Bare Ground

AUS-AKW-LVG-BAR General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

50 %
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 50
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MinimumOnly

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 11 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 10 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

A critical detrimental threshold is identified at >50% Bare Ground, beyond which the risk of irreversible soil erosion and landscape dysfunction increases dramatically.

Metric Definition:

Critical threshold percentage of bare ground beyond which ecosystem degradation occurs.

Benchmark Definition:

Threshold of bare ground percentage indicating severe degradation and risk of soil erosion.

Justification:

This threshold is supported by literature indicating that above 50% bare ground, soils are vulnerable to wind and water erosion, representing a critical tipping point.

Sources (1)

Preview of Maintain and improve groundcover - Local Land Services, accessed July 27, 2025
Maintain and improve groundcover - Local Land Services, accessed July 27, 2025

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (22)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Can we benchmark annual ground cover maintenance?
Can we benchmark annual ground cover maintenance?
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Monitoring Australian Rangeland Sites Using Landscape ...

View Source
Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation ...
Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation ...
Contextual Support Journal

Sustainable development in the Rangelands of - Western Australia - DBCA Library

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Preview of fie cljulhacCin c.Ran9Eranct cSociEty - Rangelands Gateway
fie cljulhacCin c.Ran9Eranct cSociEty - Rangelands Gateway
Contextual Support Government

(PDF) Pasture condition guides for the southern rangelands, including the Gascoyne, Murchison and Goldfields-Nullarbor, Bulletin 4913 - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Ground cover and fire in the grazing lands (RP64G) - Queensland Government publications
Ground cover and fire in the grazing lands (RP64G) - Queensland Government publications
Contextual Support Journal

Ground cover management practices in cropping and improved pasture grazing systems: ground cover monitoring using remote sensing

View Source
Preview of Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF
Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF
Contextual Support

Ground Cover Monitoring for Australia - DAFF

View Source
Preview of Hans Lambers Editor - On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone - eScholarship, accessed July 6, 2025,
Hans Lambers Editor - On the Ecology of Australia's Arid Zone - eScholarship, accessed July 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

NVIS Fact sheet MVG 19 – Tussock grasslands

View Source
Preview of Is ground cover a useful indicator of grazing land condition? - CSIRO Publishing
Is ground cover a useful indicator of grazing land condition? - CSIRO Publishing
Contextual Support Journal

Is ground cover a useful indicator of grazing land condition? - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
Preview of Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025
Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support

Working Draft - Grower Group Alliance

View Source
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

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor 1 (NUL1 – Nullarbor Northern Band subregion) - DBCA Library
Nullarbor 1 (NUL1 – Nullarbor Northern Band subregion) - DBCA Library
Contextual Support Journal

A Case for Below-Ground Dispersal? Insights into the Biology, Ecology and Conservation of Blind Cave Spiders in the Genus Troglodiplura (Mygalomorphae: Anamidae) - PubMed Central, 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 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 Plain | Desert, Limestone, Cave - Britannica
Nullarbor Plain | Desert, Limestone, Cave - Britannica
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain | Desert, Limestone, Cave - Britannica

View Source
Preview of Orhard & Livestock - Regenerative Grazing Australia
Orhard & Livestock - Regenerative Grazing Australia
Contextual Support Journal

Orhard & Livestock - Regenerative Grazing Australia

View Source
Preview of Rangeland condition monitoring: A guide for pastoral lessees - DPIRD's Digital library
Rangeland condition monitoring: A guide for pastoral lessees - DPIRD's Digital library
Contextual Support

Western Australian rangeland monitoring system for grasslands: field manual - DPIRD's Digital library

View Source
Preview of RCS Regenerative Grazing Principles - Resource Consulting Services
RCS Regenerative Grazing Principles - Resource Consulting Services
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

RCS Regenerative Grazing Principles - Resource Consulting Services

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA
Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA
Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed July 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025,
Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Grazing Management Strategies to Thrive in Australia's Changing Climate

View Source
Preview of Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com, accessed August 5, 2025,
Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Regenerative Grazing: 3 Different Approaches - Shorthandstories.com

View Source
Preview of Resource condition, accessed July 27, 2025
Resource condition, accessed July 27, 2025
Direct Evidence 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 Semi-arid woodlands (shrubby sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science
Semi-arid woodlands (shrubby sub-formation) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science
Contextual Support Journal

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

View Source
Preview of The Ecograze Project - developing guidelines to better ... - FutureBeef, accessed July 10, 2025,
The Ecograze Project - developing guidelines to better ... - FutureBeef, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The Ecograze Project - developing guidelines to better manage grazing country - FutureBeef, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 19 Mar 2026

Notes

Management must ensure bare ground remains well below this level to avoid irreversible damage.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AKW-LVG-BAR family.

— % Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Conservation Target
OptimalRange Active v1