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National Soil Strategy
© Commonwealth of Australia 2021
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Acknowledgements
Cover images: Oh_Apisit39/Shutterstock.com,
Sergey Gostev/Shutterstock.com, The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
RAYphotographer/Shutterstock.com, acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Australia and
GalapagosFrame/iStock.com, sbayram/iStock.com. their continuing connection to land, sea environment,
water and community. We pay our respect to the
Cataloguing data Traditional Custodians, their culture, and elders both
This publication (and any material sourced from it) past, present and future. In doing so, we value Indigenous
should be attributed as: DAWE 2021, National Soil Strategy, knowledge systems as a vital part of the knowledge
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, capital of Australia.
Canberra, April. CC BY 4.0.
Appropriate consent was gained for the depiction and
ISBN ISBN 978-1-76003-395-8 identification of the Noongar Budjar Rangers featured in
case study 4 of this Strategy.
This publication is available at awe.gov.au/publications.
The authors thank interview and survey participants for
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment their input, the National Soil Strategy Steering Committee
GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 for their invaluable contribution and feedback, as well
Telephone 1800 900 090 as contributing authors for their invaluable work on
Web awe.gov.au case studies.
Contents
Our vision 2 6. Goals and objectives 32
Guiding principles 32
1. Executive summary 4
Goal 1: Prioritise soil health 34
2. What is soil and why is it important? 6
Goal 2: Empower soil innovation
Australia’s soil 12 and stewards39
Case study 1: Investment in soil mapping Goal 3: Strengthen soil knowledge
and information creates a new agricultural and capability45
region and lays a foundation for tackling
7. How will we get there? 50
Aboriginal economic disadvantage 14
The Strategy 50
3. Australia’s soil needs our help 16
The Commonwealth Interim Action Plan 50
Case study 2: Gully remediation reducing
The National Action Plan 50
sediment run-off to the Great Barrier Reef 19
Governance and evaluation 51
Case study 3: Organic enrichment of soil
boosts agricultural output at lower cost 22
Glossary54
4. The National Soil Strategy 24
References54
5. The story so far 26
Case study 4: Noongar Budjar Rangers
caring for soil in the WA Wheatbelt 27
International links and obligations 30
1
Photo: SBourges/Shutterstock.com Our vision Australia’s soil is recognised and valued as a key national asset by all stakeholders. It is better understood and sustainably managed, to benefit and secure our environment, economy, food, infrastructure, health, biodiversity, and communities – now and in the future. 2
Figure 1: From our vision to a National Action Plan
Our vision: Australia’s soil is recognised and valued as a key national asset by all stakeholders. It is
better understood and sustainably managed, to benefit and secure our environment, economy, food,
infrastructure, health, biodiversity, and communities – now and in the future.
Guiding principles
Collaboration Immediate action
Science and innovation Prioritise and integrate
Traditional Knowledge Tenure-blind
Knowledge sharing Practical, place-based
Future soil security Knowledge and adaptation
National Soil Strategy 2021–2041
Goals and objectives
Goal 1: Prioritise soil health Goal 2: Empower soil Goal 3: Strengthen soil
1a: Recognise the value of soil innovation and stewards knowledge and capability
1b: Strengthen leadership and 2a: Promote soil stewardship 3a: Increase soil knowledge for
partnerships to address national better decisions
2b: Optimise soil productivity,
soil priorities sustainability and resilience 3b: Measure benefits of
1c: Advocate the importance improved soil management
2c: Help protect and enhance
of soil Australia’s environment through 3c: Make Australian soil
1d: Improve Australia’s effective soil management information and data available
international leadership in 2d: Increase and maintain soil 3d: Build and retain diverse
soil knowledge, awareness organic carbon soil expertise
and management
Commonwealth Interim Action Plan
National Soil Strategy Action Plan
3
1. Executive
summary
Healthy soils are central to delivering resilience to climate change
and natural disasters, meeting our emission reduction targets,
growing our agriculture industry, and securing human health,
food and water security, biodiversity and economic growth.
The National Soil Strategy (the Strategy) The goals and objectives in the Strategy
is a 20-year strategy that sets out how are aimed at restoring and protecting soil
Australia will value, manage and improve nationally, by driving collaborative and
its soil. The Strategy has been developed coordinated on-ground action, research,
in collaboration with state and territory education, monitoring and governance.
governments, the National Soils Advocate All levels of government, industry,
and other major stakeholders in soil science research institutions, private soil science
and land management. practitioners and land managers have a role
to play in caring for our soil resources.
4
Photo: Sally McInnes-Clarke,
NSW Soil Knowledge Network
The Strategy outlines 3 key goals: prioritise of the Strategy. These actions will meet
soil health, empower soil innovation and the SMART principles — that is, Specific,
stewards, and strengthen soil knowledge Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and
and capability. Time‑bound.
By June 2022, the Australian Government Prior to the release of the Action Plan in
will work with the states and territories to June 2022, the Australian Government will
develop and release a National Soil Strategy implement soil-related measures which
Action Plan. The Action Plan will detail specific contribute to the objectives of the Strategy
actions (programs and activities) required under a Commonwealth Interim Action Plan.
to achieve the vision, goals and objectives
5
2. What is soil and
why is it important?
Soil is an integral part of the Australian landscape. It supports us
all, no matter where we live, and provides essential ecosystem
and production services that support and contribute to Australia’s
economic, environmental and social wellbeing.
