The commercial use of native flora and fauna to improve biodiversity and habitat protection will be examined at a workshop in Broken Hill on Thursday and Friday.

The workshop will review a number of trials being conducted as part of research funded by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) and the National Landcare Programme.

RIRDC’s Rangeland and Wildlife Systems Research Manager, Dr George Wilson, said three projects have been underway since 2004 to see whether commercial utilisation of native wildlife, such as kangaroos, can improve biodiversity conservation.

“The trials are based on the success of similar programmes in southern Africa and elsewhere, where the commercial value of wild animals has helped in the preservation of the natural environment,” Dr Wilson said.

“We are currently working with the Barrier Area Rangecare Group (BARG) north of Broken Hill, the Mitchell and District Landcare Group in Queensland and the Rangeland Management Action Plan (RMAP) group based along Murray River near Wentworth/Mildura.

“These groups are trialling different land management techniques and the development of wildlife management plans and habitat protection as part of the projects.

“The drought in many parts of Australia has seriously reduced livestock carrying capacity on the rangelands and has contributed to biodiversity loss and environmental damage.
 
“Under current arrangements, wildlife can be seen just as pests over which landholders have little control. Yet some wildlife produces high quality meat and leather, and appears to be softer on the environment than equivalent numbers of livestock.  Similarly, some wildflowers or other vegetation could have commercial appeal if further developed.

“Wildlife is also an asset to the tourism industry and the projects aim to show there can be better ways of integrating wildlife conservation with commercial resource use and development. Giving landholders the opportunity to make money could be an incentive to restore natural systems.

“The workshop will be an opportunity to monitor and evaluate the projects based on a triple bottom line approach incorporating environmental, social and economic indicators,” Dr Wilson said.

The Future of Australia’s Threatened Ecosystems (FATE) Programme at the University of NSW has been a key institution in these Sustainable Wildlife Enterprises (SWEs) trials and has been commissioned by RIRDC to organize the workshop.

In addition to landholders and other SWEs, the workshop will also include representatives of the kangaroo industry, relevant government departments and researchers working on the sustainable commercial use of Australian native wildlife.

Media enquiries:
Danny O’Brien – RIRDC Communications Manager – 02 6271 4175 or 0438 130 445