Australia
Table of contents
Land Use in Australia
Land Use patterns in Australia
What is the area of different land uses in Australia?
Where are the agricultural lands in Australia?
Where can I find more detailed land use mapping?
What sources of information were used?
Further information
Land Use in Australia
An understanding of the impact of human settlement and resource development
across Australia is a fundamental requirement for the assessment of the condition
and trend of land and water resources.
Mapping land use pattern provides a basis for characterising Australia's landscape
and understanding agricultural production and land management practices.
For example, land use information provides input to:
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planning and implementing different land use practices
assessing the suitability of changes in land use with respect to climate,
soil, slope and water availability
assessing environmental impacts and land at risk from land degradation
such as salinity, flood, drought, and erosion
assessing agricultural productivity and opportunities for diversification
multi-disciplinary consideration (economics, management and ecology) of
Australia's lands where the requirements of many interests need to be
considered both in space and time
national, state and regional reporting about land use patterns, intensity
and diversity
strategic decision making and
achieving natural resource management objectives (a combination of
profitability, productivity and sustainability, recognising the
interdependence of economy and ecology).
Australian land use is represented by the area of dominant land use by level of
intervention or intensity. Thus nature conservation represents those areas with
least human intervention, whilst the built environment has the greatest
intervention. Generally. waterbodies have been classified according to the level of
intervention and are thus often part of nature conservation.
Below are the land use categories shown in the maps and tabular data based on
the 1996/97 Land Use of Australia, Version 2:
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Nature conservation: encompasses the Collaborative Protected Areas
Database's World Conservation Union (IUCN) categories 'strict nature
reserve', 'wilderness area', 'national park', 'natural feature protection',
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'habitat/species management area' and 'protected landscape'. See the
Protected Areas product for definitions of the IUCN categories. Also
includes 'other conserved area' which is crown land reserved for
environmental conservation and recreational purposes without a gazetted
IUCN category.
Other protected areas including indigenous uses: includes the IUCN
category 'managed resource protection' together with aboriginal reserves
(reserved crown land), private freehold and leasehold by aborigines
undertaking negligible agriculture.
Minimal use: encompasses reserved crown land (stock routes, defence
reserves and mine reserves) and vacant and institutional crown land. Also
includes private land with open or closed native forest with unknown use
(most likely remnant native cover).
Livestock grazing: those areas under native pasture used for extensive
grazing by livestock.
Forestry: encompasses production forestry (of native forests), plantation
forestry (large industrial sized areas planted with native and exotic
species) and farm forestry (small scale commercial areas of native and
exotic species generally for specialised markets).
Dryland agriculture: includes grazing of modified/sown pastures, cropping
and horticulture where no irrigation is used.
Irrigated agriculture: includes all agricultural activities under irrigation grazing, cropping and horticulture.
Built environment: refers largely to urban areas (residential and licensed
airports). Also includes those potentially agricultural areas unassigned.
These areas are most likely to be rural residential in periurban areas and
open-cut mines.
Waterbodies not elsewhere classified: most waterbodies are classified
according to their land use and tend to fall under a IUCN category.
The land uses shown are listed by increasing level of human
modification/intervention. This excludes the category 'Waterbodies not elsewhere
classified' as these features really relate to land cover rather than land use. These
land use categories are a simplification of the Australian Land Use and
Management (ALUM) Classification, Version 4.
It is important to realise that land use and land cover do not necessarily reflect the
same thing. Thus 'Forestry' is not all forests, rather those forested areas (both
native and exotic species) used for commercial purposes. Also land may have
more than one use and thus only the prime use (based on the information
available) is reflected. The prime use may differ from user to user depending on
the purpose of the map or data they require. This suggests the need to retain as
much information about a land parcel on its range of uses so the data can be
modified for the required purpose. Land tenure provides information on land
ownership and can infer land use.
Table of contents
Land Use patterns in Australia
Rainfall, or the lack of it, is the most important single factor determining land use in Australia.