Australia has some of the most stunning To demonstrate the value of well-managed
natural landscapes on the planet and is soil a number of case studies have been
internationally renowned for our high-quality included throughout this document.
and sustainably produced agriculture. These case studies highlight some of the
We would have none of these benefits important work that has been undertaken
without our soil. for many years across Australia, as well as
exciting innovations and new opportunities
Including the ecosystem services provided
for soil management in Australia. Look out for
by soil, Australia’s soil provides an estimated
the CASE STUDY boxes.
value equivalent to roughly $930 billion
per year to the economy (Soil Science
Australia 2019), based on analysis by
McBratney et al. (2017). Through agricultural
production alone, soil directly contributes
approximately $63 billion per year to the
Australian economy (Jackson et al. 2018).
6
Figure 2: Soil ecosystem and production services
Air quality Soil health impacts dust and volatiles
Biodiversity Microbial, plant and animal biodiversity
Climate impacts Carbon flux and storage, greenhouse gas emissions
Agricultural productivity, carbon credits,
Economic value circular economy through organic waste
management, tourism
Environmental health Soil microbes, animal and plant health, waterways,
threatened species management
Soil health is linked to nutrition and food security,
Human health contamination, pharmaceuticals and mental,
respiratory and immune health
Soils Healthy soils support Indigenous-led threatened
Indigenous land and species and water catchment management,
water management bushfire planning, mitigation and management,
and cultural activity agriculture, archaeology, art, human health,
ceremonies and connection to Country
Soil provides physical support for infrastructure;
Infrastructure better soil management can mitigate damage
from landslides, salinity, acidity and dust storms
Minerals and energy resource formation,
Mineral and energy resources
exploration and remediation
Soil condition linked to agricultural
Nutrition, food and fibre security productivity and nutrient content of food
Soil management for health of the park,
National parks
tourism
Soil health influences stormwater run-off,
Urban living and wellbeing urban food and gardens, recreational
amenities, wellbeing
Soil health impacts nutrient, sediment
Water quality and contaminant run-off, water filtration,
groundwater storage and flow
7
Soil formation is a slow and complex process, plants withstand biotic stresses. The FAO
but degradation can happen swiftly. Soil is estimates that increasing the adoption of
essentially a non-renewable resource. It is also sustainable soil management practices
the most complex biological material on the could increase food production globally by
planet (Young & Crawford 2004) and one of up to 58% (FAO 2015a).
the most biologically rich and diverse habitats
• Water storage, filtration and nutrient
on earth. One teaspoon of soil contains more
cycling: Healthy landscapes retain water,
living organisms than there are people in the
sediment and nutrients, which are then
world (FAO 2020).
available for plants and other living
Soil is the physical, chemical and biological organisms. As water moves through the
matrix that supports plant growth and landscape to rivers, creeks, catchments
provides habitat for a vast number and variety and underground waterways, soil acts
of soil biota. Soil enables: as a natural filter for water by removing
pollutants from water and retaining
• Food and fibre production: Soil is key to
them in the soil matrix. By filtering water
producing our food and fibre. Almost all of
and retaining sediment and nutrients,
what we eat is grown in our soil or fed by
soil ensures that high-quality water
what is grown in it. The United Nations Food
reaches our rivers, lakes and the ocean,
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports
conserving marine and freshwater
that around 95% of the world’s food comes
biodiversity. When water flows through soil
from soil and soil organisms. Carbon cycling
as it moves across the landscape, the water
in soil is responsible for making available
stored in soil increases plant productivity.
nutrients that support plant growth and help
Photo: Andriy Solovyov/Shutterstock.com
8• Resilience against the impact of Soil is also the source of many vaccines,
natural disasters: Healthy soils are often anti-cancer agents and drugs upon
recognised as being well structured, which humans rely, such as antibiotics.
high in organic matter, well drained, Low-level exposure to the natural microbial
sufficient in nutrients, and having good diversity of healthy soil is also increasingly
ground cover. These soils are resilient to the seen as necessary for the priming and
impacts caused by natural disaster such
education of the immune system in infants
as drought, flood and fire. They allow water
and for maintaining immune fitness into
to easily infiltrate into their profile and
adulthood (Roslund et al. 2020; Ottman
store water for plants during dry periods.
et al. 2019; Matthews & Jenks 2013).
They also reduce sediment and nutrient
movement caused by water and wind. • Stable basis for infrastructure: It is
• Protection and enhancement of the natural important that we understand the
environment: Soil underpins a range of geotechnical properties of soil, so that
functions critical to environmental health. we know the soil’s ability to support
For example, it supports the growth of plant infrastructure and prevent damage to
life; stores and filters water; stores and housing, bridges, roads and other built
recycles nutrients and waste; aids in infrastructure from soil degradation
chemical decomposition; provides habitat processes (for example, acid sulfate soil,
for microbial communities; and globally contamination), and landslides. Soil is also
stores more organic carbon than the the core component of many materials
atmosphere and vegetation (Schulte used for development.
et al. 2014; Vogel et al. 2018; FAO 2017). • Indicators of valuable natural resources:
Soil chemical and physical properties are
• Support for human health: The United
used to explore and detect buried mineral,
Nations FAO has declared soil nutrition as
energy and groundwater resources and
the basis for human nutrition. Soil nutrients
in some cases form resources in their own
provide the food needed for plants and right (for example, residual deposits such
animals to survive, and these nutrients are as bauxite). They are also vital for informing
transferred to humans once consumed. any remediation efforts.
9• Maintenance of air quality: framework (ABS 2019) which organises
When landscapes are degraded, information to better understand how
poor ground cover leaves soil exposed the environment, including soil, and the
to dust storms through wind erosion. economy interact.
