‘This country just hangs tight’: perspectives on managing land degradation and climate change in far west NSW
Emily Berry
A D , Graciela Metternicht B and Alex Baumber C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
B School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, PANGEA Centre, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
C Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: emilyberry1@gmail.com
The Rangeland Journal 41(3) 197-210 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ18030
Submitted: 12 March 2018 Accepted: 8 October 2018 Published: 27 November 2018
Abstract
Discussions of land degradation often display a disconnect between global and local scales. Although global-scale discussions often focus on measuring and reversing land degradation through metrics and policy measures, local-scale discussions can highlight a diversity of viewpoints and the importance of local knowledge and context-specific strategies for sustainable land management. Similarly, although scientific studies clearly link anthropogenic climate change to land degradation as both cause and consequence, the connection may not be so clear for local rangelands communities due to the complex temporal and spatial scales of change and management in such environments.
In research conducted in October 2015, we interviewed 18 stakeholders in the far west of New South Wales about their perspectives on sustainable land management. The results revealed highly variable views on what constitutes land degradation, its causes and appropriate responses. For the pastoral land managers, the most important sign of good land management was the maintenance of groundcover, through the management of total grazing pressure. Participants viewed overgrazing as a contributor to land degradation in some cases and they identified episodes of land degradation in the region. However, other more contentious factors were also highlighted, such as wind erosion, grazing by goats and kangaroos and the spread of undesired ‘invasive native scrub’ at the expense of more desirable pasture, and alternative views that these can offer productive benefits.
Although few participants were concerned about anthropogenic climate change, many described their rangeland management styles as adaptive to the fluctuations of the climate, regardless of the reasons for these variations. Rather than focusing on whether landholders ‘believe in’ climate change or agree on common definitions or measurement approaches for land degradation, these results suggest that their culture of adaptation may provide a strong basis for coping with an uncertain future. The culture of adaption developed through managing land in a highly variable climate may help even if the specific conditions that landholders need to adapt to are unlike those experienced in living memory. Such an approach requires scientific and expert knowledge to be integrated alongside the context-specific knowledge, values and existing management strategies of local stakeholders.
Additional keywords: adaptation, climate change and adaptation, environmental change, social-ecological systems, rangeland management.
References
Addison, J., Friedel, M., Brown, C., Davies, J., and Waldron, S. (2012). A critical review of degradation assumptions applied to Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. The Rangeland Journal 34, 125–137.| A critical review of degradation assumptions applied to Mongolia’s Gobi Desert.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bai, Z. G., Dent, D. L., Olsson, L., and Schaepman, M. E. (2008). Proxy global assessment of land degradation. Soil Use and Management 24, 223–234.
| Proxy global assessment of land degradation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bailey, D., and Brown, J. (2011). Rotational grazing systems and livestock grazing behavior in shrub-dominated semi-arid and arid rangelands. Rangeland Ecology and Management 64, 1–9.
| Rotational grazing systems and livestock grazing behavior in shrub-dominated semi-arid and arid rangelands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baumber, A., Merson, J., Ampt, P., and Diesendorf, M. (2011). The adoption of short-rotation energy cropping as a new land use option in the New South Wales Central West. Rural Society 20, 266–279.
| The adoption of short-rotation energy cropping as a new land use option in the New South Wales Central West.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Berry, E. J. (2017). Who cares about land degradation neutrality? Exploring the rift between global discourses and local perspectives in far west New South Wales. Master of Philosophy Thesis, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
Briske, D. D., Derner, J. D., Brown, J. R., Fuhlendorf, S. D., Teague, W. R., Havstad, K. M., Gillen, R. L., Ash, A. J., and Willms, W. D. (2008). Rotational grazing on rangelands: Reconciliation of perception and experimental evidence. Rangeland Ecology and Management 61, 3–17.
| Rotational grazing on rangelands: Reconciliation of perception and experimental evidence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bryman, A. (2012). ‘Social Research Methods.’ 4th edn. (Oxford University Press: New York.)
Buys, L., Miller, E., and van Megen, K. (2012). Conceptualising climate change in rural Australia: community perceptions, attitudes and (in)actions. Regional Environmental Change 12, 237–248.
| Conceptualising climate change in rural Australia: community perceptions, attitudes and (in)actions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cherlet, M., Hutchinson, C., Reynolds, J., Hill, J., Sommer, S., and von Maltitz, G. (Eds) (2018). ‘World Atlas of Desertification.’ (Publication Office of the European Union: Luxembourg.)