Australia's area is 769 million hectares, with about one quarter mostly desert and not used commercially. Ea
to be established near reliable water supplies leading to Australia's population being concentrated along the c
comparatively fertile, well-watered east, south-east and far south-west. The establishment of irrigation schem
government, also played an important role in populating inland Australia. The discovery of the Great Artesian
reliable water for the pastoral industry in the dry inland grazing country.
The most extensive land use in Australia is livestock grazing in arid and semi-arid regions and covers 430 mi
percent of Australia. In total, the area of agricultural land is 473 million hectares or nearly 62 percent of the
million sheep, 24 million beef cattle and 3 million dairy cattle in 1996/97, Australian agriculture is predomina
Agriculture was worth $28 billion with $11.9 billion from livestock industries, $11.6 billion from cropping, and
horticulture (Australian Bureau of Statistics 1999). Although agriculture is still an important player in the Aus
mining, manufacturing, service and construction now contribute more to the economy than agriculture.
Minimal uses occur over nearly 16 percent of the continent. Covering 120.8 million hectares, 76 percent of th
vacant or institutional crown land. Minimal use is located predominantly in Western Australia in the arid zone
Queensland and New South Wales, remnant native cover on private land represent significant areas within th
category covering collectively in those States nearly 23 million hectares.
Other protected areas including indigenous uses cover 102.6 million hectares (or over 13 percent) of Australi
(89 percent) is for traditional indigenous uses. Traditional indigenous uses are located predominantly in the N
(48.3 million hectares), Western Australia (23.3 million hectares) and South Australia (16.9 million hectares)
to some extent the tropical north.
Nearly 50 million hectares or 6.5 percent of Australia has the land use of nature conservation. This includes f
salt lakes in South Australia like Lake Eyre. Eighty-five percent of Australia's nature conservation area is gaze
strict nature reserve and national park.
Forestry tends to be confined to regions of Australia with higher rainfall and covers nearly 2 percent of the co
The most intensive use is the built environment, which occupies about 2.4 million hectares, or 0.3 percent of
environment encompasses both urban and periurban areas and open-cut mines. Open-cut mines represent a
of the built environment and would include mines such as the brown coal mines in the La Trobe Valley, Victor
built environment that more than 80 percent of Australia's 19 million people reside (as at June 30, 1999).
Change in land use and intensity is most prevalent in the built environment. Within urban areas there is pres
density of housing with smaller block sizes, multiple dwellings and inner city apartment living. On the urban f
land, particularly the intensive horticultural and dairying industries, are lost to urban development to constru
small acreage hobby-farms.
Within the agricultural sector, between 1983 and 1997, there has been a decline in farm numbers and an inc
area under irrigation has increased in NSW, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory. This has
in the area sown to rice in southern NSW and cotton in northern NSW and eastern Queensland (Walcott et al
The area under forestry is also increasing, with less productive or profitable agricultural land being planted to
species for commercial or for a range of conservation purposes. Clearing native vegetation, principally on pri
undertaken for urban development and expansion of agricultural lands. Initiatives like the Regional Forests A
the Commonwealth and the States have lead to changes in publicly owned native forests from production for
conservation.
Change in land ownership, for example from the Commonwealth or States to traditional aboriginal owners, is
a change in land use but rather a change in how that land is managed.
Since European settlement, the Australian environment has been greatly altered by agriculture, mining, fores
urbanisation. In terms of area, agricultural and pastoral activities have had the greatest impact on Australia's
the land resource is managed is closely related to its use and involves many issues such as land degradation
quality, vegetation clearance and degradation, reduced biodiversity and impact of feral animals and weeds.
View an A4 size map of Australian land uses
Acknowledgments and Caveats
The 1996/97 Land Use of Australia, Version 2, is the source of the Australian land use information, maps agr
agricultural land uses for April 1996 to March 1997.
Non-agricultural land uses were derived from a number of available data sets:
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Protected areas are from the Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database compiled and mainta
Australia (CAPAD97 for Tasmania and CAPAD99 for mainland Australia).
