• describe the components of soil and important land degradation processes (erosion, nutrient depletion and salinisation)
• explain how multiple factors may lead to unsustainable land management practice and identify possible points of intervention for tackling land degradation problems
• give examples of successful strategies for sustainable land management in different ecological zones and farming systems and identify the biophysical and socio-economic factors related to their success
• discuss the complex relationship between poverty and environmental degradation
• examine the role of government intervention and policy in creating conditions for sustainable land management.