The McGowan Government is working to secure the future prosperity of the State’s natural environment and primary industries with today’s release of the Western Australian Soil Health Strategy.
The Strategy, launched to coincide with World Soil Day, sets the direction to support the management, protection and improvement of the State’s highly complex and variable soils from the Kimberley to the south coast.
Healthy soils are fundamental to food security and environmental sustainability, while being integral to carbon sequestration to help lower carbon in the atmosphere.
The 10-year strategy will guide policy, research, investment and on-ground actions to conserve and enhance the State’s soils while creating an environment that encourages partnerships to invest in building soil health.
The plan will be overseen by the Soil and Land Conservation Council and delivered through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in association with key government, industry and community partners.
For more information on the WA Soil Health Strategy visit https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/wa-soil-health-strategy
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“The WA Soil Health Strategy is more than a document – it is an investment in action to look after our diverse soil ecosystems, which are the foundation for profitable agriculture and the environment.
“Climate change is placing increasing pressure on our soils, with hotter and drier weather affecting plant growth, agricultural production and encouraging bushfires and erosion.
“The Soil Health Strategy is an important step in protecting this essential living resource to ensure our soils continue to function as a vital ecosystem that sustains plants, animals and humans for future generations.
“This work feeds into other critical State Government projects including the recent series of Soil Health Masterclasses as part of the Agriculture Climate Resilience Fund, the Southern Rangelands Revitalisation project, and the Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program.”