Connor, L. H., and Higginbotham, N. (2013). ‘Natural cycles’ in lay understandings of climate change. Global Environmental Change 23, 1852–1861.
| ‘Natural cycles’ in lay understandings of climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cowie, A. L., Penman, T. D., Gorissen, L., Winslow, M. D., Lehmann, J., Tyrrell, T. D., Twomlow, S., Wilkes, A., Lal, R., Jones, J. W., Paulsch, A., Kellner, K., and Akhtar-Schuster, M. (2011). Towards sustainable land management in the drylands: Scientific connections in monitoring and assessing dryland degradation, climate change and biodiversity. Land Degradation & Development 22, 248–260.
| Towards sustainable land management in the drylands: Scientific connections in monitoring and assessing dryland degradation, climate change and biodiversity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Donnelly, D., Mercer, R., Dickson, J., and Wu, E. (2009). ‘Australia’s farming future final market research report: Understanding behaviours, attitudes and preferences relating to climate change.’ Prepared for Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. (Instinct and Reason: Sydney.)
Eldridge, D. J., and Soliveres, S. (2014). Are shrubs really a sign of declining ecosystem function? Disentangling the myths and truths of woody encroachment in Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 62, 594–608.
| Are shrubs really a sign of declining ecosystem function? Disentangling the myths and truths of woody encroachment in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Escadafal, R., Marques, M. J., Stringer, L. C., and Akhtar-Schuster, M. (2015). Opening the door to policy relevant, interdisciplinary research on land degradation and development. Land Degradation & Development 26, 409–412.
| Opening the door to policy relevant, interdisciplinary research on land degradation and development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fanning, P. (1999). Recent landscape history in arid western New South Wales: A model for regional change. Geomorphology 29, 191–209.
| Recent landscape history in arid western New South Wales: A model for regional change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fleskens, L., and Stringer, L. C. (2014). Land management and policy responses to mitigate desertification and land degradation. Land Degradation & Development 25, 1–4.
| Land management and policy responses to mitigate desertification and land degradation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gibbs, H. K., and Salmon, J. M. (2015). Mapping the world’s degraded lands. Applied Geography 57, 12–21.
| Mapping the world’s degraded lands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gill, N. (2014). Making country good: Stewardship and environmental change in central Australian pastoral culture. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers 39, 265–277.
| Making country good: Stewardship and environmental change in central Australian pastoral culture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gobindram, N. E., Boughalmi, A., Moulin, C. H., Meuret, M., Bastianelli, D., Araba, A., and Jouven, M. (2018). Feeding flocks on rangelands: insights into the local ecological knowledge of shepherds in Boulemane province (Morocco). The Rangeland Journal 40, 207–218.
| Feeding flocks on rangelands: insights into the local ecological knowledge of shepherds in Boulemane province (Morocco).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Green, D. R. (1989). Rangeland restoration projects in New South Wales. The Rangeland Journal 11, 110–116.
| Rangeland restoration projects in New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Greiner, R., and Gregg, D. (2011). Farmers’ intrinsic motivations, barriers to the adoption of conservation practices and effectiveness of policy instruments: Empirical evidence from northern Australia. Land Use Policy 28, 257–265.
| Farmers’ intrinsic motivations, barriers to the adoption of conservation practices and effectiveness of policy instruments: Empirical evidence from northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Guest, G., Namey, E. E., and Mitchell, M. L. (2013). ‘Collecting Qualitative Data: A Field Manual for Applied Research.’ (Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA.)
Hall, R. (2008). ‘Applied Social Research: Planning, Designing and Conducting Real-World Research.’ (Palgrave Macmillan: South Yarra, Vic.)
Herrmann, S. M., and Hutchinson, C. F. (2006). The scientific basis: links between land degradation, drought, and desertification. In: ‘Governing Global Desertification: Linking Environmental Degradation, Poverty and Participation’. (Eds P. M. Johnson, K. Mayrand and M. Paquin.) pp. 11–26. (Aldershot: Ashgate.)