These dust storms lead to large quantities
While more work is needed to better
of fine particles in the air, which can have
quantify the value of soil-related services,
detrimental effects on human health
the benefits of sustainable soil management
(Merrifield et al. 2013) and cause a loss are well understood and far outweigh
of agricultural productivity (Stefanski & the costs associated with the impacts of
Sivakumar 2009) and costly transport soil degradation. It is also less expensive
disruptions (Tozer & Leys 2013). They also to adopt sustainable soil management
lead to the volatilisation of organic practices to maintain soil health than to
chemicals such as pesticides and act as remediate soil after it has been degraded
a transport mechanism for sediment and (Kiri-ganai Research 2012).
nutrients. Healthy soil with good ground
To preserve this key natural asset and
cover and organic matter holds together
strengthen Australia’s economy, it is vital that
surface soil particles and therefore builds we prevent soil degradation by boosting our
resilience against wind and water erosion. understanding of how to sustainably manage
our soils through research, development and
• Ongoing Indigenous traditions and
translational science and then support their
deep cultural relationship with Country:
appropriate and broad adoption.
Ochre is derived from natural pigments and
minerals from soil. It is used in body and The Strategy, through its application
rock painting, on artefacts, in traditional for guiding integrated approaches to
ceremonies and on communication tools. land management and planning, will facilitate
It has been and continues to be an soil security. Soil security is concerned with
essential tool for First Nations cultural and the maintenance and improvement of
heritage management and celebration. the global soil resource to produce food,
fibre and fresh water, contribute to energy
Work is continuing to better quantify in
and climate sustainability, and maintain the
economic terms the value of all services
biodiversity and the overall protection of the
that soil provides. For example, the
ecosystem (McBratney et al. 2014).
Australian Government is working on an
environmental‑economic accounting
10Photo: Bedourie dust storm rolling in, December 2014. Maggie Den Rondem, Soil Science Australia.
11Australia’s soil While it is rich in biodiversity, Australian soil is Australia and its external territories among the oldest and most nutrient poor in (for example, Norfolk Island, Australian the world. This is due mainly to the country’s Antarctic Territory and Christmas Island) geological stability — among other things, have a wide variety of different landscapes, Australia is characterised by a lack of climates, soil types and land use histories. significant seismic activity and other natural Figures 3 and 4 demonstrate the variability in processes, such as glaciation, that weather land use and soil types across the country. and erode rock and create new soil. Figure 3: Range of catchment-scale land uses across Australia (ABARES 2021) 12
Each soil type comes with its own unique forests of Tasmania and the Great Dividing
characteristics which influence the land Range. Effective soil and land management is
use and management across the country. a multifaceted and complex challenge.
While most high-level soil and land
management principles (for example, To ensure that Australia’s soil is sustainably
maintaining sufficient ground cover to prevent managed and any downward trends in
erosion) are similar around the world, we soil health metrics are halted, and where
also need regionally and locally specific possible, reversed, collaboration will be
approaches to the planning and application of required across a large range of existing and
strategies and actions in Australia. While some emerging networks, organisations and land
actions can be taken on a national scale, managers who have detailed knowledge
with collaboration across different groups, of the challenges involved — for example,
the implementation will vary — for example, the Natural Resource Management (NRM)
between the rangelands and deserts of bodies, Rural Research and Development
northern and western Australia, the cropping Corporations (RDCs), agricultural industries,
lands of the east and west coasts and the government agencies, land use planners,
universities and land managers.
Figure 4: Diversity of soil types across Australia, using broad soil classification boundaries,
noting that soil types vary considerably even at local scales (Department of Agriculture, Water
and the Environment & Australian Collaborative Rangelands Information System 2014)
13CASE STUDY 1
Case study 1 below highlights the positive outcomes when soil is understood
and mapped at a local scale to inform land use planning that is undertaken
in collaboration between state governments, the agricultural industry and
First Nations Communities.
Investment in soil mapping and information creates
a new agricultural region and lays a foundation for
tackling Aboriginal economic disadvantage
Well-planned new agricultural For the last 30 years land use planners and the
plant industry have been using appropriately
precincts in the Northern
scaled soil and groundwater assessments
Territory have the potential to found and develop one of northern
to grow Australia’s $60 billion Australia’s most successful horticultural
agricultural industry in ways that regions. In 2015–2016 the 5,360 ha of land
provide a real opportunity to under irrigation in Litchfield for agricultural
and horticultural production1 was valued at
address Aboriginal and regional
$120 million per year.2
disadvantage while ensuring
protection of key environmental Litchfield’s success can be largely attributed to
high-resolution soil mapping and groundwater
and cultural assets.
investigations undertaken in the 1980s.
The estimated $10 million investment to
For decades the Australian and Northern establish Litchfield’s agricultural industry is
Territory governments have focused on now, assuming inflation, returning 12 times that
intensifying agriculture across northern Australia. original amount annually. This local industry
An example of what can be achieved is the now employs a workforce of over 600 during
Litchfield municipality just outside Darwin. peak harvest periods.3
14Photo: Detailed soil mapping is providing the
backbone for economic opportunities on Aboriginal Land.
This image shows watermelons being grown under a lease agreement
on Aboriginal Land in Central Australia. Northern Territory Department of
Environment, Parks and Water Security.
Without this strategic approach to soil investment on Aboriginal land.
mapping, high-value horticultural land in the This work highlights the role high-resolution
Darwin region would not have been identified soil mapping can play in supporting
and the land may have been subdivided Traditional Owners to make informed
for peri-urban development, leading to a development decisions that ultimately will
loss of $120 million to the regional economy. benefit both their people and the economy.
