Land degradation in Australia

Tadhamin AILEWE

Picture (1): spatial distribution of the share of water runoff in Australia (Kingwell 2006).

What is the main issue?

Land degradation can be defined as “‘a reduction or loss, in arid, semi-arid, and dry subhumid areas, of the biological or economic productivity and complexity of rain-fed cropland, irrigated cropland, or range, pasture, forest, and woodlands, including processes arising from human activities and habitation patterns” (Thomas 2008).

Land degradation includes:Soil erosion Wind & water erosion

Salinity Dry land & irrigation salinity

Desertification Acidification

Wind erosion is” the detachment and transportation of soil by wind”

Water erosion is “occur when the raindrops hit exposed soil with great energy and easily dislodge the soil particles from the surface (Pimentel 2006).

Dry land salinity is the “build up salt in surface soil on non irrigated areas as a result of rising water tables and subsequent groundwater”.

Irrigation salinity is “salting associated with irrigation land. Soil become saline when soluble salts are concentrated in the surface horizon as a result of water tables” (Gretton & Salma 1996).

Is defined as‘ land degradation in arid, semiarid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities’

Soil acidity is “a process or set of processes whereby the level of hydrogen ions or certain toxic elements increases when compared to the pristine land condition” (Gretton & Salma 1996). The most significant issue of acid soils are emphasized by a PH of less than 5.

Factors that cause land degradation

Climate change

Agricultural practices:Irrigation practices, over grazing, inappropriate cultivation practices and deforestation (Quiggin 2009).

The socio- economic aspects of land degradation the main economic impact of land degradation is on

agricultural productivity and indirect impact when the farmers and the Australian government develop sustainable land management to protect Australian land from degradation and land loss (Gretton & Salma 1996).

In term of social aspect, land degradation can be represented by understanding of the producers need to protect rural soils with increasing financial pressure in controlling land loss and maintaining sustainable environmental resources management (Chisholm & Dumsday 2009).

land-Care

Commonwealth Government formalised Land care by establishing the Land-Care program which began as a social movement in Victoria in 1980s to address environmental issues in Australia’s rural regions like dry land, soil erosion, declining water quality and irrigation salinity (Curtis & Lockwood 2000).

In Land-Care program, the Australian government adopts a new method by engaging local communities in natural resource management (Land & Water Australia, 2001).

Model of the logic for community Land- Care in Australia ( Curtis & De Lacy 1994)

How community involvement in NRM can contribute to sustainable environment?

In Land- Care , volunteerism of rural communities in NRM to adopt the best management practices ,

Social achievement Communication and sharing knowledge have

positive impacts on decision making and achieve sufficient solutions.

Changing behaviour and social development occurred as a result of learning and improve social knowledge and individual’s skills .

Economic achievement

Issues that Land – Care have facedBurnout phenomenon which is emotional

exhaustion, depression and reduced personal accomplishment among Land-Care participants and reduce their effectiveness in conducting work (Curtis and Lockwood, 2000).

Group management issues when Australian government supports landholders and transfers its responsibility to local community (such as decision making, insufficient leadership and imperfect communication between groups and decision makers (Curtis and Lockwood, 2000).

Conclusion Human activities have contributed negatively on land resource by

reducing agricultural land as a result of soil degradation. Although some of Australian land degradation occurs naturally,

environmental management to modify degraded land into productive land can provide sustainable agriculture in Australia (Gretton & Salma 1996).the Commonwealth Government responded to a joint submission by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) by establishing the National Land-Care Program (NLP) (Lockie & Vanclay 1997). This action is considered very sustainable in obtaining land loss reduction and socioeconomic achievement in rural Australian communities.

References : Australian Government, Department of Sustainability, Environment,. Water, Population and Communities. N.d.” Environmental issues and Challenges”. Available from: >file:///C:/Users/tad75/Desktop/environmental%20planning%20unit/Australian%20Actions%20to%20Combat%20Desertification%20and%20Land%20Degradation%20-%20Domestic%20Initiatives%20to%20Combat%20Desertification%20%20Environmental%20Issues%20and%20Challenges.htm<.

Curtis, A & Lockwood, M 2000, 'Landcare and Catchment Management in Australia :Lessons for State-Sponsored Community Participation', society&Natural Resources, vol. 13, pp. 61-73.

Gretton, P & Salma, U 1996, Land degradation and the Australian agricultural industry, Industry Commission.

Kingwell, R 2006, 'Climate change in Australia: agricultural impacts and adaptation', Australian Agribusiness Review, vol. 14, pp. 1-19.

Lockie, S & Vanclay, F 1997, '1 Critical Landcare: Introduction', Critical Landcare, p. 1.

Chisholm, A & Dumsday, R 2009, Land degradation: problems and policies, Cambridge Univ Pr.

Quiggin, J 2009, '10 Land degradation: behavioural causes', Land Degradation: Problems and Policies, p. 203.

Thomas, RJ 2008, '10th Anniversary Review: Addressing land degradation and climate change in dryland agroecosystems through sustainable land management', J. Environ. Monit., vol. 10, no. 5, pp. 595-603.