Click here for  information on the application process, and to apply for RIRDC scholarships
 
 

Objective: 
To facilitate a more diverse rural sector, enhanced biodiversity and innovative industries based on non-traditional uses of the rangelands and their wildlife.

 
Research Manager:
Dr George Wilson, Phone: 02 6281 2160, Fax: 02 6285 1195, Email: george.wilson@awt.com.au

 

RIRDC Rangeland & Wildlife System Research Results:
Publications for sale	Free downloadable research reports
Free Short Reports (research sumaries)	Five-year Industry Plan
Completed Projects in 2004-2005 & Research in Progress as at June 2005
Handbook of New Industries entries	Agfacts(factsheets)
About the RIRDC Rangeland & Wildlife System  Research Program:
Key longterm strategies	Background
Strategies for 2007-2008	Expected key outputs in 2007-2008
Expected key outcomes in 2007-2008	Research budget 2007-2008
Industry related links:

• 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 wild animals, plants and wildlife-based tourism as agents of biodiversity conservation and landscape rehabilitation.

More than 75% of Australia is broadly defined as rangelands. The Rangelands include a diverse group of relatively undisturbed ecosystems such as tropical savannas, woodlands, shrublands and grasslands. Rangelands extend across low rainfall and variable climates, including arid, semi-arid, some seasonally high rainfall areas and the slopes and plains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. Agricultural activity is usually based on extensive grazing on native pastures. Farming systems are highly susceptible to changes in climatic extremes and are struggling to maintain the natural ecosystems on which the sustainability and future production relies.

Diversification of farming enterprises on the rangelands to include the sustainable commercial use of wildlife has the potential to increase the viability of rural communities through the creation of additional and sustainable income streams. Native plants and animals, being inherently more resilient to the extremes of climatic conditions in the Australian landscape, could provide additional income to landholders during periods of low productivity in mainstream enterprises. In addition, the strategic rehabilitation of degraded habitats has the potential to increase whole farm productivity through restoration of natural systems that function to maintain soil and water quality, provide shelter for conventional stock and maintain predator-pest relationships.

This Program (funded by the National Landcare Program 2004–05 to 2007–08) established Sustainable Wildlife Enterprises (SWE) trials to integrate Australia’s native wildlife into existing agricultural enterprises. 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.

Key Strategies for 2007–08

• No new work contracted except for projects identified in the National Landcare Program contract Sustainable Wildlife Project 2007 (2007–08)
• Meeting current commitments including the following areas:
• define a framework that enables landholders to share the proceeds of harvested wildlife
• estimate kangaroo numbers that enable landholders to more effectively manage populations and integrate wildlife with their property and natural resource management plans
• identify markets for products that are badged as leading to net conservation gain
• share information of experiences from the trial sites and encourage regional collaboration in natural resource management and wildlife planning

• Development of the Maranoa and Barkindji Wildlife Management Conservancies into effective organisational structure that facilitates regional collaboration in natural resource management and wildlife planning
• Enhanced capacity of land managers to effectively and efficiently plan, monitor and integrate natural resource management plans
• Growing appreciation of the productive potential and economic value of wild resources in the WMCs
• Establishment of strategic partnerships with existing wildlife resource industries, government support programs and philanthropic conservation organisation to underpin the WMCs

AgFacts - Agricultural information from around Australia