As the pressures on natural resources intensify, achieving sustainable land use for the good of both society and the environment is a fundamental global challenge.

Our research is firmly focused on achieving this goal.

The greatest strength of the Institute is the team of people who work here. Our work encompasses a large number of scientific disciplines, with soil, plant and animal scientists, geographers, socio-economists and IT specialists. The Institute is able to take a more holistic approach to land use research by bringing these specialists together to work across disciplines.

We study the physical, environmental and social consequences of land use, focusing on:

• issues such as the quality of life, the public good and wealth creation
• the impact of land use on the quality of our environment
• evaluating the trade-offs between the environmental, economic and social objectives of land use

Land use has significant consequences for environmental conditions and economic development opportunities in rural areas.

We aim to meet the needs of land managers as well as the government representatives who formulate and implement land use policy. Our research provides information to government advisers, the heritage agencies, the water industry and the statutory environmental protection agencies at the local, regional and national level.

Further information

Researchers interested in working here can find out more about how our work is organised, as well as current vacancies.