Australia's rangelands are experiencing a radical re- evaluation of natural resources, with declining commodity values and enhanced amenity values. Pastoral dominance is being displaced by diversity in values, uses and ownership. Long- standing environmental and locational constraints on regional development are increasingly being expressed in new structural barriers with the new resource values either yielding little income or else susceptible to income transfer beyond the rangelands. Regional development strategies must address these structural problems, and must recognise the high regional multipliers in servicing directly the needs of peoples compared with commodity production. Regional strategies need to consider social, cultural and environmental as well as economic outcomes. Regional coalitions of diverse, previously antagonistic interests are essential if regional benefits are to be maximised.
September 24-27, 1996
Port Augusta, South Australia
ISSN 1323-6660
Full-text publications from the Australian Rangelands Society (ARS) Biennial Conference Proceedings (1997-), Rangeland Journal (ARS/CSIRO; 1976-), plus videos and other resources about the rangelands of Australia.