Get reliable rangeland science

Australia's arid rangelands have suffered record losses in biodiversity since European colonisation, especially for mammalian fauna, principally driven by invasive species. The scale of the challenge to restore biodiversity requires long-term multi-stakeholder partnerships. Arid Recovery is an independent NGO in the dry rangelands of South Australia, and a unique partnership between the mining industry, government, Indigenous groups, rangeland communities and pastoralists. Work centres around a large predator-proof fenced reserve (12,300 ha) where rabbits, cats and foxes have been removed and six threatened native species have been reintroduced. The reserve supports a robust conservation science program that includes developing tools for management of introduced species, reintroduction of threatened species, and approaches to restore biodiversity at scale. We share lessons from 28 years of rangeland ecosystem restoration and research.