

Introduction
Australia defines itself on the basis of its landform, as much as by the biodiversity forged within it and the people whose culture, beliefs and practices have been shaped by it, whether they be members of Indigenous nations who have more than 50,000 years of unbroken contact with the land, or immigrant communities with less than 250 years here. Whatever their history, the land and the values it provides are as critical to the Australian people’s sense of place as they are to their ongoing wellbeing—spiritual, emotional and physical. The people have also shaped the land and continue to shape it, with sometimes dramatic consequences. This report considers the state of the land today, the pressures it faces, and the management responses that we are implementing to try to balance our need to use the land and our desire to protect it.