Expanding on the successful approach in
1 S taben, G & Edmeades, B 2017, Northern Territory land
the Darwin region, since 2014 the Northern
use mapping for biosecurity 2016, Technical Report
Territory Government has worked in close
18/2017D, Department of Environment and Natural
collaboration with the Aboriginal Land Resources, Northern Territory Government, Darwin.
Economic Development Agency (ALEDA) to 2 Northern Territory Farmers Association 2015, Economic
identify highly suitable agricultural soils and profile of plant based industries in the Northern Territory,
commercial-scale groundwater resources Coolalinga, NT.
3 NT Farmers 2019, NT plant industries harvest labour
across a number of Aboriginal Land Trusts.4
report, Coolalinga, NT.
Established with the support of Traditional
4B urgess, J, McGrath, N, Andrews, K & Wright, A 2016,
Owners and the Northern and Central Land Agricultural Land Suitability Series, Report 5: Soil and
Councils in the Northern Territory, ALEDA has land suitability assessment for irrigated agriculture
used the outcomes of government land and in the Ali Curung area, Western Davenport District,
water assessments to prioritise and take the Technical Report 16/2016D. Department of Environment
and Natural Resources, Northern Territory Government,
necessary steps to coordinate agricultural
Darwin, NT.
153. Australia’s
soil needs our help
Since European settlement, human activities have caused or
exacerbated degradation processes in Australia’s soil, leading to
a decline in soil quality and function.
Reduced soil quality and function impacts our expansion into prime agricultural land and
economy, environment and way of life. The increased global food and fibre demands.
Process-Factor-Cause Nexus as a driver of soil The rise of new market forces, the cumulative
degradation is shown in Figure 5. impact of climate change and resource
consumption are all also placing pressure
A changing climate is bringing more frequent
on our soil and on effective and sustainable
and intense events like drought, bushfires
soil management. It is important to also
and storms, increasing risks to our soil health.
recognise the episodic nature of some
These events are increasing soil degradation
degradation caused by extreme weather
processes such as loss of carbon, changes in
events and the need to focus more resources
soil biology and soil erosion, causing sediment
on soil management during particularly
movement and pollution of our air and
vulnerable times.
water. Land use conflicts are exacerbating
these climatic pressures through both urban
16Figure 5: The Process-Factor-Cause Nexus as a driver of soil degradation (adapted from Lal 2015)
s
s se Fa
ce ct
ro
P
or
s
Erosion Climate
Salinisation Soil type
Nutrient depletion Climate- Topography
soil-biotic
Acidification Vegetation cover
interactions
Biodiversity Socio-political,
Fire in the economic and
environment ethno-cultural
Soil
degradation context
Biophysical and Natural and
anthropogenic socioeconomic
perturbations interactions
Climate change
Inappropriate
Deforestation
irrigation
Loss of
Soil, crop, animal
ground cover
management
Land use
Contamination
conversion
Compaction
Sealing
C au s es
Historically, both government and the and reduced severity of dust storms due to
non-government sector have invested in soil increases in ground cover (Guerschman &
management at various levels to address Hill 2017, McTainsh et al. 2011). Another example
soil-related threats. There have been notable is the significant reduction in the amount
local and regional successes – for example, of sediment being released from a local
the reform of acid sulfate soil management catchment into the Great Barrier Reef — see
during peat fires in Victoria, the mapping case study 2. The success of such actions is
of gully erosion in Sydney’s drinking water supported in the Reef Water Quality Report
catchment by the NSW Government to inform Card 2019 (2021).
water management in the context of bushfires,
17Photos: Sediment-laden waters of the Burdekin River flood plume extend out to Old Reef on the midshelf of the central Great Barrier Reef, approximately 32 nautical miles (or 60km) offshore. Images by Matt Curnock. Support for the aerial footage was provided by TropWATER JCU, the Marine Monitoring Program - Inshore Water Quality through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Queensland Government, the Landholders Driving Change project led by NQ Dry Tropics, CSIRO and the National Environmental Science Program Tropical Water Quality Hub. 18
CASE STUDY 2
Gully remediation reducing sediment run-off to
the Great Barrier Reef
Sediment run-off presents Part of the project was a program
of substantial gully remediation at
a serious threat to the
Strathalbyn Station in the Burdekin River
Great Barrier Reef, as it catchment, near Bowen in Queensland.
interferes with coral and Following extensive landscape
seagrass photosynthesis and assessments, approximately 17.5 ha of
creates algal blooms. the grazing property was remediated.
Water quality monitoring and LiDAR
change detection indicated that this
It is estimated that almost 50% of the caused a 90% reduction, on average,
sediment that makes its way to the in suspended sediment run-off across
Great Barrier Reef comes from the Burdekin different gully treatments.
River catchment.
As a result of these works, since 2017 more
The Innovative Gully Remediation Project, than 4,600 tonnes per year of sediment
jointly funded by the Queensland from this area alone have been prevented
Government’s Reef Water Quality Program from entering the Great Barrier Reef.
and Greening Australia, is testing the
most effective ways to manage gully
erosion that contributes to sediment
deposit in waterways that feed into
the Great Barrier Reef.
