Soil degradation
The soils of NSW are one of the State's fundamental natural resources. Soils host the majority of the world’s biodiversity and healthy soils are essential to securing food and fibre production over the long term.
Ecosystem services provided by soils are integral to the carbon and water cycles and include cultural functions. There are strong links between climate change and soil condition. Increases in soil carbon can help to mitigate Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and enhance adaptability to climate change.
Maintaining and improving the condition of the State's land and soil resources is crucial to our well-being. The State Plan includes two State-wide targets (Priority E4) for land and soil condition. They are:
- improving soil condition
- increasing the area of land which is managed within its capability.
To measure progress toward these targets, a program for land and soil condition monitoring, evaluation and reporting (MER) is being developed and implemented. DECC is leading the development of this program.
This statewide MER program will measure and report on the status and change in a range of land and soil 'indicators' including regionally significant indicators. Supporting information will include land use data, land management data and the provision of land and soil capability spatial information.
Soil environmental issues include:
- Soil carbon
- Soil biodiverstiy
- Acid sulfate soils
- Salinity
- Gully erosion
- Sheet erosion
- Soil acidification
- Structure decline
- Land capability