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Exploring how New Zealanders use our land, soil and water resources wisely. With a focus on productive landscapes, including urban environments, this portfolio is designed to provide solutions for more sustainable land use, to reduce the impact of land use on our water, and to help protect and restore our soils.

Primarily focused on Manaaki Whenua’s land ambition, this research enables land managers to improve the alignment between land use and key environmental social, economic and cultural goals. Strategies to minimise, buffer or mitigate adverse environmental impacts from using and developing land (e.g. agriculture, tourism, energy production, mining, timber and transport) assist in maintaining a comparative advantage in competitive global markets, and improve the health of our land and water assets. 

Research priorities 

  • Soil and ecosystem health  
  • Erosion process and management 
  • Integrated land and water management 

Key leaders