The topographic features of waterbodies, built-up areas and licensed airports are from TOPO-250K V
1999 update) released by Geoscience Australia.
The 1997 Australian Land Tenure Data Set compiled by the National Forest Inventory (NFI) provided
private and aboriginal land in Australia. Native and plantation forests are from the 1997 Australian N
Forestry Data Set compiled by the NFI. The forestry data was improved by inclusion of Queensland p
1995 Australian Land Cover Data Set prepared by the Bureau of Rural Sciences.
Agricultural land uses were determined through an automated process to spatially allocate the agricultural ce
satellite imagery using a method described as SPREAD (Walker & Mallawaarachchi 1998). Advanced Very Hig
Radiometer (AVHRR) data captured by the Australian Centre for Remote Sensing was processed by CSIRO D
Research. Further processing was undertaken by Environment Australia to provide maximum NDVI (Normalis
Vegetation Index) composite images with the majority of cloud contamination removed.
Control sites were provided by various state and territory agencies largely through field visits and farmer inte
participating agencies were: NSW Agriculture, Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Q
Natural Resources, Primary Industries and Resources SA, Agriculture WA, Tasmanian Department of Primary
Environment and NT Department of Lands Planning and Environment.
The maps of land use across Australia use a simplified 5km grid cell, whilst the State and territory maps utili
size of the 1996/97 Land Use of Australia, Version 2. All tabular data was determined from the 1km grided p
The data presented (unless indicated) reflects 1996/97 statistics from a range of sources with particular use
Use of Australia, Version 2 and the Australian Bureau of Statistics' agricultural census data, AgStats.
Those establishments with only a small contribution to overall agricultural production are excluded from the a
Since 1993/94 all establishments with an estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) of $5000 or more
EVAO was previously $22500 or more. The value of agricultural production is expressed in terms of gross val
defines as the value placed on recorded production at wholesale prices realised in principal markets.
Table of contents
What is the area of different land uses in Australia?
Table: Area of land uses in Australia
Total Extent ('000
ha)
Land Use Description
Total Extent
(%)
No Data
187.4
0
Nature conservation
49881.3
6.5
Other protected areas including
indigenous uses
102631.2
13.4
Minimal use
120812.3
15.7
Livestock grazing
430100.8
56
Forestry
15187
2
Dryland agriculture
40310.8
5.2
Irrigated agriculture
2170.3
.3
Built environment
2442.4
.3
Waterbodies not elsewhere classified
4993.7
.6
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Where are the agricultural lands in Australia?
Climate and soils play a major role where agricultural activities occur. As the driest continent in the world
(excluding Antarctica), effective rainfall (where rainfall exceeds evaporation) is extremely important in Austra
Most of our soils are naturally infertile and shallow, with deficiencies in phosphorus or nitrogen. Thus
superphosphate and nitrogenous fertilisers are widely used. The choice of crop and pasture species within a
farming system are also important to return nutrients to the system, maintain soil structure and minimise
waterlogging.
Areas that have been cleared for crop and pasture production tend to coincide with five to nine months of eff
rainfall per year. In areas of effective rainfall of more than nine months, generally only higher value crops or
tropical crops and fruits are grown, while in areas with effective rainfall of less than five months, cropping is
usually restricted to areas that are irrigated.
Australia can be divided in 3 agricultural zones:
1. High rainfall zone
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Occurs in a narrow strip along Australia's east coast, Tasmania and the south-west corner of Western
Australia.
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Rainfall relatively high (> 500 mm annually) and reliable.
Fruit and vegetable growing and dairying are very important in the south, while the growing of sugar
tropical fruits and vegetables are prevalent in the north.
The dominance of sown pastures allows high stocking rates of beef cattle throughout the region. The
region is generally too wet for sheep.
This highly productive coastal region comprises about 6 percent of Australia and contains all its majo
cities.
