| | In June 2005, the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre (DKCRC) obtained funding from the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust Fund for the research project ‘Cross-jurisdictional management of feral camels to protect NRM and cultural values’. The overarching aim of the research was to develop a national management framework that would lead to a reduction in camel numbers to a level that reversed their population growth trajectory and reduced their impacts on natural resource management (NRM), economic and social–cultural values. This was a first attempt to develop an integrated management approach for a large herbivorous pest animal species at such a large scale in Australia.
A key starting point for the development of a national management framework was the recognition that the management of the impacts of pest animals should be guided by a risk management approach and be strategic in determining where management should occur, at what time and what techniques should be used (Australian Pest Animal Strategy 2007). The research project recognised the complexity of the problem by bringing together a collaboration among a cross-disciplinary group of researchers (ecology, toxicology, anthropology, sociology, economics, business management, law and systems modelling) and stakeholder groups which included government agencies, Aboriginal organisations and communities, individual pastoralists and conservation land managers across three States (WA, SA, Qld) and the NT.
This research has resulted in the papers in this Special Issue which have been arranged around three themes: (i) demography and distribution; (ii) impacts and attitudes of land managers; and (iii) management and decision support.
| |
e-Alerts
Connect with us
Top
Email this page
