provide a single reference value, the midpoint of this observed range, 15%, is selected.

Metric Definition:

Bare Ground (%) is the fraction of the soil surface that is exposed and not covered by living vegetation, leaf litter, biological soil crusts, rock, or other cover components, estimated by field-based visual assessments.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the typical percentage of bare ground in well-managed temperate semi-arid woodlands under production forestry, indicating a stable and healthy soil surface condition.

Justification:

This value represents the best available condition under active management (grazing control, restoration) that aligns with the principles of sustainable production forestry, based on a long-term monitoring study by the Arthur Rylah Institute.

Sources (1)

Preview of Victorian Semi-arid Woodlands - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed July 12, 2025,

Victorian Semi-arid Woodlands - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed July 12, 2025, Journal

Management approaches | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 16, 2025,

Supporting Sources (39)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Does above‐average rainfall stimulate a recruitment pulse in ..., accessed July 12, 2025,

(PDF) Does above‐average rainfall stimulate a recruitment pulse in ..., accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

(PDF) Does above‐average rainfall stimulate a recruitment pulse in ..., accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of 1 OVERVIEW ARTICLE Degraded or just dusty? Examining ecological change in arid lands J.L. SilcockA,B,D & R.J. FenshamA,C A C, accessed July 12, 2025,

1 OVERVIEW ARTICLE Degraded or just dusty? Examining ecological change in arid lands J.L. SilcockA,B,D & R.J. FenshamA,C A C, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

1 OVERVIEW ARTICLE Degraded or just dusty? Examining ecological change in arid lands J.L. SilcockA,B,D & R.J. FenshamA,C A C, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Agricultural production system in arid and semi-arid regions, accessed July 12, 2025,

Agricultural production system in arid and semi-arid regions, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Opportunities for Integrated Ecological Analysis across Inland ..., accessed August 28, 2025,

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 Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,

Australian dryland soils are acidic and nutrient-depleted, and have unique microbial communities compared with other drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Root Structure and Functioning for Efficient Acquisition of Phosphorus: Matching Morphological and Physiological Traits

Preview of Biodiversity Conservation Trust Ecological Thinning Guidelines, accessed July 12, 2025,

Biodiversity Conservation Trust Ecological Thinning Guidelines, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Full article: Active management: a definition and considerations for implementation in forests of temperate Australia - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed May 19, 2025

Preview of Determining baselines, drivers and trends of soil health and stability ..., accessed July 12, 2025,

Determining baselines, drivers and trends of soil health and stability ..., accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Phosphorus: a finite resource essential for life, critical for agriculture and food security, accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Does above-average rainfall stimulate a recruitment pulse in semi-arid woodlands of southeastern Australia? - vegsciblog.org, accessed July 12, 2025,

Does above-average rainfall stimulate a recruitment pulse in semi-arid woodlands of southeastern Australia? - vegsciblog.org, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Does above-average rainfall stimulate a recruitment pulse in semi-arid woodlands of southeastern Australia? - vegsciblog.org

Preview of Effects of Forest Thinning and Chipping on Soil Properties and Understory Vegetation at - Boulder County, accessed July 12, 2025,

Effects of Forest Thinning and Chipping on Soil Properties and Understory Vegetation at - Boulder County, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Forest Thinning and Chipping on Soil Properties and Understory Vegetation at - Boulder County, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Estimating ground cover percentage - DCCEEW, accessed July 12, 2025,

Estimating ground cover percentage - DCCEEW, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Government

Biodiversity Conservation Trust Livestock grazing guidelines, accessed April 29, 2025,

Preview of Estimating woody vegetation cover in arid and semi-arid rangelands - Murdoch Research Portal, accessed July 12, 2025,

Estimating woody vegetation cover in arid and semi-arid rangelands - Murdoch Research Portal, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Agronomic and ecological studies on potassium excess effects

Preview of Fact sheet 4: Groundcover, accessed July 12, 2025,

Fact sheet 4: Groundcover, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The relationships between land management practices and soil condition and the quality of ecosystem services delivered from agri - DAFF, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Fire in Semi-Arid Shrublands and Woodlands: Spatial and Temporal Patterns in an Australian Landscape - Frontiers, accessed July 12, 2025,

Fire in Semi-Arid Shrublands and Woodlands: Spatial and Temporal Patterns in an Australian Landscape - Frontiers, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Fire in Semi-Arid Shrublands and Woodlands: Spatial and Temporal Patterns in an Australian Landscape - Frontiers, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,

Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

The underestimated biodiversity of tropical grassy biomes - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2025

Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Grazing-management-for-soil-carbon-in-Australia-A-review.pdf - University of Tasmania, accessed April 29, 2025,

Preview of Impacts of shrub encroachment on ecosystem structure and functioning: towards a global synthesis - PubMed Central, accessed July 12, 2025,

Impacts of shrub encroachment on ecosystem structure and functioning: towards a global synthesis - PubMed Central, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Patterns of mature woody plant species encroachment on vegetation structure, density, and diversity of the understory layer across the Marikana Thornveld - Frontiers, accessed May 19, 2025

