Bare Ground

AUS-AKW-CON-BAR General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 30.2 to 40 %
Optimal Range: 30.2 to 40
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

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

Evidence & Context

Based on this analysis, the median Bare Ground percentage is 35.1%, with an interquartile range of 30.2% to 40.5%. This range (rounded to 30-40%) is proposed as the reference value, as it captures the typical variability of the system in a healthy state.

Metric Definition:

Bare Ground (%) as the percentage of ground surface not covered by vegetation or other ground cover, derived from satellite fractional cover data.

Benchmark Definition:

Percentage of bare ground as derived from satellite fractional cover data representing the natural state of the ecosystem in the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands under conservation management.

Justification:

The reference value represents the interquartile range (25th-75th percentile) of long-term median bare ground percentage derived from satellite data (RAPP Map) for the Nullarbor National Park, Regional Reserve, and Wilderness Protection Area, validated by ground-based surveys indicating over 90% of the region is in good to very good condition.

Sources (2)

Preview of An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region - DPIRD's Digital library
An inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region - DPIRD's Digital library Journal

Pastoral Land Condition Report - 2007/2008 Financial Year

View Source
Preview of Ground Cover Monitoring – Rangeland and Pasture Productivity (RaPP)
Ground Cover Monitoring – Rangeland and Pasture Productivity (RaPP) Government

Ground Cover Monitoring – Rangeland and Pasture Productivity (RaPP), accessed July 27, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (46)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Buffel grass in Queenslands semi-arid woodlands: Response to local and landscape scale variables, and relationship with grass, forb and reptile species - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025
(PDF) Buffel grass in Queenslands semi-arid woodlands: Response to local and landscape scale variables, and relationship with grass, forb and reptile species - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025
Direct Evidence

(PDF) Buffel grass in Queenslands semi-arid woodlands: Response to local and landscape scale variables, and relationship with grass, forb and reptile species - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Long-Term revegetation success of severely degraded chenopod shrublands, accessed July 27, 2025
(PDF) Long-Term revegetation success of severely degraded chenopod shrublands, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Long-Term revegetation success of severely degraded chenopod shrublands, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of A long-term monitoring framework for the Regional Land Partnerships Program, accessed July 27, 2025
A long-term monitoring framework for the Regional Land Partnerships Program, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

A long-term monitoring framework for the Regional Land Partnerships Program, accessed on June 5, 2025

View Source
Preview of ARID LANDS OF AUSTRALIA - Open Research Repository, accessed July 15, 2025,
ARID LANDS OF AUSTRALIA - Open Research Repository, accessed July 15, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

ARID LANDS OF AUSTRALIA - ANU Open Research, accessed July 22, 2025

View Source
Preview of ATTACHMENT F: FAUNA LIKELIHOOD OF OCCURRENCE - EPBC Act Public Portal, accessed July 27, 2025
ATTACHMENT F: FAUNA LIKELIHOOD OF OCCURRENCE - EPBC Act Public Portal, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

ATTACHMENT F: FAUNA LIKELIHOOD OF OCCURRENCE - EPBC Act Public Portal, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australia's bioregions (IBRA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Australia's bioregions (IBRA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions), accessed July 12, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Banded vegetation in some Australian semi-arid landscapes: 20 years of field observations to support the development and evaluation of numerical models of vegetation pattern evolution - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025
Banded vegetation in some Australian semi-arid landscapes: 20 years of field observations to support the development and evaluation of numerical models of vegetation pattern evolution - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Banded vegetation in some Australian semi-arid landscapes: 20 years of field observations to support the development and evaluation of numerical models of vegetation pattern evolution - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Biological soil crusts - Lichen website - Australian National Botanic Gardens, accessed July 27, 2025
Biological soil crusts - Lichen website - Australian National Botanic Gardens, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Biological soil crusts - Lichen website - Australian National Botanic Gardens, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Biological soil crusts | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 27, 2025
Biological soil crusts | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Biological soil crusts | Bush Heritage Australia, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of BioMetric: Vegetation condition benchmarks, short-term review, accessed August 10, 2025,
BioMetric: Vegetation condition benchmarks, short-term review, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

