Sustainable agriculture
Much of Australia's landmass is under either pastoralism or agriculture. This land is also vitally important for many of our native animals and plants.
Australia's pastoral and agricultural landscapes should be cared for in such a way that:
- Native vegetation is well-managed and/or protected
- The health or rivers and waterways is maintained or restored
- Salinity and its related impacts are addressed
- Landholders are using best-practice management techniques on their farms
We are working with farmers, governments, businesses and water management authorities to develop solutions that address some of the root causes behind the decline in the health of our agricultural landscapes. And we are looking at how we can all contribute to the long-term restoration of Australia's rural landscapes.
Snapshot of our activities
- We are encouraging the uptake of voluntary programs for agriculture, such as environmental management systems and best management practices.
- We're also working with agricultural sectors to develop voluntary programs that will deliver on-farm environmental benefits, including a pilot scheme to develop a comprehensive environmental management system for cotton growers.
- We are campaigning for an end to one of the key causes of biodiversity loss - land clearing.
- We're developing innovative models for landscape conservation, such as conservation 'auction' schemes.
