State of the Environment 2011 (SoE 2011)
State of the Environment 2011 Committee. Australia state of the environment 2011.
Independent report to
the Australian Government Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
Canberra: DSEWPaC, 2011.
5 Land
1 Introduction
The land—and the social, economic and ecological values it provides—is fundamental to Australian identity and purpose. Our predominantly harsh and nutrient-poor landscapes have shaped life for hundreds of generations of Australians. These generations have in turn dramatically changed the land.
Australians use land in many different ways. Livestock grazing and management for nature conservation are the two land uses of greatest extent, together accounting for nearly 90% of Australia’s land area. We also use our land for agriculture, forestry, urban and residential development, mining, waste disposal and infrastructure. The land provides our food, fibre and minerals, and much else that we consume. It also generates the ecosystem services on which human, animal and plant life depend—clean air, biodiversity and fresh water. The state of our land matters for all Australians.
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