Preview of Improved forest management - CSIRO, accessed July 12, 2025,

Improved forest management - CSIRO, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Ecosystem wicks: Woodland trees enhance water infiltration in a fragmented agricultural landscape in eastern Australia, accessed May 15, 2025,

Preview of Improving semi-arid non-eucalypt woodland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed July 12, 2025,

Improving semi-arid non-eucalypt woodland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Improving semi-arid non-eucalypt woodland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Mallee Bounceback - Environment, accessed July 12, 2025,

Mallee Bounceback - Environment, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Mallee Bounceback - Weeds and Pests on Public Land program

Preview of management of inland arid and semi-arid woodland ... - DBCA Library, accessed July 12, 2025,

management of inland arid and semi-arid woodland ... - DBCA Library, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

management of inland arid and semi-arid woodland ... - DBCA Library, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Managing ground cover on erosion prone soils: Guidelines to follow, accessed July 12, 2025,

Managing ground cover on erosion prone soils: Guidelines to follow, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Managing ground cover on erosion prone soils: Guidelines to follow, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Monitoring ground cover: an online tool for Australian regions - eo-data.csiro.au, accessed July 18, 2025,

Monitoring ground cover: an online tool for Australian regions - eo-data.csiro.au, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Erosion and sediment yields in the Kakadu region of northern Australia - INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES

Preview of Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Government

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion - Agriculture Victoria, accessed May 11, 2025

Preview of Native Forest Stand Management Guide - No 1 - Private Forestry Service Queensland, accessed July 12, 2025,

Native Forest Stand Management Guide - No 1 - Private Forestry Service Queensland, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Native Forest Stand Management Guide - No 1 - Private Forestry Service Queensland, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Reshaping forest management in Australia to provide nature-based solutions to global challenges - Independent Planning Commission, accessed July 12, 2025,

Reshaping forest management in Australia to provide nature-based solutions to global challenges - Independent Planning Commission, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Top 6 Sustainable Forest Management Techniques, accessed July 24, 2025

Preview of Role of plant cover and stock trampling on runoff and soil-erosion from semi-arid wooded rangelands - ResearchGate, accessed July 12, 2025,

Role of plant cover and stock trampling on runoff and soil-erosion from semi-arid wooded rangelands - ResearchGate, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) The effect of plant litter on ecosystem properties in a ..., accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of SECURING AUSTRALIA'S SOIL For profitable industries and healthy landscapes - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

SECURING AUSTRALIA'S SOIL For profitable industries and healthy landscapes - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

SECURING AUSTRALIA'S SOIL For profitable industries and healthy landscapes - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )

Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )

Contextual Support Government

Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia

Preview of Semi-arid woodlands (shrubby sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )

Semi-arid woodlands (shrubby sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )

Contextual Support Government

Semi-arid woodlands (grassy sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science, accessed July 12, 2025, )

Preview of Spatial indicators of fire risk in the arid and semi-arid zone of Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 12, 2025,

Spatial indicators of fire risk in the arid and semi-arid zone of Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Spatial indicators of fire risk in the arid and semi-arid zone of Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Temperate woodlands in Victoria: distribution, composition and conservation - ozecopdf, accessed July 12, 2025,

Temperate woodlands in Victoria: distribution, composition and conservation - ozecopdf, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Temperate woodlands in Victoria: distribution, composition and conservation - ozecopdf, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Temporary cropping in semi-arid shrublands increases native perennial grasses, accessed July 12, 2025,

Temporary cropping in semi-arid shrublands increases native perennial grasses, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Temporary cropping in semi-arid shrublands increases native perennial grasses, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of The effect of thinning on structural attributes of a low rainfall forest in eastern Australia, accessed July 12, 2025,

The effect of thinning on structural attributes of a low rainfall forest in eastern Australia, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

The effect of thinning on structural attributes of a low rainfall forest in eastern Australia, accessed July 12, 2025,

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

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

Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries

Preview of Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of understorey biomass in semi-arid woodlands of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,

Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of understorey biomass in semi-arid woodlands of south-eastern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers

Preview of Western Australian Soil Health Strategy 2021-2031 - SoilsWest, accessed July 12, 2025,

Western Australian Soil Health Strategy 2021-2031 - SoilsWest, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Western Australian Soil Health Strategy 2021-2031 - SoilsWest, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Wind erosion | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 12, 2025,

Wind erosion | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Management - Mallee Sustainable Farming, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Wind erosion | Land and soil - Environment and Heritage, accessed July 12, 2025,

Wind erosion | Land and soil - Environment and Heritage, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support

Ground cover monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed July 23, 2025

Preview of Wind erosion, accessed July 12, 2025,

Wind erosion, accessed July 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Wind erosion, accessed July 12, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: A bare ground level of >25% indicates a transition to a 'poor', degraded state with high erosion risk and low ecological function. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Optimal Range: 10–20% bare ground represents a stable, healthy system with excellent soil protection. Very low bare ground (<10%) may indicate ecological degradation due to dense woody shrub encroachment.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-FOR-BAR family.