Pastoral land monitoring system of the Pastoral Land Board

Monitoring and reporting on the condition of pastoral land is a key function of the Pastoral Land Board which is also responsible for instigating remedial action to restore pastoral land condition. The Pastoral Land Board is required to report to the minister annually on the general condition of pastoral land.

Go to the Pastoral Land Board Annual Reports.

In support of the Pastoral Land Board, the department operates a two-tiered pastoral land monitoring system.

The Tier 1 program uses photos and visual assessment of photo-point sites to assess pastoral land condition and changes over time.  Pastoralists are encouraged to use the photo-point sites to become more aware of pasture plants and the level of pasture used by stock.

Properties are visited every three years under the Tier 1 program.  There are 2,235 Tier 1 sites established throughout the Territory on 223 properties (including some on other tenures that are also used for pastoral production such as crown leases and Aboriginal properties), with an average of 10 sites on each property.

The Tier 2 programs are designed to provide an objective assessment of pastoral land condition using remote sensing and ground-based assessment.  The program aims to distinguish between changes in pasture resulting from season from those due to grazing management over time.