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Abstract:

Bringing about positive change and the wise use of rangelands is more about enabling

landholders to enhance their knowledge and build their skills rather than bringing modern

science to “teach”. Pastoralists across the South Australian Arid Lands (SAAL) Natural

Resources Management (NRM) Region, have embraced the Ecosystem Management

Understanding (EMU)â„¢ approach because it values and blends their local knowledge with

scientific expertise in a conducive environment. Through participating in the EMUâ„¢

Projects, land managers have shifted their focus from trying to resurrect dysfunctional

landscapes typified by exacerbated landscape droughting to key problems jeopardising their

most productive and healthy country. This is a very different approach to that conventionally

used in the Decade of Landcare and promoted by administration bodies at the time. Here we

present a succinct and general review of EMUâ„¢ in South Australia from 2009 to today.