Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
and landscapes are such that we risk creating new problems while attempt-
ing to solve current ones.
As well as new scientific knowledge and strong economic drivers, solutions
to environmental and natural resource issues require institutional, structural,
social and economic changes. Therefore we need rural communities working
with scientists, sociologists and economists to build new systems, and close
cooperation between the many organisations involved in research to underpin
the development of ecologically sustainable agriculture.
To build the picture of what is required, we will first discuss the source of
the problem by surveying the extent and effects of natural resource degrada-
tion, and then ways of addressing the problem. Strategies include:
•
conserving native vegetation, which will mitigate degradation by
providing ecosystem goods and services and restoring ecosystem
function
•
applying landscape design principles to vegetation - both remaining
patches of native plants and revegetation - to help restore
biodiversity and reduce degradation, and
•
radically redesigning land use to enable the sustainable management
of rural landscapes and to deliver income to support sustainable
communities.
Finally, we review the next steps in finding the scientific solutions,
including new roles for people and institutions.
Natural resource degradation: extent and trends
To appreciate the urgency and size of the task ahead, we need to understand
the cause and extent of the problems and where we are headed if we continue
with current practices.
The main forms of degradation in the Australian landscape are:
•
loss and fragmentation of habitat, particularly on the more
productive soils
•
decline of remnant vegetation, including riparian vegetation
•
decline of billions of paddock trees
•
loss of native species
•
decline in native pastures and environmental value of rangelands
