We estimate that almost 80% of the landscapes of the Gascoyne Catchment have become severely degraded since the introduction of ungulate grazing animals ～150 years ago. This indicates a trend of continuing degradation since the first assessment in 1969 -1971. The degradation is most severe in the most productive and ecologically critical parts of the landscape, and the degrading processes now entrained in the landscapes will continue without specific management interventions.
A model of impacts of grazing and trampling on these Gondwanan landscapes highlights the importance of understanding their resilience and determining thresholds of change.
The Ecological Management Understanding (EMU) approach to understanding landscape processes and assessing landscape condition can also underpin attempts at halting and reversing degradation (Pringle and Tinley 2001). Examples of the EMU approach from the Gascoyne catchment are given. It is suggested that the EMU approach to understanding key landscape processes and their remediation is applicable throughout the state's rangelands, and Australia-wide.
Renmark, South Australia
ISSN 1323 660
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.