Final Report

Characterising South-West Australia's rainfall using speleotherms and climate models

Final report on the project in which Dr Pauline Treble used chemical analysis in the layers formed on cave stalagmites to discover the prehistoric variability of Australia’s rainfall. These have then been compared with climate model’s predictions of the past. The research is providing a deeper understanding of the speleothem record for south-western Australia and the Murray Darling Basin. Pauline’s fieldwork has recovered material suitable to know what drip water tells about the surface rainfall (more)...

Dynamic Non-Market Valuation of Ecosystem Services

This study combines non market valuation and bio economic modelling in a dynamic model of ecosystem services.  First, because non market valuation and bio economic models use different concepts of valuation, the values of ecosystem services are defined. Next, an analytical solution is derived which includes a dynamic Lancaster demand system and new methods for welfare analysis.  Finally, both revealed and stated preference methods are proposed for estimating the value of ecosystem (more)...

Frogs as bio-indicators of chemical useage and farm practices in an irrigated agricultural area

Dramatic declines and extinctions in frog populations worldwide and high frequencies of physical or reproductive abnormalities in frogs may be directly or indirectly related to agricultural activities among other factors. The causes of the declines in amphibian populations remain unresolved, but recent studies suggest six main hypotheses to explain them: habitat destruction chemical contaminants, particularly pesticides increasing (more)...

Salinity control with sustainable farm salt balance through integrated management

Climate change impacts on Australia’s rangeland livestock carrying capacity: A review of challenges

This report reviews the current state of knowledge in terms of assessing the impacts of climate change on livestock carrying capacity (LCC) in Australian rangelands, particularly concentrating on northern Australia. The report is based on two previous publications (McKeon 2006, McKeon et al. 2009) and documents the importance of livestock carrying capacity as a driver of rangeland productivity and resource condition. We reviewed calculation procedures using climate (more)...

Incorporating Native Vegetation Management into Agricultural Production Systems

This report presents results of a study into programs and policies that have been, and are being, used to encourage the integration of native vegetation management into agricultural systems. The purpose of the study was to identify information that is imp

Managing Landscapes to Meet Public Biodiversity and Farm Business Goals

In summary, we have shown that economically, financially and environmentally sound strategies exist for landholders in the mid and upper Goulburn Broken Catchment that will meet catchment management targets. The results indicate possibilities for reorgani

Landscape design principles for native vegetation management

This Final Report follows 4 Milestone Reports that covered research methods, activities and preliminary results. The sections that follow summarise the project objectives; results achieved against those objectives; communication and adoption activities; p

Ecological Thresholds for Vegetation Management in Southern Queensland

Clearing remnant vegetation for agricultural development has lead to habitat loss, fragmentation and the disruption of important ecosystem processes. This project aims to improve the knowledge of ecological thresholds for habitat retention and manageme

Biodiversity dynamics in relation to habitat loss and disturbance in the NSW wheatbelt

In originally proposing this project, we had three main motivations: to bring new ideas and analytical methods to bear on native vegetation management; to emphasise the importance of landscape and biodiversity dynamics; and to reach policy audiences.