Photos: Damon Telfer, Fruition
Environmental, 2017 and 2018
Before After
19However, the level and timing of overall National leadership and coordination
investment have not been sufficient to result are required across government and
in broadscale improvements in soil health. non-government sectors if we are to
address issues of soil degradation and the
Despite some regional soil monitoring efforts,
increased pressure on land managers;
there is currently no unified, strategic national
enhance collaboration; make better land
soil monitoring approach to help understand
use planning decisions; usher in the next
how soil condition has changed across the
generation of soil experts; and build our
country. We have little information on how
knowledge base. We need consistent national
soil health contributes to the provision of
standards and approaches to ensure our
environmental services outlined in Section 1.
national soil asset is understood, recognised,
Equally, there is a need to view soil as an
restored and protected across the country.
interconnected and dynamic part of the
landscape, and to understand that changes National leadership, coordination and
in its physical, chemical, hydrological and consistency will allow us to better leverage
biological processes result in dynamic past and present work to accelerate efforts to
responses in the landscape. protect and enhance Australia’s soil health,
including in areas such as improving soil
There is also a need to focus more on
carbon sequestration, driving agriculture
fundamental aspects of soil science that
innovation, and improving planning and
provide crucial knowledge to address national
on‑ground interventions to ensure ongoing
priorities, such as agriculture productivity.
soil security.
Innovation in the way we manage our soil and
One such area that will require cooperation
advances in soil science and technology will
between the government and non-government
be fundamental if we are to produce more
sectors but presents exciting opportunities
from less, and overcome food, fibre and fuel
for commercial agricultural innovation
shortages while sustaining the environment.
derived from improved soil health is organic
New technologies offer the opportunity to
waste management.
transform how we use, manage and monitor
soil for the future.
20Organic waste is an inevitable by-product recycling industry contributes $724 million
of Australian life. Managing it well is a key in industry value to the Australian economy
priority of the Australian Government. (AORA 2020). The addition of organic
Organic waste recycling is an exemplar of a materials, including those from waste streams,
circular economy. In 2018–2019, the national have the potential to increase soil carbon and
greenhouse gas emissions savings from agricultural productivity with the benefit of
organics recycling were approximately creating a circular economy.
3.8 million tonnes of CO2 (that is the equivalent
Case study 3 highlights the improved quality
of planting 5.7 million trees, or the emissions
and productivity outcomes of applying better
that 876,663 cars would produce in one year).
organic waste management in viticulture.
It is also estimated that the Australian organic
Photo: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
21CASE STUDY 3
Organic enrichment of soil boosts agricultural
output at lower cost1*
Torbreck Vintners has been • Grape yields increased.
making wine in the Barossa • Water use efficiency improved by 30–40%.
Valley, South Australia, since 1994. Within 7 years the changes were remarkable:
• There had been an improvement in wine
In 2005, viticulturist Nigel noticed that a small quality valued at $132,000 per hectare
area of one of his vineyards was performing
per year.
better than the rest. When he investigated,
• Grape yields had consistently improved.
he found out that the area had been next to
a pig farm more than 25 years earlier and • Access to nutrient rich compost and mulch
that it had received regular manure and meant that equivalent nutrient additions by
straw applications as a result. Ten years later, way of synthetic fertiliser were not required.
using a microscope, Nigel compared soil
from that area with soil from elsewhere in the Whilst this approach is not viable for all
vineyard. The difference was profound: the soil agricultural enterprises, Nigel estimates
with organic matter inputs from the pig farm that the program cost approximately
was richer, more fertile and teeming with life. $1,350 per hectare per year, making this a
highly cost-effective and sustainable strategy.
So began a structured program of composting
and mulching in the weakest areas of the
1 A dapted from the Australian Organics Recycling
vineyard. The addition of nutrients and
Association Ltd Torbreck Vintners case study (AORA 2019).
improved soil fertility from the compost and
* This case study was supported by the Adelaide and
mulch produced noticeable benefits within the Mount Loft Ranges Natural Resources Management
first year: Board through funding from the Australian Government’s
National Landcare Program.
• Vineyard variability reduced despite rainfall
being 48% lower than in the previous year.
• Leaf condition improved.
Photo: kwest/Shutterstock.com
2223
4. The National
Soil Strategy
This Strategy provides a national vision and shared goals and
objectives between the Australian, state and territory governments
for managing soil across all landscapes.
The goals and objectives in the Strategy The Strategy will ensure that soil health is
are aimed at restoring and protecting soil appropriately prioritised and considered
nationally, by driving collaborative and in government decision-making processes.
coordinated on-ground action, research, It will give those who manage our soil,
education, monitoring and governance in government and non-government
(Figure 1). The Strategy recognises that all organisations, the knowledge, tools,
levels of government, industry, research networks and capabilities that will empower
institutions, private soil science practitioners them to ensure that soil is preserved while
and land managers have a role to play in sustaining and increasing productivity.
caring for our soil resources. By strengthening soil knowledge and capability,
the Strategy will ensure that research is
This 20-year Strategy sets the direction for
conducted in a coordinated fashion and the
innovative sustainable soil science and land
results are shared with those who need them.
management nationally, while still allowing for
a regional and local focus given that every soil
management issue is unique.
24The Strategy forms part of current extension, communication and adoption
Australian Government priorities including of new practices, will be used to prioritise
Delivering Ag2030 and National Agricultural investments and actions to restore the
Innovation Agendas and builds on current country’s soil function and to show how land
investments related to soil such as the management practices can be improved to
Australian Government’s National Landcare prevent future degradation.
Program, Agriculture Stewardship Program,
The time for a National Soil Strategy is now.
