Issues

• Land Tenure, Land Use and Land Cover
• Soil Condition
• Scenic Landscape Condition
• Geodiversity and Geoconservation
• Wilderness

• Salinity
• Rural Tree Decline
• Soil Erosion
• Soil Structure Decline and Compaction
• Disturbance of Acid Sulphate Soils
• Acid Mine Drainage

Introduction

Land is defined to include geological, landform and soil features, vegetation, human uses of the land and the values that humans place on the land (e.g. scenic landscape). This chapter describes the value and condition of Tasmania's land environments, which include both predominantly natural land and land that has been changed by humans. It excludes urban settlements, which are dealt with in the 'Settlements' Chapter. The chapter also provides information on the threatening processes affecting the State's land environments and the management responses to these processes. It focuses on changes since the first State of the Environment Report for Tasmania (SDAC 1997), although earlier baselines are used where data are available and relevant for describing conditions, trends and changes in the environment.

The key issues that are discussed in the chapter can be accessed from the menu on the left of this page. This will take the reader to the summary 'At a glance' section for the particular issue selected. For a more in-depth analysis, 'Issue Reports' can also be accessed from these summary sections (follow the 'Continued in depth' link). All chapter content-including indicators, case studies and recommendations-can be accessed through these Issue Reports.

A brief summary of the key findings of the Land Chapter, with links back to the related Issue Reports for further detail, is also available. It includes information on the conditions and trends and what has been achieved since the previous SoE Report.

Various lists of Land Chapter content are also available to assist in providing an overview of the chapter. An index of the indicators used within the Land Chapter is included. Various case studies relevant to the issues within this chapter are provided. A number of recommendations are also presented for this chapter.

Background information on the key concepts used in this chapter is provided. Concepts and processes relating to the Tasmanian geology, geomorphology, soils and geoheritage features are described. The Tasmanian community today values the 'land' environment both for its 'intrinsic' and 'utilitarian' values. The intrinsic values of land are those attributes that are seen as good or desirable in themselves, while the utilitarian values are those attributes or resources of the land that can be used to some other end, such as providing commodities to society.

This chapter deals with both types of values. For example, the intrinsic geoheritage value of conserving representative samples of undisturbed soils is discussed alongside the condition of agricultural and forest soils, whose utilitarian value underpins major Tasmanian industries.

At the time of the previous SoE Report (1997), a limited number of surveys and few inventories had been conducted that could provide baseline information on the condition of Tasmania's land resources at the broader Statewide-scale. The availability of such information continues to be a problem, particularly in relation to soil condition, land degradation, scenic landscape values and geoheritage values.

While a number of threatening processes and their consequences are also highlighted in this Land Chapter (e.g. salinity, soil erosion and degradation, rural tree decline, acid sulphate soils and acid mine drainage), much of it can be summarised in terms of maintaining land cover. The chapter recognises the need to improve awareness and understanding of the affects of land cover change and land use upon Tasmania's land and water resources. This would assist with the identification of priority issues and areas of the State, and support sustainable land management practices. For example, priorities for maintaining land cover can be determined based on the susceptibility of particular areas to degrading processes such as soil structural decline, soil erosion, and disturbance of acid sulphate soils. It is also suggested that additional priorities should be based on priority vegetation communities and productivity of soils for agricultural use (land capability).

Contributors

Many people and organisations have assisted greatly in compiling the State of the Environment Report. For this chapter, the Commission would like to acknowledge the kind assistance of the following:

Colin Bastick, Howard Colvin, Bill Cotching, Tony Davidson, Richard Doyle, Graeme Greenwood, Chris Grose, Gary King, Helen Locher, Sean McPhail, Michael Pemberton, Greg Pinkard, Chris Sharples, Sophie Underwood, Stephen Waight, Fiona Wells, Penny Wells.