Reintegrating fragmented landscapes

Abstract

The dedication of this book is to Katie, Hamish, Samantha and Romayne - May they live in hope for, not fear of, the future. I think most of us would wish the same for our children, but few of us are as resolute as Richard Hobbs and Denis Saunders in their efforts to change the ecological future of the world. I can think of no group of researchers that has worked harder to understand the impact of human society on the Australian landscape and to find ways to accommodate human needs and desires with ecological reality than the CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology laboratory at Helena Valley in Western Australia. While many of us work hard at our research, few can claim to have achieved the level of communication of the Western Australians. For nearly a decade now, Saunders, Hobbs and their colleagues have organized, held and published a series of symposia and workshops on the impact of agriculture (and to a lesser extent, forestry) on the landscape and its wildlife. These proceedings have been international in scope and have brought together, in a way few others have achieved, scientists, farmers, resource managers, politicians, bureaucrats and environmental groups. On behalf of my children, Jeni and Myella, I want to thank them for their efforts.