programs undertaken in Australia. Moreover, the national Landcare program
28 and
other environmental programs, operate through “self-starting” community groups to
address soil, water and biodiversity problems.
29 Bilateral agreements have been
negotiated between the national government and the states to implement the framework first devised under the NHT. Funds are provided for community-based activities, rather than traditional, technical-based soil conservation activities which remain
the responsibility of the states where they are implemented by multifunctional and
multidisciplinary state natural resource agencies. The approach adopted by each state
varies, but in some states, the agencies have several natural resource-related responsibilities, including forest management, coastal management, native vegetation management, national parks and wildlife, and fisheries management, or different
combinations of these.
30 This multidisciplinary and integrated approach to natural
resources management in Australia provides substantial flexibility in designing
approaches to soil conservation.
Because of the above factors, national-state soil conservation activities, unquestionably, have expanded and improved substantially in Australia over the past
30 years. Significantly, more human and financial resources have been transferred
into the integrated, community-based natural resource management activities, in
keeping with the broad environmental agenda of Australia.
31 Considerable work
has been undertaken on the development and adaptation of farming systems, that,
ecologically, maintain or enhance the natural resource base and many landholders
have made significant changes to their farming practices. The first national survey of
land degradation was undertaken in the mid-1970s, and in 1987–1988 the first
systematic land degradation survey was undertaken of New South Wales which
indicated that almost every part of the state was affected by one or more forms of
land degradation.
32 It has been established that around 2% of Australia has soils
28 The National Landcare Program is a key part of the Australian Government’s commitment to
protect and conserve Australia’s water, soil, plants, animals and ecosystems, as well as support the
productive and sustainable use of these valuable resources.
29 The Australian Natural Resources Atlas was developed by the National Land and Water
Resources Audit to provide online access to information to support natural resource management.
The Atlas was managed and maintained within the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage
and the Arts. The Atlas comprises a number of tools and information on Australia’s natural
resources.
30 E.g. Commonwealth—Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and Department of the
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts; Victoria—Department of Environment, Land, Water
and Planning; New South Wales—Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Primary
Industries, Local Land Services; Western Australia—Department of Environment and Conservation; Queensland—Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
31 Martin (2017), p. 34 suggests that ‘any policy that depends on substantial government investment
must be considered to have a limited chance of being successfully adopted. A return to the golden
age of public investment in soils governance, much as it might be desired, seems unlikely for
economic reasons.’
32 Graham (1992), p. 205.
188
I. Hannam
28 and
other environmental programs, operate through “self-starting” community groups to
address soil, water and biodiversity problems.
29 Bilateral agreements have been
negotiated between the national government and the states to implement the framework first devised under the NHT. Funds are provided for community-based activities, rather than traditional, technical-based soil conservation activities which remain
the responsibility of the states where they are implemented by multifunctional and
multidisciplinary state natural resource agencies. The approach adopted by each state
varies, but in some states, the agencies have several natural resource-related responsibilities, including forest management, coastal management, native vegetation management, national parks and wildlife, and fisheries management, or different
combinations of these.
30 This multidisciplinary and integrated approach to natural
resources management in Australia provides substantial flexibility in designing
approaches to soil conservation.
Because of the above factors, national-state soil conservation activities, unquestionably, have expanded and improved substantially in Australia over the past
30 years. Significantly, more human and financial resources have been transferred
into the integrated, community-based natural resource management activities, in
keeping with the broad environmental agenda of Australia.
31 Considerable work
has been undertaken on the development and adaptation of farming systems, that,
ecologically, maintain or enhance the natural resource base and many landholders
have made significant changes to their farming practices. The first national survey of
land degradation was undertaken in the mid-1970s, and in 1987–1988 the first
systematic land degradation survey was undertaken of New South Wales which
indicated that almost every part of the state was affected by one or more forms of
land degradation.
32 It has been established that around 2% of Australia has soils
28 The National Landcare Program is a key part of the Australian Government’s commitment to
protect and conserve Australia’s water, soil, plants, animals and ecosystems, as well as support the
productive and sustainable use of these valuable resources.
29 The Australian Natural Resources Atlas was developed by the National Land and Water
Resources Audit to provide online access to information to support natural resource management.
The Atlas was managed and maintained within the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage
and the Arts. The Atlas comprises a number of tools and information on Australia’s natural
resources.
30 E.g. Commonwealth—Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and Department of the
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts; Victoria—Department of Environment, Land, Water
and Planning; New South Wales—Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Primary
Industries, Local Land Services; Western Australia—Department of Environment and Conservation; Queensland—Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
31 Martin (2017), p. 34 suggests that ‘any policy that depends on substantial government investment
must be considered to have a limited chance of being successfully adopted. A return to the golden
age of public investment in soils governance, much as it might be desired, seems unlikely for
economic reasons.’
32 Graham (1992), p. 205.
188
I. Hannam