LINKS TO OTHER DIMENSIONS OF PROGRESS

In parts of Australia, land-related changes that result from human activities can take a long time to show themselves. The response time depends on a complex interaction of climate, geology and patterns of land use. Weeds and animal pests affect national income and wealth through the decreased value of production for farms, as farmers spend time and money managing weed-related issues, and animal and insect pests.

Some forms of agricultural production, land clearance, and other factors such as the weather can all contribute to salinity, which in turn impacts on biodiversity. National income and wealth are also affected by salinity, not just through the loss of agricultural production but also because of damage to roads, rail and buildings (the severity of these effects varies considerably from region to region). Soil erosion can also affect inland waters, as well as estuaries and inshore marine environments such as the Great Barrier Reef.

Land clearing has implications for greenhouse gas emissions and problems associated with inland water. Soil from agricultural land is washed into streams and dams, adding to the nutrient load.

See also the commentaries linked below.