Land sparing vs land sharing: what Australia's land use debate misses

Australia's land use debate is often framed as a choice between land sparing, farming intensively to leave more nature untouched, and land sharing, managing farmland so it supports wildlife. A new Climateworks Centre report argues the two approaches are not as opposed as they sound. In practice, they complement each other, and which one matters more depends on location, biodiversity goals, and how productivity is measured. The report also highlights real measurement problems. Soil carbon is a good example: it benefits farming systems, but proving that management changes deliver climate mitigation is expensive and difficult. The authors call for a national land use framework built on scenario modelling, local knowledge, and clearer definitions of practices like regenerative agriculture.