2. Wheat belt
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Transitional zone between the continent's wet coast and its arid interior.
Produces almost all of Australia's cereal grain. Most farms also raise livestock. Wheat is grown throug
the zone, but in the south it is combined with sheep farming and the growing of barley and oats. In t
north, cattle are widespread with sorghum and oilseeds also grown.
Livestock densities in the wheat belt are lower than on the coast, particularly in the north where past
are not sown.
Under irrigation, the region produces fruit and wine grapes and in the north, cotton crops.
The wheat belt represents 14 percent of the continent's land area.
3. Pastoral zone
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Agriculture is restricted to the raising of livestock on native pastures.
Most of Australia's inland area (comprising 72 percent of Australia) is too dry to sow pasture or crops
However, three-quarters of this arid region has sufficient plant cover to support extensive grazing,
provided ground water is available.
Beef cattle are raised on huge properties in the north while sheep farming predominates in the south
In far northern Australia (comprising 8 percent of the continent), monsoonal rains allow vigorous gro
native grasses during the wet season. However, once the rain stops, these grasses dry very quickly a
cease to be nutritious leading to very low cattle stocking rates.
Table of contents
Where can I find more detailed land use mapping?
The catchment scale land use mapping was initially undertaken in the Audit's Key Implementation Areas and
Western Australia to:
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establish agreed and repeatable specifications and procedures for mapping and undertaking data qua
assurance for a program of continued land use mapping across Australia. These data sets cover 35%
Australia,
integrate the mapping of land use and native vegetation in Western Australia and
provide information at the catchment scale for input into the Audit's Implementation Area projects.
Mt Lofty Ranges, South Australia
Fitzroy River Basin, Queensland
East and West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Regions, Victoria
Western Australia
The map below shows the available regional mapping areas, the scale of mapping and classification level acc
to the Australian Land Use Management Classification.
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What sources of information were used?
Australian Bureau of Statistics (1999) AgStats: Small Area of Agricultural
Commodity Data 1996-97
Australian Bureau of Statistics (1999b) Australian Demographic Statistics. (3101.0
June 1999)
Australian Land Use Management Classification
Bureau of Rural Sciences (1997) National Forest Inventory, Australian Tenure
1:250 000
Bureau of Rural Sciences (1999) 1995 Land Cover 1:25 000
Bureau of Rural Sciences (1999) National Forest Inventory, Native Forest and
Plantations of Australia 1:250 000
Division of National Mapping (1980) Atlas of Australian Resources, Third Series,
Volume 1 Soils and Land Use. Canberra
Environment Australia (1998) Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database CAPAD97
Environment Australia (2000) Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database CAPAD99
National Land and Water Resources Audit (2001) 1996/97 Land Use of Australia,
Version 2
Randall, L (2001). Coordination of land use mapping of key implementation areas.
Final Report BRR6. National Land and Water Resources Audit, Canberra.
Stewart, J.B., Smart, R.V., Barry, S.C. and Veitch, S.M. (2001)1996/97 Land Use
of Australia - Final Report for Project BRR5 , National Land and Water Resources
Audit, Canberra.
Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (1999)
Tasmanian Rural and Fishing Industry Profiles
Walcott, J.J., Zuo, H. and Rath, H. (2001) Recent changes in agricultural land use
in Australia. Proceedings of the 10th Australian Agronomy Conference, Hobart,
2001
Walker, P.A. and Mallawaarachchi, T. (1998) Disaggregating agricultural statistics
using NOAA-AVHRR NDVI. Remote Sensing and the Environment 63, 112-125
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Further information
Link to the map maker to view national land use information
Link to the Australian Natural Resources Data Library to download national and
regional scale land use data
The future of land use mapping in Australia (Case Study 1 in the Australian Natural
Resources Information 2002 report)
Exit to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia home page
Exit to the Department of the Environment and Heritage home page
Exit to the Australian Bureau of Statistics home page
Exit to the Geoscience Australia home page
Exit to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics home page
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