Ho, M., Kiem, A. S., and Verdon-Kidd, D. C. (2015). A paleoclimate rainfall reconstruction in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), Australia: 1. Evaluation of different paleoclimate archives, rainfall networks, and reconstruction techniques. Water Resources Research 51, 8362–8379.
| A paleoclimate rainfall reconstruction in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), Australia: 1. Evaluation of different paleoclimate archives, rainfall networks, and reconstruction techniques.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hobbs, R. J. (2016). Degraded or just different? Perceptions and value judgements in restoration decisions. Restoration Ecology 24, 153–158.
| Degraded or just different? Perceptions and value judgements in restoration decisions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holl, K. D., and Aide, T. M. (2011). When and where to actively restore ecosystems? Forest Ecology and Management 261, 1558–1563.
| When and where to actively restore ecosystems?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hou, X. Y., Han, Y., and Li, F. Y. (2012). The perception and adaptation of herdsmen to climate change and climate variability in the desert steppe region of northern China. The Rangeland Journal 34, 349–357.
| The perception and adaptation of herdsmen to climate change and climate variability in the desert steppe region of northern China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hughes, L., Rickards, L., Steffen, W., Stock, P., and Rice, M. (2016). ‘On the Frontline: Climate Change and Rural Communities.’ (Climate Council of Australia Ltd.) https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/uploads/564abfd96ebac5cbc6cf45de2f17e12d.pdf
Jones, S. (1996). Discourses on land degradation in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania: Evolution and influences. Journal of Rural Studies 12, 187–199.
| Discourses on land degradation in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania: Evolution and influences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jordan, W. R., and Lubick, G. M. (2011). ‘Making Nature Whole: A History of Ecological Restoration.’ (Island Press: Washington, DC.)
Kersten, S., and Ison, R. (1994). Diversity in yearly calendars on pastoral properties in Western NSW: a constructivist perspective. The Rangeland Journal 16, 206–220.
| Diversity in yearly calendars on pastoral properties in Western NSW: a constructivist perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kong, T. M., Austin, D. E., Kellner, K., and Orr, B. J. (2014). The interplay of knowledge, attitude and practice of livestock farmers’ land management against desertification in the South African Kalahari. Journal of Arid Environments 105, 12–21.
| The interplay of knowledge, attitude and practice of livestock farmers’ land management against desertification in the South African Kalahari.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Koning, N., and Smaling, E. (2005). Environmental crisis or ‘lie of the land’? The debate on soil degradation in Africa. Land Use Policy 22, 3–11.
| Environmental crisis or ‘lie of the land’? The debate on soil degradation in Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kuehne, G. (2014). How do farmers’ climate change beliefs affect adaptation to climate change? Society & Natural Resources 27, 492–506.
| How do farmers’ climate change beliefs affect adaptation to climate change?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
LaFlamme, M. (2011). A framework for sustainable rangeland livelihoods. The Rangeland Journal 33, 339–351.
| A framework for sustainable rangeland livelihoods.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Li, X., Wang, Z., Hou, X., Liu, Z., Yin, Y., Ding, Y., and Hu, J. (2014). Herders’ perception of climate change does not always fit with actual climate change. The Rangeland Journal 36, 557–564.
Liniger, H., Mekdaschi Studer, R., Hauert, C., and Gurtner, M. (2011). ‘Sustainable Land Management in Practice: Guidelines and Best Practices for Sub-Saharan Africa.’ (TerrAfrica, World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)) Available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/i1861e/i1861e.pdf
Lunt, I. D., Allan, C., Spooner, P. G., Thwaites, R., and Morgan, J. (2010). Managing regrowth in Australia’s changing rural landscape: A social phenomenon. Australasian Plant Conservation 19, 5–6.
MacLeod, N. D., and Taylor, J. A. (1994). Perceptions of beef cattle producers and scientists relating to sustainable land use issues and their implications for technology transfer. The Rangeland Journal 16, 238–253.
| Perceptions of beef cattle producers and scientists relating to sustainable land use issues and their implications for technology transfer.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marx, S. K., McGowan, H. A., Kamber, B. S., Knight, J. M., Denholm, J., and Zawadzki, A. (2014). Unprecedented wind erosion and perturbation of surface geochemistry marks the Anthropocene in Australia. Journal of Geophysical Research. Earth Surface 119, 45–61.
| Unprecedented wind erosion and perturbation of surface geochemistry marks the Anthropocene in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mason, J. (2002). ‘Qualitative Researching.’ (Sage Publications: London.)
