Land
How our land is used and managed is the main determinant of its condition and the health of native species and ecosystems.
The topics in this theme describe soil condition and protected areas and conservation.
Healthy soil provides the foundation for life on Earth. Human activities are affecting soil condition, impacting its ability to support natural ecosystems effectively.
Protected areas preserve habitats for our plants and animals and maintain essential ecosystem services. Australia has committed internationally to halting biodiversity loss by 2030.
Introduction to land
All the elements have Lore, cultural Lore, right LORE.
It's so important to know where you belong, mountains, desert, plains, rainforest, rivers, sea. The land provides so much for us, all the things that we need to survive, our food, livelihood, shelter, water, air. We look after the land so that there will be those things that are necessary for survival for generations to come.
So many of our native creatures are becoming endangered or extinct. We need to be able to look after them, so the generations of the future will know how to look after them.
What we give back is at the core of who we are and our relationship with the land and the water is at the heart of our very existence. If we're not connected to that, then we might as well be zombies walking around.
It's really important that we bring younger people along with us so that they understand how important it is to be connected to the land and Country. Our young men and women now, are being involved in natural resource management, they go to our special places on Country, connecting them will connect their children to what needs to be done.
Soil condition
Soil covers most land. This living material, made up of inorganic particles and organic matter, provides the foundation for life on earth.
Soil condition is critical to a variety of ecological and human activities.
Healthy soil is home to a complex web of organisms, including bacteria, invertebrates and insects. They facilitate nutrient cycling and maintain soil structure. Healthy soil provides a variety of ecosystem services. It filters water, acts as a carbon sink and supports flood regulation.
Land and soils have cultural and spiritual significance to Aboriginal peoples, and these values have been diminished due to development and unsustainable land use associated with colonisation.
Modern agricultural practices or land use change are affecting soil conditions. Soil sealing and soil compaction can reduce water filtration and carbon storage of soils. Industry and agriculture can contaminate soils with pollutants, such as metals and chemicals.
Key findings from the 2024 report
- Much of the changes in soil condition began after European colonisation. Aboriginal peoples’ practices for caring for Country, which included sustainable management of soils, were detrimentally impacted under European practices.
- Most soils in NSW are in a moderate condition.
- About 12.6% of the original soil organic carbon levels has been lost from the top 30cm of soil since European colonisation.
- Much of the State’s agricultural land is becoming slightly more acidic. Soil pH changed by at least 0.15 units of pH between 2006 and 2020.
Protected areas and conservation
Protected areas are regions established to protect the natural environment and cultural heritage. These areas of land are havens for biodiversity as they preserve habitats for our plants and animals. They provide many ecosystem services that are critical to ecological health and human wellbeing.
Importantly, protected areas aim to provide opportunities for Aboriginal peoples to access and connect with Country and joint management agreements give Aboriginal Custodians a say in how Country is cared for.
Post-colonisation human activity has transformed landscapes and continues to place ecosystems under pressure through agriculture, urban development, forestry, industry and resource extraction.
As our climate changes, impacts such as rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns will increase the vulnerability of these protected ecosystems. Loss of protected areas would have significant and far-reaching impacts on both the environment and human society.
It is estimated that globally one third of all land is degraded or degrading. This is causing continued biodiversity loss. It is also impacting essential ecosystem services including water availability and carbon storage.
Australia is a signatory to international protocols and frameworks, including the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This framework establishes four long-term goals to 2050 and 23 action-oriented targets to 2030.
Under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Australia is obliged to have a national biodiversity strategy and action plan, including national targets. The national Strategy for Nature 2024–2030 outlines how Australia will contribute to the framework’s long-term goals and action-oriented targets.
Key findings from the 2024 report
- About 10.4% (or 8.3 million hectares) of NSW are formal protected areas that contribute to Australia’s National Reserve System.
- Most protected areas fall within the public reserve system (almost 7.7 million hectares or 9.7% of NSW). Much of the remaining area is protected through private conservation agreements managed by the Biodiversity Conservation Trust (about 536,000 hectares or 0.7% of NSW).
- About 30% of the National Parks and Wildlife Service estate is jointly managed with Aboriginal custodians under 34 agreements.
- Pressures on, and threats to, protected areas continue to include climate change, inappropriate fire regimes, invasive species, and fragmentation and habitat loss from land use changes and clearing.
- This topic's 'total area of the NSW terrestrial protected areas network' indicator aligns to the 'Land system change' planetary boundary. Globally, this boundary has been crossed (see ).