Emissions Reduction Fund, Technology
Governments, industry and many others are
Investment Roadmap, Future Drought Fund
increasingly recognising the importance of soil
and Reef 2050 Plan (2018). The Strategy
to the country’s economic, social, cultural and
will develop a national approach to soil
environmental future: more questions are
monitoring so that we can gain a better
being asked, gaps are being identified and
understanding of soil condition and trends
new interventions are being developed.
across the country. The information that
is gathered will help land managers, The Strategy is supported by a Commonwealth
policymakers, regulators, land use planners, Interim Action Plan, which will be followed and
the private sector and non-government replaced by a National Soil Strategy Action
organisations to understand how soil Plan. More information on this is provided in
condition changes over time. This information, Section 7.
along with research, innovation, development,
Photo: Soil CRC
255. The story so far
Australia’s 8 million square kilometres of soil has been formed
from a range of parent material, under differing climatic conditions
and topography over millennia. It is also intimately related to
native vegetation.
For tens of thousands of years, the lives and Indigenous land and sea management
cultural identity of Australia’s First Nations (ILSM), or caring for country, combines
Peoples have been inextricably linked to traditional ecological and cultural knowledge
land and water and their forms; stories; and with western conservation science. ILSM
biodiversity. To this day, Indigenous Australian remains one of the first lines of defence
Peoples and Communities hold legal against environmental threats including
rights and responsibility for land and sea biosecurity invasions, threatened species and
management over much of Australia, extreme bushfire events. ILSM also provides
including more than half of Australia’s invaluable economic, health, social and
mainland, through the Indigenous estate, cultural improvements for local and
which includes native titles and other surrounding communities.
land tenures.
Case study 4 describes the ecological work
being performed by an Aboriginal Ranger
group in Western Australia, demonstrating
the key contribution of ILSM in soil and
land management.
26CASE STUDY 4
Noongar Budjar Rangers caring for soil in the WA Wheatbelt
Since 2014, the Noongar Budjar Noongar Budjar Rangers are vital soil stewards
in the Avon River Basin. They are developing
Rangers have had their boots on
new skills in soil sampling to measure soil
the ground in Western Australia’s carbon; undertaking valuable seed collection;
Wheatbelt region, applying First and branching out into commercial work for
Nations cultural knowledge and landcare, agriculture and mining industries.
modern scientific research to the John McGuire, a Ballardong Whadjuk Elder,
management of lands and soils. notes that the Noongar Budjar Rangers are
playing a key role in tackling the impacts of
climate change.
The Ranger team is drawn from the Ballardong
People of the Noongar Nation and supported ‘The real value for those people individually
by the Wheatbelt NRM. The team now provides is knowing that they’re healing country,
on-country employment for 17 people. healing the land that our old people have
walked on and talked on a long time ago’,
he says.
Right now the Noongar Budjar Rangers
have been involved in a major seeding and
replanting operation. They are planting up to
2.4 million seedlings to revegetate agricultural
land and offset carbon emissions.
Photo: Ballardong Whadjuk elder
John McGuire is proud of the work
that the Noongar Budjar Rangers are
undertaking to restore the health of the
Ballardong people’s country and soils.
27Much has been learned since European land In February 1983, during a long and severe
management began in Australia nearly drought, a major dust storm swept across
250 years ago. European settlement led to a the state of Victoria and engulfed Melbourne
dramatic and rapid shift in land management. (Commonwealth of Australia 2020).
In particular, there were significant changes ‘Fixing’ the problem became a matter of
to agriculture, urban expansion, and the national urgency. Governments focused
introduction of mining and industrial activity. on working with farmers and pastoralists to
As a result, many areas were exposed to support their uptake of better land use and
threats that caused extensive and ongoing management practices.
decline in soil health.
In 1986 the Victorian Government established
By the 1930s, episodes of widespread its Landcare program, which would later
soil erosion revealed the severity of land become the model for the national Decade of
degradation across Australia’s landscapes Landcare framework. Action being undertaken
(Campbell 1994). By 1936, federal, state and through Landcare was complemented
territory governments recognised the by the National Dryland Salinity Program
need for a consistent national approach. (1993–2004), the National Action Plan for
In 1938, the New South Wales Government Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) (2001–2008)
introduced the Soil Conservation Act 1938 and the National Land and Water Resources
— the first direct piece of soil conservation Audit (1997–2008). The Australian
legislation to be enacted. Other state and Government’s National Landcare Program,
territory governments quickly followed suit which continues today, currently invests over
(Campbell 1994). In 1946 the Australian $1 billion over 5 years in strategic natural
Government established the Standing resource management actions and priorities.
Committee on Soil Conservation.
In addition to these government-supported
Despite the early action of farmers who were programs there have been a range of
learning and developing their soil conservation non-government and RDC-funded strategies
knowledge, adapting innovations such and investments to improve soil health.
as stubble retention and minimum tillage
In 2012, the Australian Government appointed
to Australia’s soils, over the next 50 years
the first National Soils Advocate — the late
broadscale land degradation continued across
Hon. Major General Michael Jeffery, AC,
the country, driven by a combination of factors.
AO (Mil), CVO, MC.
28In 2014, the National Soil Research, The National Soil Strategy recognises and
Development and Extension Strategy aims to build on the work being achieved
(RD&E Strategy) was released by federal, state, territory and local
(Commonwealth of Australia 2014), governments, research institutions, universities,
which has a focus on securing Australian non-government and natural resource
soil for profitable industries and healthy management organisations, industry and
landscapes. In 2017, the Cooperative community groups across Australia, including
Research Centre for High Performance land managers, Soil Science Australia,
Soils (Soils CRC) was established to give soil‑related CRCs, the National Committee for
farmers the knowledge and tools they need Soil and Terrain, the Australian Soil Network,
to make decisions on extremely complex Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, CSIRO,
soil management issues. and many more. These groups, alongside
the RDCs and the financial sector, have been
In 2019, following recommendations made
instrumental in improving soil sustainability,
by the first National Soils Advocate to
research and extension in Australia over
Prime Minister the Hon. Scott Morrison MP,
the last several decades.
the Australian Government committed to
the delivery of a National Soil Strategy in
collaboration with states and territories.