Mazur, N., Curtis, A., and Rogers, M. (2013). Do you see what I see? Rural landholders’ belief in climate change. Society & Natural Resources 26, 75–85.
| Do you see what I see? Rural landholders’ belief in climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McAllister, R. R. J. (2012). Livestock mobility in arid and semiarid Australia: escaping variability in space. The Rangeland Journal 34, 139–147.
| Livestock mobility in arid and semiarid Australia: escaping variability in space.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McAllister, R. R. J., Gordon, I. J., Janssen, M. A., and Abel, N. (2006). Pastoralists’ responses to variation of rangeland resources in time and space. Ecological Applications 16, 572–583.
| Pastoralists’ responses to variation of rangeland resources in time and space.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McIvor, J. (2013). ‘HRM and Cell Grazing: A Review of the Evidence Base.’ (Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd) Available at: https://www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/search-rd-reports/final- report-details/Productivity-On-Farm/HRM-and-cell-grazing-a-review-of-the-evidence- base/455
Nelson, R., Kokic, P., Crimp, S., Martin, P., Meinke, H., Howden, S. M., de Voil, P., and Nidumolu, U. (2010). The vulnerability of Australian rural communities to climate variability and change: Part II –Integrating impacts with adaptive capacity. Environmental Science & Policy 13, 18–27.
| The vulnerability of Australian rural communities to climate variability and change: Part II –Integrating impacts with adaptive capacity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nkonya, E., Winslow, M., Reed, M. S., Mortimore, M., and Mirzabaev, A. (2011). Monitoring and assessing the influence of social, economic and policy factors on sustainable land management in drylands. Land Degradation & Development 22, 240–247.
| Monitoring and assessing the influence of social, economic and policy factors on sustainable land management in drylands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
NSW EPA (2012). ‘NSW state of the environment: Land.’ (New South Wales Environment Protection Authority: Sydney.) Available at: http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/soe2012/pdf/1284Soe2012Land.pdf (accessed 30 September 2016).
NSW Government (2006). Identifying key invasive native scrub species. Available at: http://archive.lls.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/496716/archive-managing-invasive-native-scrub-to-rehabilitate-native-pastures-and-open-_species.pdf
NSW OEH (2014). ‘Far West Climate Change Snapshot.’ (State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage). Available at: http://climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/Climate-projections-for-NSW/Climate-projections-for-your-region/Far-West-Climate-Change-Downloads [https://perma.cc/3UAP-6626] (accessed 30 September 2016).
NSW OEH (2016). ‘Broken Hill Complex – Biodiversity.’ (New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage.) Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/bioregions/BrokenHillComplex-Biodiversity.htm (accessed 1 September 2016).
Oldeman, L. R., Hakkeling, R. U., and Sombroek, W. G. (1991). ‘World Map of the Status of Human-induced Soil Degradation: An Explanatory Note.’ Global Assessment of Soil Degradation (GLASOD). (International Soil Reference Information Centre: Wageningen, the Netherlands, and United Nations Environmental Program: Nairobi, Kenya.)
Pople, T., and Froese, J. (2012). ‘Distribution, Abundance and Harvesting of Feral Goats in the Australian Rangelands, 1984–2011.’ Final report to the ACRIS Management Committee. (Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation: Brisbane.) Available at: https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/967876f3-8b2b-4692-ac87-3a6c8b946389/files/acris-goats-report.pdf
Reed, M. S., and Stringer, L. C. (2015). Climate change and desertification: Anticipating, assessing and adapting to future change in drylands. In: ‘Impulse Report for the 3rd UNCCD Scientific Conference’. Cancún, Mexico. Available at: http://www.unccd.int/en/programmes/Science/Conferences/Documents/3sc_unccd_impulse-report.pdf [https://perma.cc/WFM8-JJXX] (accessed 30 September 2016).
