| | This issue of The Rangeland Journal contains some of the papers delivered at the 2008 Australian Rangeland Society Conference with the theme 'A Climate of Change in the Rangelands'. The papers do provide a focus on some of those issues raised by B. D. Foran (The Rangeland Journal 29, 3–11), and go some way to addressing the factors influencing his four priority issues: knowledge, reduced pressure, enterprise opportunities, and landscape processes. The papers provide examples of the extent of change – and knowledge of it – which is occurring in rangelands (Mckeon et al.); and the changes that are necessary in our relationships between people (Nelson and Robinson), in values and attitudes (Windle et al.), and in processes, procedures and practices (Greiner et al.; McCosker et al.; Smyth et al.), so that we can both capitalise on opportunities and minimise risks in our use of these extensive areas (Cobon et al.). New techniques and procedures are required to ensure appropriate monitoring of change in rangelands (Bastin et al.; Karfs et al.); new methods of working with landholders and other stakeholders are needed to ensure that businesses located in the rangelands can capitalize on opportunities (Baumber et al.); and new adaptive practices are outlined which will help deliver more sustainable resource use (Balston and English; Bray and Golden; Macleod et al.).
The theme of the ARS Conference, 'A Climate of Change in the Rangelands' recognised that not only are there changes occurring in the rangelands, but also the response to these changes needs to be sufficiently flexible to allow for the unknowns. Having options is important; this issue of The Rangeland Journal attempts to be futuristic, provides options for understanding changing parameters and how to deal with them, and recognizes that there is no one way to the 'promised land', but rather multiple pathways which may be followed depending on the situation encountered.
These papers are essential reading for anyone interested in rangeland management. | |
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