The importance of temperate woodland in travelling stock reserves ..., accessed August 12, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Bioregions and EVC benchmarks - Environment, accessed August 5, 2025,
Bioregions and EVC benchmarks - Environment, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Eastern NSW Plant Community Type Percentage Cleared Calculation Technical Notes - Environment and Heritage

View Source
Preview of Bryophytes in arid areas - Biological soil crusts - Australian National Botanic Gardens, accessed July 27, 2025
Bryophytes in arid areas - Biological soil crusts - Australian National Botanic Gardens, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Bryophytes in arid areas - Biological soil crusts - Australian National Botanic Gardens, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Bushfire Risk Management Framework - Parliament of Western Australia, accessed July 15, 2025,
Bushfire Risk Management Framework - Parliament of Western Australia, accessed July 15, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Fire frequencies for Western Sydney's woodlands: indications from vegetation dynamics - Research Profiles and Repository, accessed August 2, 2025

View Source
Preview of Desertification in Australia: Definition, Causes and Environmental Impact - Access EP, accessed July 13, 2025,
Desertification in Australia: Definition, Causes and Environmental Impact - Access EP, accessed July 13, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin ..., accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Ecological Monitoring System Australia (EMSA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Ecological Monitoring System Australia (EMSA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Ecological Monitoring System Australia (EMSA) - DCCEEW, accessed August 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Estimating food resource availability in arid environments with Sentinel 2 satellite imagery, accessed July 27, 2025
Estimating food resource availability in arid environments with Sentinel 2 satellite imagery, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Estimating food resource availability in arid environments with Sentinel 2 satellite imagery, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Estimating ground cover percentage - DCCEEW, accessed July 12, 2025,
Estimating ground cover percentage - DCCEEW, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

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

View Source
Preview of Global Monitoring System (RAPP Map), accessed July 27, 2025
Global Monitoring System (RAPP Map), accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Global Monitoring System (RAPP Map), accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Ground cover monitoring - DAFF, accessed July 27, 2025
Ground cover monitoring - DAFF, accessed July 27, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

Ground cover monitoring - DAFF, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2025
Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2025
Methodology Source Government

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

View Source
Preview of Invader or feeder? Grass takes root in arid zone - Cosmos Magazine, accessed July 27, 2025
Invader or feeder? Grass takes root in arid zone - Cosmos Magazine, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Protecting the Central Australian Rock Rat - Territory NRM, accessed July 31, 2025

View Source
Preview of Land degradation in drylands - College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, accessed July 27, 2025
Land degradation in drylands - College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Land degradation in drylands - College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Maintain and improve groundcover - Local Land Services, accessed July 27, 2025
Maintain and improve groundcover - Local Land Services, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support

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

View Source
Preview of Monitoring groundcover: an online tool for Australian regions - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 18, 2025,
Monitoring groundcover: an online tool for Australian regions - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 18, 2025,
Methodology Source

Monitoring groundcover: an online tool for Australian regions - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 27, 2025
Nullarbor - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Conservation areas - Department for Energy and Mining, accessed July 26, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor 2 (NUL2 – Nullarbor Central Band subregion) - DBCA Library, accessed July 27, 2025
Nullarbor 2 (NUL2 – Nullarbor Central Band subregion) - DBCA Library, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Nullarbor 2 (NUL2 – Nullarbor Central Band ... - DBCA Library, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Soil potassium—crop response calibration relationships and ..., accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor National Park, Wilderness Protection Area and Regional Reserve, accessed July 27, 2025
Nullarbor National Park, Wilderness Protection Area and Regional Reserve, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Nullarbor Parks - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 26, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plains xeric shrublands | ecoxplore, accessed July 27, 2025
Nullarbor Plains xeric shrublands | ecoxplore, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plains xeric shrublands | ecoxplore, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 22 – Chenopod shrublands, samphire shrublands and forblands - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025
NVIS Fact sheet MVG 22 – Chenopod shrublands, samphire shrublands and forblands - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Some Characteristics of Calcareous soils. A review A.S. Taalab1, G.W. Ageeb2, Hanan S. Siam1 and Safaa A. Mahmoud1 - CURRENT RESEARCH WEB, accessed July 26, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Proceedings: shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing environment - Forest Service, accessed July 27, 2025
Proceedings: shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing environment - Forest Service, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support