Reed, M. S., Stringer, L. C., Dougill, A. J., Perkins, J. S., Atlhopheng, J. R., Mulale, K., and Favretto, N. (2015). Reorienting land degradation towards sustainable land management: Linking sustainable livelihoods with ecosystem services in rangeland systems. Journal of Environmental Management 151, 472–485.
| Reorienting land degradation towards sustainable land management: Linking sustainable livelihoods with ecosystem services in rangeland systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reeve, I. J., and Black, A. W. (1994). Understanding farmers’ attitudes to land degradation: Some methodological considerations. Land Degradation & Rehabilitation 5, 179–189.
| Understanding farmers’ attitudes to land degradation: Some methodological considerations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reisinger, A., Kitching, R. L., Chiew, F., Hughes, L., Newton, P. C. D., Schuster, S. S., Tait, A., and Whetton, P. (2014). Australasia. In: ‘Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part B: Regional Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change’. (Eds V. R. Barros, C. B. Field, D. J. Dokken, M. D. Mastrandrea, K. J. Mach, T. E. Bilir, M. Chatterjee, K. L. Ebi, Y. O. Estrada, R. C. Genova, B. Girma, E. S. Kissel, A. N. Levy, S. MacCracken, P. R. Mastrandrea and L. L. White.) pp. 1371–1438. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK and New York, USA.)
Reynolds, J. F. (2001). Desertification. In: ‘Encyclopedia of Biodiversity’. Vol. 2. (Ed. S. Levin.) pp. 61–78. (Academic Press: San Diego, CA.)
Reynolds, J. F., and Stafford Smith, D. M. (Eds) (2002). ‘Global desertification: do humans cause deserts?’ (Dahlem University Press: Berlin.)
Reynolds, J. F., Maestre, F. T., Kemp, P. R., Stafford Smith, D. M., and Lambin, E. (2007). Natural and human dimensions of land degradation in drylands: causes and consequences. In: ‘Terrestrial Ecosystems in a Changing World’. (Eds J. G. Canadell, D. E. Pataki and L. F. Pitelka.) pp. 247–257. (Springer: Berlin, Heidelberg.)
Reynolds, J. F., Grainger, A., Stafford Smith, D. M., Bastin, G., Garcia-Barrios, L., Fernández, R. J., Janssen, M. A., Jürgens, N., Scholes, R. J., Veldkamp, A., Verstraete, M. M., Von Maltitz, G., and Zdruli, P. (2011). Scientific concepts for an integrated analysis of desertification. Land Degradation & Development 22, 166–183.
| Scientific concepts for an integrated analysis of desertification.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Safriel, U. N. (2007). The assessment of global trends in land degradation. In: ‘Climate and Land Degradation’. (Eds M. K. Sivakumar and N. Ndiang’ui.) pp. 1–38. (Springer: Berlin, Heidelberg.)
Silcock, J. L. (2014). Degraded or just dusty? 150 years of ecological change in inland eastern Australia. Doctor of Philosophy Thesis, The University of Queensland, Australia. Available at: https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:347740
Stafford Smith, M. (2008). The ‘desert syndrome’ – causally-linked factors that characterise outback Australia. The Rangeland Journal 30, 3–14.
| The ‘desert syndrome’ – causally-linked factors that characterise outback Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stafford Smith, D. M. (2016). Desertification: Reflections on the mirage. In: ‘The End of Desertification? Disputing Environmental Change in the Drylands’. (Eds R. Behnke and M. Mortimore.) pp. 539–557. (Springer: Berlin, Heidelberg.)
Stafford Smith, D. M., McKeon, G. M., Watson, I. W., Henry, B. K., Stone, G. S., Hall, W. B., and Howden, S. M. (2007). Learning from episodes of degradation and recovery in variable Australian rangelands. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 104, 20690–20695.
| Learning from episodes of degradation and recovery in variable Australian rangelands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stocking, M. A., and Murnaghan, N. (2013). ‘A Handbook for the Field Assessment of Land Degradation.’ (Routledge: New York.)
Suding, K., Higgs, E., Palmer, M., Callicott, J. B., Anderson, C. B., Baker, M., Gutrich, J. J., Hondula, K. L., LaFevor, M. C., Larson, B. M. H., Randall, A., Ruhl, J. B., and Schwartz, K. Z. S. (2015). Committing to ecological restoration. Science 348, 638–640.
| Committing to ecological restoration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thompson, R. (2008). Waterponding: Reclamation technique for scalded duplex soils in western New South Wales rangelands. Ecological Management & Restoration 9, 170–181.
| Waterponding: Reclamation technique for scalded duplex soils in western New South Wales rangelands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomsen, D., and Davies, J. (2005). Social and cultural dimensions of commercial kangaroo harvest in South Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 1239–1243.
| Social and cultural dimensions of commercial kangaroo harvest in South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomsen, D., and Davies, J. (2007). ‘People and the Kangaroo Harvest in the South Australian Rangelands: Social and Institutional Considerations for Kangaroo Management and the Kangaroo Industry.’ (Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation: Canberra.)
