Pasture Degradation and Recovery in Australia's
Rangelands
Learning from History
Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy
May 2004
QNRME04130
ISBN 1 920920 55 2
(available on request from rouseabout@nrm.qld.gov.au)
Edited by
Greg McKeon, Wayne Hall, Beverley Henry, Grant Stone and Ian Watson
A Reviewer's Pick
excerpt from page 172
The extended drought periods in each degradation episode have provided a test
of the capacity of grazing systems (i.e. land, plants, animals, humans and social
structure) to handle stress. Evidence that degradation was already occurring
was identified prior to the extended drought sequences. The sequence of dry
years, ranging from two to eight years, exposed and/or amplified the degradation
processes. The unequivocal evidence was provided by: (a) the physical 'horror'
of bare landscapes, erosion scalds and gullies and dust storms; (b) the biological
devastation of woody weeds and animal suffering/deaths or forced sales; and
(c) the financial and emotional plight of graziers and their families due to
reduced production in some cases leading to abandonment of properties or, sadly,
deaths (e.g. McDonald 1991, Ker Conway 1989).
We conclude from this study that there are four components necessary to prevent
degradation of the grazing resource:
a commitment of graziers to manage stock (and fire), against
a background of high climate variability, to prevent degradation of the perennial
pasture resource;
government policies which facilitate and value graziers'
actions in moving to more sustainable grazing systems;
an alert system based on climatic understanding, ecosystem
response and resource monitoring which provides warning before damage occurs
rather than a retrospective analysis after the event; and
financial systems that allow graziers to maintain cash flow
during drought and support management actions aiding pasture resource recovery
after drought.
;)
