Land Management Practices
Land management practices describe the way that land is managed. They indicate the 'how' of land use - the means by which a land use outcome is achieved.
Land management practices have been another increasing focus of the Australian Collaborative Land Use Mapping Programme (ACLUMP) because the drivers for better land use outcomes (economic, social and/or environmental) inevitably drive changes in how land is used. An understanding of links between land use, land management practice and resource condition can provide information to support on-ground decisions to change land management practice - and evidence to support sustainable land use policies and programmes.
Drivers for Land Management Practices Information
Key drivers for land management practices information fall under three broad categories:
- the information needs of natural resource evaluation science (science drivers)
- the needs of land managers for 'best practice' information (industry drivers)
- the needs of reporting frameworks for policy and performance information (national, state, regional and industry drivers)
Through a consultative process, priority land management practices have been identified for the above drivers. These are informing the categorisation of land management practices within a national framework.
A National Approach - The Land Use and Management Information System
A brochure has been prepared outlining the need for a national classification of land management practices and how the Land Use and Management Information System (LUMIS) is being developed.
LUMIS is intended to inform, or be populated, by other systems or frameworks, such as the National Land & Water Resources Audit (in particular 'Signposts for Australian Agriculture') and environmental management systems. The framework aims to provide nationally consistent information at a scale relevant to the user's needs. A key consideration is the linkage of land management practices with land use.