Driver Research Projects
Drivers of Land Use Change | Driver Research | Conference 2002
In its early phases, the project sought to examine the impacts to native biodiversity from the current and predicted trends in land use, and to report on the drivers that are stimulating these trends and changes.
Several Background Reports were prepared (see below). These reports were summarised in an Overview Report (see below). The project team also organised a conference along these themes - refereed papers are also available - Rural Land-Use-Change Conference - 2002.
Overview
Understanding why land use changes occur is an important step towards identifying those postive changes that maintain native biodiversity. This report integrates and summarises the research results from Phase 1 of the Drivers of Land Use Change (DLUC) project. These findings add greatly to the current understanding of 'drivers' that contribute to major changes in rural land uses and landscapes.
A report outlining the methods was also prepared.
Land use impacts on native biodiversity
The use to which agricultural land is put may have a positive or negative impact on native biodiversity. This sub–project sought to understand how land uses and associated management practices may impact on native biodiversity and to identify the most significant relationships. | |
Landscape scenarios balancing biodiversity and agricultural systems
The work to fulfil this deliverable was sub-contracted to DPI’s Research and Development Division, Bendigo, with additional funding support from DSE Catchment & Water Services. The resulting report is entitled Methodology to model and evaluate land use change and policy impacts on biodiversity– an application of the Land Use Impact Model (LUIM). The model has been developed using data from our study area, Honeysuckle Creek. The model can be used to:
- improve our knowledge relating to the spatial impact of land use change, and how it is influenced by policy and other drivers
- bring about greater understanding of the relationship between agriculture and biodiversity
- provide a basis for future research into the impacts of land use change.
Personal Drivers–interviews
Interviews with farming families were undertaken to gain an understanding of why land use decisions are made. The interview questions are based on Max-Neef's nine fundamental human needs. The interviews were analysed to develop a grounded theory about what influences decisions. The results are central to the ultimate findings of the project.
Mega-drivers of land use change
Drivers in this context mean off-farm influences on farmer behaviour. They range from the global to local. It is important to identify those that are influential. This sub-project gathered and analysed information about the drivers of those land use changes that are likely to significantly affect native biodiversity outcomes in the study area, and more broadly in Victoria. Three separate reports were prepared – firstly, on mega-drivers generally. Two additional reports were prepared that examined the supply chains (covering both inputs and outputs) for cropping and plantations.
Understand drivers of land use change associated with life style farms
This sub-project reviewed what is known about life style farms in the Honeysuckle Creek study area to their significance in terms of land usage, where they are located and how they were created. The project developed ideas about indicators for lifestyle farms and provided information on the likely impact (positive and negative) of life style farms on maintenance of native biodiversity.
Land use policy
This sub–project provided information on policy and planning relevant to land use change at local and regional levels. This includes information on the objectives of organisations (e.g. local government, Catchment Management Authorities) and their policies (e.g. Regional Catchment Strategies, local planning schemes).
Please note: Document(s) on this page are presented in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download a copy free from the Adobe website.
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DLUC - Overview Report - Land use changes, their drivers and impacts on native biodiversity (PDF - 327 KB)