Numerous soil, land capability and land resource surveys have
been carried out across the BDT region. These surveys have been
undertaken with a variety of scales, methodologies and coverage.
The aim of the Land Resource Assessment is to collate existing
information into a Common Soil Mapping Layer, and then identify
areas where there are knowledge gaps. Once these gaps have been
identified a prioritisation process will be conducted to target the
areas that require further investigation.
Adequate land resource information is an
essential component of the data base required for:
- interpreting land
condition information and land use patterns
- analysing
differences across the region and identifying underlying
causes
- developing
appropriate management actions to address land condition issues
&
- mapping local
areas in which management actions need to be focused.
Once completed, the common soil mapping layer
derived from the Land Resource Assessment Project will be a
valuable resource for monitoring changes in land condition and can
also be utilised as a decision support tool for land managers. The
information from this project will be available to all members of
the community.
The following activities will be undertaken in
this project:
- collate existing
land resource survey coverage (completed)
- compile a common
mapping legend to integrate all mapping units from these surveys
(completed)
- identify the gaps
in land resource survey coverage in the BDT region (completed)
- prioritise
the key gaps through stakeholder consultation
(completed) and
- update the Common
Soil Mapping Layer with new information (current)
Project Update
New information is currently being added to the
Common Soil Mapping Layer and is expected to be complete in
late September.