The Australian State of the Environment Report 2011 was released yesterday, and what was remarkable about the report is that despite clear evidence of improved land and water management by farmers in particular, the authors just couldn't bring themselves to admit that environmental management in Australia is improving. Could it be a case of the wheel needing to sound squeaky in order to keep getting the (Government funding) oil?

The Australian State of the Environment Report is a five-yearly compilation of environmental indicators, which aims to provide an objective assessment of how the Australian environment is being managed. The most recent version was released yesterday. 

For a range of available indicators dealing with land and water issues, it was apparent from the report that there has been considerable improvement. This includes the adoption of conservation tillage and better land management practices, the reversal of net rates of land clearing to a stage where areas under native vegetation are now expanding, a big reduction in the apparent threat of dryland salinity, and a steady increase in the area of Australian now in conservation areas (more than 20%). However, the authors are grudging in their acknowledgement, as the following quotes highlight;

While land-management practices have improved during the past few decades, in agricultural systems the loss of soil carbon, and soil acidification and erosion, are problematic and may have major impacts on production.

The widespread adoption of minimum tillage in agriculture during the past decade is a major achievement by Australian farmers that reduces pressures affecting the land environment. However, current rates of soil erosion by water across much of Australia exceed soil formation rates by a factor of at least several hundred and, in some areas, several thousand.

Two graphics from the report highlight the significance of changes (and changes in perceptions) that have occurred. The first shows the changes in cultivation practices on farms. It highlights the very high level of adoption of minimum or no tillage in Australia (higher than in virtually any nation world-wide) which has major benefits in terms of reduce soil erosion, water retention and soil carbon maintenance. Perhaps a bit more praise for farmers might be in order?

The second highlights that what was considered to be an extremely threatening issue just a decade ago (dryland salinity) has now virtually dropped off the agenda. What is interesting about this issue is that many experienced researchers considered that the threat was massively exaggerated (as highlighted by an Australian Farm Institute paper) when its extent and future potential was first estimated in 2001 (perhaps due to the promise of large amounts of public funding?)  and this is now being belatedly recognised. 

Perhaps the most important part of the entire SOE report is the recognition that on many issues, there is a lack of data, and this makes it very difficult to accurately determine whether things are getting better or worse. As the authors note;

Assessing the state of Australia’s environment is inherently difficult. .... The inadequacies of environmental data in Australia are, in part, a symptom of a lack of national coordination.

Despite this, the information that is available on a number of issues points to a dramatic improvement in environmental management. What a pity the reports authors were not prepared to acknowledge those improvements more enthusiastically!