While much has been done in Australia to
understand, conserve and improve soil,
there is still much to achieve.
Photo: ‘Deep ripping’ on heavy land, Calcic
Calcarosol, at Merredin Research Station
in Western Australia in early April 2015.
Shahab Pathan, Soil Science Australia.
Deep ripping is one of the major treatment
options for compacted and sodic subsoils.
Ripping improves root access to subsoils to
absorb more soil moisture, capture more
soil nutrients and improve yield in a highly
rainfall-limited environment.
29International links and
obligations
Australia has ratified 3 United Nations (UN) Australia is also a signatory to the Revised
conventions that have an intrinsic link to World Soil Charter (FAO 2015b) and is a
better management and conservation of leading participant in the UN FAO Global Soil
the world’s soil. In 1992 the UN Conference on Partnership and the International Union of
Environment and Development (commonly Soil Sciences.
known as the Earth Summit) established
In 2015, countries around the world,
3 key overarching environmental instruments:
including Australia, adopted a set of goals to
• the United Nations Framework Convention end poverty, protect the planet and ensure
on Climate Change prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable
• the United Nations Convention to Combat development agenda. These goals are known
Desertification as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Each goal has specific targets, which are to be
• the United Nations Convention on
achieved by 2030.
Biological Diversity.
The National Soil Strategy is aligned with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Goal 2: Goal 6: Clean Goal 9: Industry, Goal 11: Goal 13: Goal 15:
Zero hunger water and innovation and Sustainable Climate action Life on land
sanitation infrastructure cities and
communities
Goal 3: Goal 14:
Good health Goal 8: Goal 10: Life below water
and well-being Decent work and Reduced Goal 12:
economic growth inequalities Responsible
consumption
30 and productionPhoto: Australia’s international obligations include protecting biodiversity
and wetlands. A Great Egret, Ardea alba, wading in a natural wetland setting.
Steven Giles/Shutterstock.com.
316. Goals and
objectives
Guiding principles
This strategy contains 3 goals and • Traditional Knowledge: The culture, values,
12 objectives which will guide Australia’s knowledge, innovations and practices
efforts to better manage its soil. The goals shared by First Nations Peoples are valued
and objectives are underpinned by the and respected and should inform, where
following principles: appropriate, planning, management and
conservation of our soil resource.
• Collaboration: Collaborative
• Knowledge sharing: Sharing knowledge,
decision-making, alignment of
contributing to evidence-based and
effort and partnerships contribute
cost-effective decisions and actions.
to effective research, policymaking
and implementation. • Future soil security: Sustainable use
of our soil must meet the needs of today
• Science and innovation: Delivery of
without compromising the needs of
world‑leading research, innovation,
future generations.
monitoring and evaluation.
32Photo: Soil CRC
• Immediate action: Immediate action • Tenure-blind: The impact of soil
is required to better manage, prevent degradation processes and soil
or remediate degradation of soil management does not abide by
and the environment where there legal tenure boundaries and therefore
are threats of serious or irreversible management responses must also
environmental damage. transcend ownership and boundaries.
• Prioritise and integrate: Accounting for soil • Practical, place-based knowledge and
in all relevant decision-making significantly adaptation: Enabling bioregional and local
enhances outcomes in terms of agricultural knowledge to be used in the development
production and ecosystem services. of place-based and locally adapted and
generated solutions.
33Goal 1:
Prioritise soil health
Soil plays a fundamental role Australia will struggle to improve soil health,
manage its water supply, improve the
in the carbon (energy) cycle,
resilience and profitability of its farming
nutrient cycle and the water systems or meet its emissions reduction
cycle, as well as being the objectives without a renewed focus on,
engine room of food production, and re-energising of, efforts to improve
an archive of human and soil management.
natural history, and host to All Australians including industry, the private
extraordinary biodiversity. sector, land managers and governments at
Soil underpins all terrestrial life. federal, state, territory and local levels have a
role to play in properly managing our soil.
Photo: Agent Wolf/Shutterstock.com
34Objective 1a: As part of work to improve recognition
of the value of soil, the federal, state and
Recognise the value of soil territory governments are working to quantify
We recognise the value of soil by making the value of all services provided by soil.
sustainable soil management a critical Environmental-economic accounting,
consideration in policy development, which quantifies the interactions between the
research and practice change across other environment (including soil) and the economy,
national priorities. This objective not only aims is an effective way of recognising value.
to raise the profile of soil and the importance
of soil biodiversity to maintain soil health Progress measures
and support terrestrial living systems. It also 1 Services provided by soil are recognised,
increases the likelihood that landscape-scale understood, measured, mapped
degradation will be appropriately addressed, and valued within environmental,
as the cause may often start with the soil and socio-cultural and economic
its management. accounting frameworks.
2 Soil and the impact of an action or
activity on soil is recognised as a critical
consideration for relevant government
portfolios, policy and programs.
Photo: Soil CRC
35Photo: Soil CRC
Objective 1b: Progress measures
Strengthen leadership and 1 Engagement across multiple
partnerships to address jurisdictions, portfolios, industries,
sectors and First Nations Peoples
national soil priorities on soil-related matters is improved.