Proceedings: shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing environment - Forest Service, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Report card on sustainable natural resource use in the rangelands
Report card on sustainable natural resource use in the rangelands
Contextual Support Journal

SOS erosion - Soil Science Australia

View Source
Preview of Resource condition, accessed July 27, 2025
Resource condition, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Long-term nitrogen deposition enhances microbial capacities in soil carbon stabilization but reduces network complexity - PubMed Central, accessed July 26, 2025,

View Source
Preview of South Australian Arid Lands - Regional Landscape Plan - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 27, 2025
South Australian Arid Lands - Regional Landscape Plan - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

South Australian Arid Lands - Regional Landscape Plan - Department for Environment and Water, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of The arid Australian environment - Australian Wildlife Society, accessed July 6, 2025,
The arid Australian environment - Australian Wildlife Society, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Increasing Awareness and Knowledge of Improving ... - AIR EP, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of The Bacterial Microbiome Associated With Arid Biocrusts and the Biogeochemical Influence of Biocrusts Upon the Underlying Soil - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 27, 2025
The Bacterial Microbiome Associated With Arid Biocrusts and the Biogeochemical Influence of Biocrusts Upon the Underlying Soil - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The Bacterial Microbiome Associated With Arid Biocrusts and the Biogeochemical Influence of Biocrusts Upon the Underlying Soil - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of The Impact of Land Use and Vegetation Cover Changes on Soil Erosion in the Southwest Karst Region - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025
The Impact of Land Use and Vegetation Cover Changes on Soil Erosion in the Southwest Karst Region - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The Impact of Land Use and Vegetation Cover Changes on Soil Erosion in the Southwest Karst Region - ResearchGate, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of The Nullarbor Plain - Hema Maps, accessed July 27, 2025
The Nullarbor Plain - Hema Maps, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Nullarbor Plain - Hema Maps, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
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

View Source
Preview of THE ROLE OF FOREST VEGETATION IN KARST ON SOIL PROTECTION FROM EROSION - CABI Digital Library, accessed July 27, 2025
THE ROLE OF FOREST VEGETATION IN KARST ON SOIL PROTECTION FROM EROSION - CABI Digital Library, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

THE ROLE OF FOREST VEGETATION IN KARST ON SOIL PROTECTION FROM EROSION - CABI Digital Library, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Using biological soil crusts to assess condition of semi-arid ecosystems, accessed July 27, 2025
Using biological soil crusts to assess condition of semi-arid ecosystems, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Using biological soil crusts to assess condition of semi-arid ecosystems, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Vegetation Assessment Guide - DCCEEW, accessed May 15, 2025
Vegetation Assessment Guide - DCCEEW, accessed May 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

A Revegetation Guide for Eucalypt Woodlands - Greening Australia, accessed August 12, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Vegetation cover change and its response to human activities in the southwestern karst region of China - Frontiers, accessed July 27, 2025
Vegetation cover change and its response to human activities in the southwestern karst region of China - Frontiers, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Vegetation cover change and its response to human activities in the southwestern karst region of China - Frontiers, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of What are biological soil crusts? - FutureBeef, accessed July 27, 2025
What are biological soil crusts? - FutureBeef, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

What are biological soil crusts? - FutureBeef, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of What are some possible explanations for the lack of vegetation on the Nullarbor Plain of Western Australia? - Quora, accessed July 27, 2025
What are some possible explanations for the lack of vegetation on the Nullarbor Plain of Western Australia? - Quora, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

What are some possible explanations for the lack of vegetation on the Nullarbor Plain of Western Australia? - Quora, accessed July 22, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Vegetation Shrubland
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Retired
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 16 Mar 2026

Notes

The benchmark includes ecologically vital biological soil crusts misclassified as bare ground in satellite data. The range reflects a stable, 'best-on-offer' condition for this naturally sparse ecosystem under conservation management. RangeFixup applied 2026-03-21 22:21 UTC: LowerBound: 30.2 → 30; OptimalRangeLow: 30 → 30.2 [Migration] Original wider evidence range: 30 – 40.5 (retained OptimalRange: 30.2 – 40)