Home > Soils > Soil Conservation Schemes >

Soil Conservation Schemes

The Department of Natural Resources has the legislative responsibility for the protection and conservation of the State's soil resources and the mitigation of soil erosion. Soil erosion, wind erosion, salinity, soil structural decline, acidity, mass movement and woody weed infestation, (collectively known as land degradation) are major environmental problems that do occur naturally, but mainly as a result of inappropriate land use and land management practices.

A catchment-based approach to integrated natural resource management, based on the community's participation, is fostered.

Funding for soil conservation projects is available under the Special Conservation Scheme from the Rural Assistance Authority, and under Section 10 Soil Conservation Projects from your local Catchment Management Authority.

Special Conservation Scheme

The NSW State Government through the NSW Rural Assistance Authority provides long-term, concessional interest loans to encourage landholders to combat land degradation and drought proof properties by undertaking soil and water conservation works.

Section 10 Soil Conservation Projects

Section 10 Soil Conservation Projects are community–driven schemes, coordinated on a catchment or sub-catchment basis to treat, control and prevent land degradation and are so-called because they are declared under Section 10 of the Soil Conservation Act.

Further information

There are several sources of information about soil conservation issues available free of charge from this website:

Our Soils glossary contains definitions of common soil and land terms.
The Soil links provide a range of useful links to sites providing information related to soil generally.
Soils publications gives access to free, online copies of numerous publications provided by the Department of Natural Resources.

References and further reading lists a range of other reference works, scientific journal papers and other sources of information about soil.

Incidents of soil pollution, can be reported to the Department of Environment and Conservation.