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The Rangeland Journal

The Rangeland Journal

The Rangeland Journal publishes original work on the biophysical, social, cultural, economic, and policy influences affecting rangeland use and management. Read more about the journalMore

Editor-in-Chief: Paul Novelly

Publishing Model: Hybrid. Open Access options available.

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Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. The Rangeland Journal is published under a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 09 October 2025

RJ25017Triple La Niña 2020–2022 revival: river red gum and coolibah recruitment in the Queensland Murray–Darling Basin floodplain, Australia

Michael R. Ngugi, Jaye Lobegeiger, Janice L. Kerr, Victor J. Neldner, Jessica McCabe, Glenn B. McGregor and Luke Hogan
 

Australian floodplain forests have struggled to regenerate after decades of drought. This study examined how the rare triple La Niña event (2020–2022) affected tree recruitment in Queensland’s Murray–Darling Basin. Successful tree establishment occurred at one-third of study sites, with young trees thriving in open areas with reduced competition. While flooding helps disperse seeds, sustained rainfall is crucial for seedling survival. These occasional but significant recruitment episodes may sufficiently maintain healthy forest populations over time.

RJ25017 Abstract  |  RJ25017 Full Text  | RJ25017PDF (4.1 MB)  | RJ25017Supplementary Material (383 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 27 August 2025

RJ25022Birdseye in the sky: the relationship between fractional cover, rainfall and woodland birds in a partially modified tropical savanna

A. S. Kutt 0000-0001-9679-2206, A. J. Healy and R. P. Hamer 0000-0002-9063-5426
 

Long-term monitoring of birds is important to examine impacts of management and environmental change. We examined the value fractional cover data and rainfall to predict changes in a tropical savanna woodland bird community data from surveys conducted between 2004 and 2016. We found a relationship between the abundance of many species and different combinations of variables. These remote-sensing metrics have a role to play, along with field surveys, in assessing bird community condition and change over time.

RJ25022 Abstract  |  RJ25022 Full Text  | RJ25022PDF (977 KB)  | RJ25022Supplementary Material (478 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 17 July 2025

RJ25006Rehabilitating vegetation and demonstrating co-benefits in highly degraded rangelands draining to the Great Barrier Reef: seven things to consider

Rebecca Bartley 0000-0001-9471-5354, Brett Abbott, Bruce Murray 0000-0002-4035-6197, Anne Kinsey-Henderson 0000-0003-0322-490X and Aaron Hawdon
 

Knowledge from landscape rehabilitation monitoring is urgently needed to support Australia’s Nature Positive agenda. This paper presents pasture recovery data from eight erosion rehabilitation sites, collectively representing a ~$2.5 million investment, in the Burdekin catchment, Australia. The observations and lessons learnt from these sites were synthesised to inform the next generation of rehabilitation in rangeland environments. These include that recovery may take decades and active interventions may accelerate the response, but they will be costly.

RJ25006 Abstract  |  RJ25006 Full Text  | RJ25006PDF (11.7 MB)  | RJ25006Supplementary Material (697 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 10 July 2025

RJ25009Reimagining the northern Australian beef industry; review of feedbase opportunities for growth

E. Charmley, C. Gardiner 0000-0003-3183-1811, I. Watson and J. O’Reagain 0009-0000-8186-3198
 

In this review, we suggest a paradigm shift in how cattle are fed in northern Australia that could reimagine the beef in the 21st century. Future global protein shortages for human nutrition may change the economic balance in favour of more creative ideas for feeding cattle. We highlight five ‘game changers’ that have been technically shown to take advantage of the opportunities across the north, including legumes, silage, irrigation, crop and vegetable co-products and low-quality feedstocks.

RJ25009 Abstract  |  RJ25009 Full Text  | RJ25009PDF (1.9 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 23 June 2025

RJ25008Influence of selected environmental variables on the germination of Eucalyptus costata

Joseph Stapleton, Callum Measham-Pywell and Singarayer Florentine 0000-0002-5734-3421
 

We examined germination conditions for the common Mallee species Eucalyptus costata. Our study found that germination was lowest at high temperatures (35°C/25°C), high salinity (>100 mM), and low water potentials (taking 14 MPa of humidity per day to germinate). Sowing seed deeper than 2 cm reduced emergence. These results suggest that the optimal germination is likely to occur with shallow sowing in low-salinity soils during cool or mild wet conditions. Despite being an arid species, Eucalyptus costata is intolerant of hot and dry conditions, and planting should be focused on mild and wet periods.

