You are here: Environmental reporting 
Land
Land use
Change in land use is an indicator of pressure on the land, but is not the same as change in land cover. For example, pastoral land cover could be used for a number of land uses, such as sheep, beef, dairy or deer farming.
Land-use information can also provide information about land-use intensity, such as stocking rates and productivity.
Land-use maps, and estimates from the Agricultural Production Survey and the National Exotic Forest Description, are used to report on national changes in land use and land-use intensity.
Current situation
In 2004, pastoral land use (for example, sheep, beef and dairy farming) was New Zealand’s largest human land use at just over 37 per cent of New Zealand’s total land area.
In the same year, natural land cover – such as tussock, native forest, rivers, lakes, snow, ice and scrub – covered just over 52 per cent of New Zealand’s total land area. Natural land cover is primarily used for recreation and conservation purposes.
Land use in New Zealand, 2004
Data source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
These land-use figures are consistent with land-cover measurements taken in 2002, which recorded that natural land cover was 50 per cent and pasture was 39 per cent of New Zealand’s total land area.
Recent trends
Recent changes in land use in New Zealand include:
- an increase in intensive pastoral land use with higher stocking rates and stocking densities
- diversification (eg, changing land use in the horticultural industry)
- a decrease in the forestry sector, resulting in reductions in new exotic forest plantings and replantings following harvesting.
What can you do?
- Planting trees removes carbon from the atmosphere, filters air and prevents soil erosion. Plant trees native to your area that don't require heavy irrigation.
- Fence off streams and river banks to help protect our waterways. Planting native vegetation or other plants enhances water quality by filtering sediment, faecal bacteria and nutrients from surface water run-off.
- Visit www.landcare.org.nz for information about sustainable land management and biodiversity initiatives in rural communities.
This information has come from the latest national state of the environment report Environment New Zealand 2007.
Move to the next land indicator: soil health.
Last updated: December 2007