We must strengthen national leadership,
2 Leadership and partnerships
partnerships, coordination and collaboration
that increase cooperation and
at all levels and scales in soil activities across
co-investment for joint soil programs
Australia — for example, by leveraging and
across governments, industry,
connecting to existing work, building and
the private sector, First Nations Peoples
fostering relationships and networks,
and others are improved.
and providing an integrated information
platform to better support soil management 3 National, regional and local
decisions and actions. Collaboration between coordination of soil activities is
the private and public sectors across regions, improved to increase leverage
industries and disciplines will be critical to the from past and present investments.
success of the Strategy.
36Objective 1c: If governments, industry and the private sector
have a greater appreciation of the value
Advocate the importance of soil of sustainable soil management, they are
Not all Australians (including the public, more likely to increase their commitment
government agencies, industry and the to conserving and improving soil health.
private sector) have a good understanding or
appreciation of soil. Many see it as ‘just dirt’. Progress measures
There is a strong and obvious link between soil 1 An independent, influential and effective
and agriculture. However, many are unaware voice for soil health is continued by
of or overlook soil’s critical linkages and maintaining government support
the benefits it provides to the environment, for a National Soils Advocate.
infrastructure and human health. 2 Governments, industry, the private
The Australian Government recognises the sector, First Nations Peoples and others
value of soil and acknowledges the need to have an increased knowledge and
embed an appreciation of this value across awareness of the importance of soil to
relevant portfolios and services. It established Australia’s environmental, socio-cultural
a National Soils Advocate for this reason. and economic wellbeing.
The role of the National Soils Advocate is to
be an independent voice for the importance
of good soil management and health and to
advocate to ministers, industry and senior
executives across governments and the
private sector. This is a great foundation.
However, to build a better understanding
of the value of soil, more is needed
across all levels of government, industry,
the private sector and society in general.
Photo: Stephen O’Connor, Brigalow Catchment
Study photographic archive, courtesy of the
Department of Resources, Queensland.
37Objective 1d: The Strategy also provides the opportunity
to support industry sustainability frameworks
Improve Australia’s and encourages the use of sustainably grown
international leadership in Australian food and ingredients into local and
soil knowledge, awareness international supply chains.
and management Progress measures
Australia is well placed to contribute our 1 Australia effectively contributes to
expertise in soil science and management to
significant international fora to progress
a range of international fora where soil policy, efforts to improve soil health.
research and outreach activities are shared
between nations and contribute to global soil 2 Australian soil policy, research,
security efforts — for example, the Global Soil standards and other relevant
Partnership, the International Union of Soil information, skills and capabilities
Sciences and several UN conventions. are shared with other countries,
demonstrating leadership
Australia is a signatory to many international and commitment internationally.
conventions, and under these has mandatory
reporting obligations on our contribution 3 National soil data and information
towards global outcomes (for example, is publicly available in a format that
the United Nations Framework Convention supports Australia’s international
on Climate Change and the United Nations reporting obligations under
Convention on Biological Diversity). international conventions.
The Strategy reaffirms Australia’s commitment
to soil research and management and will
provide the mechanism to better report and
promote our efforts to a global audience.
Photo: Sampling of an Antarctic
soil to measure biodiversity at
Robinson Ridge, near Casey Station,
Antarctica. 2019 © Dr Daniel Wilkins,
Australian Antarctic Division.
38Goal 2:
Empower soil innovation
and stewards
Soil is complex and has Agricultural research and adoption of
innovation are primary drivers of productivity
varying capabilities across
growth. Various economic analyses and
Australian landscapes. reviews undertaken over the past 30 years
Therefore, our management show that investments in agricultural research
practices must be flexible and and innovation have been profitable for
tailored to support productivity Australian producers, with Mullen (2007)
reporting rates of return of between 15%
and reduce soil degradation
and 40%.
in all landscapes.
Despite governments, industry, the private
sector and other stakeholders providing
The future of the Australian agriculture
significant funding to improving soil health
and food sector is highly dependent on its
over the years, soil continues to degrade,
ability to remain productive and competitive
impacting Australia’s economy, environment
while protecting the resources it relies on,
and society. To address this, governments
given fierce competition.
need to plan for and create opportunities
for innovation and partnerships in soil
management so that land managers are
empowered to understand and manage
their soil.
39Objective 2a: For example, liming to increase soil pH
and methods to address non-wetting
Promote soil stewardship surfaces, or peak sub-surface compaction.
Soil supports our vegetation, provides habitat Collectively these practices underpin
to many animals and is critical to our land, thriving ecosystems and enhance
air and water. To support the environment agricultural productivity.
and business bottom lines, it makes sense to
provide mechanisms to support organisations, Progress measures
individuals and land managers, at all levels 1 The factors that motivate land
and scales, to more effectively manage
managers to adopt better soil and
our soil. landscape management practices
There are a range of ongoing land are better understood and applied
management practices that are particularly to program design.
important for maintaining soil and 2 Initiatives that support land managers to
soil health, enhancing soil ecosystem
adopt best-practice soil and landscape
services, and maximising resource use management practices are in place.
efficiency — for example, maintaining
year-round vegetation and ground cover, 3 Best-practice soil management is
increasing areas of rehabilitated and better promoted within and across
replanted native vegetation, maintaining industry boundaries.
or improving soil structure, minimising soil
4 Soil information and tools are available
disturbance, minimising acidification in
to support land managers in the
low-pH soil, reducing soil contamination,
development and adoption of locally
and encouraging soil organic carbon and
appropriate management practices.
biota. Additionally, there can be a need
to manage soil constraints by strategic, 5 First Nations Peoples are engaged
infrequent or ‘one-off’ practices that and employed in the planning,
ameliorate limitations. management and implementation
of soil initiatives.
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