Land degradation
A severly eroded landscape, south east Queensland
The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has a significant role in addressing issues concerning soils and land degradation in Queensland catchments.
The department’s soil and land mapping, modeling and monitoring are critical to understanding land productivity and land degradation risk. DERM produces information to help inform land planning and management decisions.
Despite increased knowledge, understanding and adoption of sustainable land management practices, land degradation problems persist across large areas of rural and regional Australia.
Many land degradation problems developed as a result of the land being used for a purpose for which it was not suitable. For example, pioneering landholders cultivated soils with low fertility and on steep slopes that were vulnerable to erosion. In grazing lands high stocking rates led to land degradation. We now have a much greater knowledge of the factors that contribute to various degradation issues and the management practices required to over come them.
These land degradation processes include:
- Soil erosion
- Salinity
- Acid sulfate soils
- Movement of nutrients and pesticides
- Effects of ponded pastures
Further information
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Last updated 12 October 2011
