View Our Strategy Document 2019 – 2024
August 30, 2024
Future Landscapes
In the future, landscapes will contain mosaics of land use that are more resilient, healthy and prosperous than today
Science Theme Leader
Susie McKeague – Director, Farm Environmental Consulting
New Zealand’s agricultural landscape is dominated by large farms that produce single products, on land classified according to its maximum capability. Over time, in many cases this has resulted in undesirable environmental outcomes.
Future Landscapes researchers developed the concept of “land use suitability” to describe not just the land’s capability to grow a product, but also consider impacts on soil and waterways, and economic, social and cultural outcomes. We applied a te ao Māori interconnected and intergenerational perspective which adds depth to this approach.
Our research gave land owners and regional councils the tools and models to identify distinct ‘zones’ of land according to a precise understanding of the sources and flows of contaminants, backed by reliable data. We identified and tested novel production systems to give farmers, growers and mana whenua a greater choice of profitable land use options.
Our research will help land owners choose the right product to grow or farm in the right place, developing a diverse ‘mosaic’ of land uses that are more resilient, lead to healthier land and water, and provide more income security than today.
Our Goal
The land and water in our productive environment is in a state that reflects our values as New Zealanders and meets the expectations of those abroad. Decisions on land-use change and management practices are able to be made with confidence, leading to measurable and substantial improvements in catchment land and water quality.
Future Landscapes Projects
Visualising Forestry Harvesting Cycles
Future risk planning through the visualisation of forestry harvesting cycles. For full information see the programme website
This project has produced
Matarau: Empowering Māori Landowners in Land Use Decisions
Providing accessible and useful data to support Māori landowners to prioritise land-use options. For full information see the programme website
This project has produced
Next Generation Systems
Identifying next generation primary production systems and opportunities to change the face of farming
This project has produced
Assessing Contaminants with Stream Order
Determining whether excluding livestock from large streams in flat catchments would substantially decrease the contaminant load
Innovative Agricultural Microbiomes
Understanding and manipulating interactions between soil, plant and animal microbiomes to improve water quality and sustainable pastoral productivity
Interoperable Modelling
Designing an open source modelling system to assess productivity potential and water quality contaminant dynamics at farm and catchment scales
Land Use Opportunities
Developing a holistic decision-making framework for evaluating land use opportunities.
This project has produced
Pohewa Pae Tawhiti
Supporting land-use change decisions that are consistent with landowner long-range visions and priorities, through an integrated framework that incorporates tools, models and innovative guidelines and…
This project has produced
Monitoring Freshwater Improvement Actions
Monitoring the effectiveness of interventions and mitigation actions on freshwater improvement. For full information see the programme website
This project has produced