We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the sovereign Traditional Owners of Australia and thank them for their stewardship of this Country, its lands, waters and skies. We respectfully acknowledge their culture and customary practices, and pay respect to their Ancestors, Elders and future leaders.

For the first time, the State of the Environment report includes a strong Indigenous narrative across all 12 thematic chapters, a narrative crafted through recognising the leadership, collaboration and authorship of Indigenous Australians who continue their connection as Traditional Owners to their lands, waters and skies.

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On 28 March 2025 the government assumed a Caretaker role. Information on websites maintained by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will be published in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions until after the conclusion of the caretaker period.

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Showing results 101 - 105 of 105

Table 15 Assessment method for soil health

Parent assessment	Child assessments	Method for assessment
Soil health	Soil health in intensive land-use zone	Results are reported by land-use intensity zones (Figure 6). Assessment is based on evidence in Soil.
Soil health in extensive land-use zone
Soil health in relatively natural zone

Parent assessment

Child assessments

Method for assessment

Soil health

Soil health in intensive land-use zone

Results are reported by land-use intensity zones (Figure 6).

Assessment is based on evidence in Soil.

Soil health in extensive land-use zone

Soil health in relatively natural zone

Definition of assessment ratings:

Very good: Soil quantity and quality exceed the minimum expected to maintain or enhance natural capital values.

Good: Soil quantity and quality meet the minimum expected to maintain natural capital values.

Poor: Soil quantity and quality do not meet the minimum expected. Natural capital values are reduced.

Very poor: Soil quantity and quality are depleted. Natural capital values have been lost.

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Table 16 Assessment method for above- and below-ground carbon

Parent assessment	Child assessments	Method
Above- and below-ground carbon	Above- and below-ground carbon in intensive land-use zone	Results are reported by land-use intensity zones (Figure 6). Assessment is based on evidence in Carbon.
Above- and below-ground carbon in extensive land-use zone
Above- and below-ground carbon in relatively natural zone

Parent assessment

Child assessments

Method

Above- and below-ground carbon

Above- and below-ground carbon in intensive land-use zone

Results are reported by land-use intensity zones (Figure 6).

Assessment is based on evidence in Carbon.

Above- and below-ground carbon in extensive land-use zone

Above- and below-ground carbon in relatively natural zone

Definition of assessment ratings:

Very good: Carbon stocks exceed the minimum expected to maintain or enhance natural capital values.

Good: Carbon stocks meet the minimum expected to maintain natural capital values.

Poor: Carbon stocks do not meet the minimum expected. Natural capital values are reduced.

Very poor: Carbon stocks are depleted. Natural capital values have been lost.

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Table 17 Assessment method for pressures that degrade natural capital

Parent assessment	Child assessments	Method for assessment
Pressures that degrade natural capital	Climate change–induced impacts	Assessment is based on evidence in Climate change and other sections that may touch on climate variability and change.
	Land clearing	Assessment is based on evidence in Land clearing.
	Production and intensive land use	Assessment is based on evidence in Land use – particularly changes in land use from 2010–11 to 2015–16 as reported in land accounts published 29 September 2021 (ABS 2021e, ABS 2021b) (see case study: The National Land Account, experimental estimates (2011–16).
	Invasive species	Assessment is based on evidence in Introduced and invasive species – particularly data aggregated by the Atlas of Living Australia from multiple sources as of September 2021, including Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network survey and monitoring data, and Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species – Australia (EcoAssets 2021).

Definition of assessment ratings:

Very high impact: Pressures strongly degrade state of natural capital in the land environment, over a large extent and with high severity.

High impact: Pressures moderately degrade state of natural capital in the land environment, over a moderate extent and/or with moderate severity.

Low impact: Pressures minimally degrade state of natural capital in the land environment, over a small extent and/or with low severity.

Very low impact: Pressures do not degrade, or only negligibly degrade, the state of natural capital in the land environment.

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Table 18 Assessment method for management of natural capital assets and pressures

Parent assessment	Child assessments	Method for assessment
Management of natural capital assets and pressures	Management of protected areas	Assessment is based on evidence in Protected areas.
	Indigenous-managed lands	Assessment is based on evidence in Indigenous land management.
	Management of native vegetation	Assessment is based on evidence in Retaining and restoring natural capital assets.
	Management of soils
	Management of carbon
	Management of invasive species	Assessment is based on evidence in Invasive species.

Definition of assessment ratings:

Very effective: Management measures maintain or improve state of natural capital. Land environment values are considered secured against known pressures.

Effective: Management measures maintain or improve state of natural capital, but pressures remain as significant factors that degrade land environment values.

Partially effective: The expected impacts of management measures on improving state of natural capital are yet to be seen. Pressures continue to degrade land environment values.

Ineffective: Despite management measures, state of natural capital is still poor or continuing to decline. Unmitigated pressures continue to significantly degrade land environment values.

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Table 19 Assessment method for management of the terrestrial environment and resources to support human wellbeing

Parent assessment	Child assessments	Method for assessment
Management of the terrestrial environment and resources to support human wellbeing	Not applicable	Assessment is based on evidence in Indigenous land managers and rangers, Farmers and graziers and Landcare volunteers

Definition of assessment ratings:

Very effective: Land management measures maintain or improve wellbeing of people and communities. Life quality and satisfaction are considered secured against known pressures on land environmental values.

Effective: Land management measures maintain or improve wellbeing of people and communities, but pressures on land environmental values remain as significant factors affecting life quality and satisfaction.

Partially effective: The expected impacts of land management measures on improving wellbeing of people and communities are yet to be seen. Pressures on land environmental values remain as significant factors influencing life quality and satisfaction.

Ineffective: Despite land management measures, wellbeing of people and communities is still poor or continuing to decline. Unmitigated pressures on land environmental values remain as significant factors influencing life quality and satisfaction.

For more information, go toApproach