Tozer, C. R., Vance, T. R., Roberts, J. L., Kiem, A. S., Curran, M. A. J., and Moy, A. D. (2016). An ice core derived 1013-year catchment-scale annual rainfall reconstruction in subtropical eastern Australia. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 20, 1703–1717.
UNCCD (1994). ‘United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee For a Convention to Combat Desertification, Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa.’ U.N. Doc. A/AC.241/27, 33 I.L.M. 1328. (United Nations: New York.)
Wakelin-King, G. (2011). Using geomorphology to assess contour furrowing in western New South Wales, Australia. The Rangeland Journal 33, 153–171.
| Using geomorphology to assess contour furrowing in western New South Wales, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walton, N., Smith, H., Bowen, L., Mitchell, P., Pethybridge, E., Hayes, T., and O’Ryan, M. (2014). Opportunities for fire and carbon on pastoral properties in the savanna rangelands: perspectives from the Indigenous Land Corporation and the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association. The Rangeland Journal 36, 403–409.
| Opportunities for fire and carbon on pastoral properties in the savanna rangelands: perspectives from the Indigenous Land Corporation and the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Warren, A. (2002). Land degradation is contextual. Land Degradation & Development 13, 449–459.
| Land degradation is contextual.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Waters, C., Orgill, S., Melville, G., Toole, I., and Smith, W. (2017). Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: effects on soil and biodiversity. Land Degradation & Development 28, 1363–1375.
| Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: effects on soil and biodiversity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Waudby, H. P., Petit, S., and Robinson, G. (2012). Pastoralists’ perceptions of biodiversity and land management strategies in the arid Stony Plains region of South Australia: Implications for policy makers. Journal of Environmental Management 112, 96–103.
| Pastoralists’ perceptions of biodiversity and land management strategies in the arid Stony Plains region of South Australia: Implications for policy makers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Webb, N. P., Stokes, C. J., and Marshall, N. A. (2013). Integrating biophysical and socio‐economic evaluations to improve the efficacy of adaptation assessments for agriculture. Global Environmental Change 23, 1164–1177.
| Integrating biophysical and socio‐economic evaluations to improve the efficacy of adaptation assessments for agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Webb, N. P., Marshall, N. A., Stringer, L. C., Reed, M. S., Chappell, A., and Herrick, J. E. (2017). Land degradation and climate change: building climate resilience in agriculture. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 15, 450–459.
| Land degradation and climate change: building climate resilience in agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Weber, E. U. (2010). What shapes perceptions of climate change? Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change 1, 332–342.
| What shapes perceptions of climate change?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Western LLS (2015). Catchment Action Plan: Landholder Benchmarking. State of New South Wales through Western Local Land Services, Cobar. p.177.
Whitfield, S., and Reed, M. S. (2012). Participatory environmental assessment in drylands: Introducing a new approach. Journal of Arid Environments 77, 1–10.
| Participatory environmental assessment in drylands: Introducing a new approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Whitfield, S., Dougill, A. J., Dyer, J. C., Kalaba, F. K., Leventon, J., and Stringer, L. C. (2015). Critical reflection on knowledge and narratives of conservation agriculture. Geoforum 60, 133–142.
| Critical reflection on knowledge and narratives of conservation agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Williams, G. T. (2018). Cost-effective landscape revegetation and restoration of a grazing property on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales: 65 years of change and adaptation at ‘Eastlake’. The Rangeland Journal 39, 461–476.
| Cost-effective landscape revegetation and restoration of a grazing property on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales: 65 years of change and adaptation at ‘Eastlake’.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wilson, G. A. (2004). The Australian Landcare movement: Towards ‘post-productivist’ rural governance? Journal of Rural Studies 20, 461–484.
| The Australian Landcare movement: Towards ‘post-productivist’ rural governance?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yin, R. K. (2014). ‘Case Study Research: Design and Methods.’ 5th edn. (Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA.)
Zougmoré, R., Jalloh, A., and Tioro, A. (2014). Climate-smart soil water and nutrient management options in semiarid West Africa: a review of evidence and analysis of stone bunds and zaï techniques. Agriculture & Food Security 3, 1–8.