RJ25008 Abstract  |  RJ25008 Full Text  | RJ25008PDF (967 KB)  | RJ25008Supplementary Material (410 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 19 June 2025

RJ24027Carbon sequestration in woody biomass of mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands: confidence in prediction using the carbon accounting model FullCAM

Keryn I. Paul and Stephen H. Roxburgh
 

Decreased grazing and/or cessation of land clearing are being used across Australian woodlands for sequestration of carbon from regeneration of woody biomass, with estimates of this sequestration being predicted using the empirical carbon accounting model FullCAM. FullCAM predictions were found to be accurate across a wide range of sites, but with further improvements possible in terms of its domain of application, specificity with which it stimulates changed grazing management, and comprehensiveness to account for standing dead pools of woody biomass.

RJ24027 Abstract  |  RJ24027 Full Text  | RJ24027PDF (2 MB)  | RJ24027Supplementary Material (4.9 MB)   Open Access Article

Just Accepted

These articles have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. They are still in production and have not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

Most Read

The Most Read ranking is based on the number of downloads in the last 60 days from papers published on the CSIRO PUBLISHING website within the last 12 months. Usage statistics are updated daily.

Collections

Collections are a curation of articles relevant to a topical research area

ARS Conference 2023

This Collection of The Rangeland Journal includes a couple of papers presented at the ARS Conference 2023.

Collection Editors
Gary Bastin (Australia)
Robyn Cowley (Northern Territory Government, Australia)
Hanh Nguyen (Bureau of Meteorology, Australia)
Joshua Foster (Department of Primary Industries, WA)
Sarah McDonald (Department of Primary Industries, WA)

Last Updated: 25 Jul 2025

Carbon and Environmental Service Markets

This Collection of The Rangeland Journal is a timely opportunity to shed light on the successes and shortcomings across the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of carbon and environmental market mechanisms.

All the papers in this collection are open access and are freely available online.

Collection Editors
Bradd Witt (University of Queensland, Australia)
Taylah Faulkner (University of Queensland, Australia)
Joshua Peart (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Australia)
Jayne Cuddihy (Australian Rangeland Society, Australia)
Sarah McDonald (NSW Department of Primary Industries, Australia)

Last Updated: 11 Apr 2025

Rangeland Dynamics and State and Transition Models: an Enduring Conceptual and Practical Framework

To mark the anniversary of the seminal paper by Mark Westoby, Brian Walker and (the late) Imanuel Noy-Meir that introduced the state and transition concept to rangeland management, this Collection has been compiled from papers published in The Rangeland Journal which have drawn on their concepts. Brian Walker and Mark Westoby have generously provided an editorial article that reflects on their early thinking behind state and transition models and commentary on its evolution over the past 30 years.

Collection Editors
Andrew Ash and Ron Hacker

Last Updated: 18 May 2020

Grazing and Biodiversity – The Positive Side

The adverse effects of poorly managed grazing on biodiversity and ecosystem function are attested by much scientific literature. This weight of evidence, leading to a generally negative view of grazing as an ecological factor, tends to overshadow the evidence for beneficial effects of properly managed grazing. This Collection presents examples from around the world of the benefits of properly managed grazing for conservation of biodiversity.

Last Updated: 24 Oct 2018

Managing the World’s Rangelands: Future Strategies and Socio-economic Implications

This Collection provides examples from the world’s rangelands of the pressures opposing sustainable land use, potential policy responses appropriate to local socio-ecological systems, and technical developments that will underpin sustainable land use. This broad scope is a deliberate editorial response to the multifaceted challenge of securing sustainable use of the world’s rangelands. The Australian Rangeland Society, together with The Rangeland Journal’s editors and publishers, hope that this collection of articles will extend awareness of the scale and complexity of the challenge and stimulate ongoing contributions.

Last Updated: 10 Jun 2016

Committee on Publication Ethics

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Prize Announcement

CSIRO Publishing is very pleased to sponsor the following prizes that were awarded at the ARS Broome Conference, 2023. Read more

Call for Papers

We are seeking proposals for Special Issues. More

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