Program Overview

Background and Long-Term Strategy

The Rangelands and Wildlife Systems Program (RWS) and the Environment and Farm Management Program (EFM) were formed in 2004 from the former Resilient Agricultural Systems Program (RAS). RAS historically sponsored research and development into ways that farm-based agribusiness systems can be made both sustainable and more profitable.

The focus in the RWS Program has been on rangelands, including Sustainable Wildlife Enterprises (SWE) trials which have been supported by the National Landcare Program from 2004 to 2008. The trials give effect to the recommendations of the 1998 Report of the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee into the Commercial Utilisation of Native Australian Wildlife. The recommendations were based on overseas experience with native animals similar to kangaroos and indicate that alternative management regimes can enable landholders to integrate wildlife and pastoral enterprises leading to win/win outcomes.

At trial sites in western NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory, nature-based tourism and commercial utilisation of native plants and animals are being used to determine whether assigning a value to these resources can provide an incentive for landholders to protect and restore wildlife habitat, landscapes and biodiversity, and therefore bring about positive changes in landscape health and agriculture.

Key long term strategies

• Identify ways of maintaining profitability of rangelands use while assuring that production techniques are sustainable and environmentally friendly
• Trial non-traditional enterprises such as commercial utilisation of free-ranging wildlife animals, plants and wildlife-based tourism as agents of biodiversity conservation and landscape rehabilitation