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Abstracts of The Rangeland JournalThe full text of these papers is available to members of the Australian Rangeland Society at http://www.publish.csiro.au/journals/trj These abstracts are from the latest issue of The Rangeland Journal Vol. 32 (2) 2010
Coded T-mark continuums: a graphical method for reporting rangeland monitoring data Gary N. Bastin A D, John A. Ludwig B and Kate Richardson C A ACRIS Management Unit, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems and Desert Knowledge CRC, PO Box 2111, Alice Springs, NT 0871, Australia. B CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Box 780, Atherton, Qld 4883, Australia. C Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport, PO Box 496, Palmerston, NT 0831, Australia. D Corresponding author. Email: gary.bastin@csiro.au Abstract In this paper we describe a new method of graphically presenting rangeland monitoring data as coded time-mark continuums. This method aims to provide people with an interest in rangelands (stakeholders) with succinct information, which they need to assess rangeland condition and change. This new method graphs data for indicators of rangeland condition as time or T-marks along gradients or continuums. The ends of these continuums are reference points, which are values for indicators defining highly functional to very dysfunctional rangeland systems. The T-marks for an indicator along its continuum are also coded as to how changes relate to combinations of recent seasonal conditions and longer-term management effects. Codes are based on a two-way matrix combining ‘seasonal quality’ (e.g. rainfall in a specified period relative to the long-term record) and expected responses from land management (i.e. increase, decrease or no change relative to that predicted from seasonal quality). Monitoring data available in the Australian Collaborative Rangeland Information System were used to illustrate the use of coded T-mark continuums. We show succinctly how one indicator changed in two different rangeland regions and how multiple indicators changed within one region. Additional keywords: benchmarks, landscape function, rangeland condition, reference points. The Rangeland Journal 32(2) 145–153 doi:10.1071/RJ09064 Submitted: 15 September 2009 Accepted: 22 December 2009 Published: 30 June 2010
Rangeland governance in China: overview, impacts on Sunan County in Gansu Province and future options M. P. Wang A E, C. Z. Zhao B E, R. J. Long C F and Y. H. Yang D A Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China; International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, Gansu, China. B Geographic and Environmental Department, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China. C College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, Gansu, China. D Qinghai Vocational College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, 812100 Qinghai, China. E The first two authors have contributed equally to the intellectual content of this paper. F Corresponding author. Email: longruijun@sina.com Abstract The development of the current regulatory framework for management of rangeland resources in China began in 1949. Prior to this, there were family, tribal and other traditional systems of grazing management. The emphasis in government policy since 1949 has been to increase livestock production and economic output from the rangelands. The operations of these policies and regulations in Sunan County, a typical rangeland county in Gansu Province, are examined. The existing laws, policies, and regulations related to rangeland management in Sunan County and elsewhere are identified and described. It is argued that a policy based on rational processes should lead to desired outcomes. Therefore, emphasis needs to be placed on processes that facilitate the development and implementation of policies at every level of government to promote sustainable use and management of natural resources and to secure sustainable livelihoods. It is concluded that the rangeland policies have been rarely integrated with the concept of sustainable development. This is now changing. Sustainable development philosophy needs to be further incorporated into the developmental processes for rangeland policies. Until now processes have focused predominantly on economic performance. Additional keywords: development, grassland, land tenure, policy, sustainability. The Rangeland Journal 32(2) 155–163 doi:10.1071/RJ09085 Submitted: 29 December 2009 Accepted: 20 January 2010 Published: 30 June 2010 Spatial and temporal pattern of alpine grassland condition and its response to human activities in Northern Tibet, China Q. Z. Gao A B, Y. F. Wan A B, Y. Li A B, X. B. Qin A B, W. Jiangcun C and H. M. Xu D E A Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, People’s Republic of China. B Key Laboratory for Agro-Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100081, People’s Republic of China. C Nagqu Grassland Station, Nagqu Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Bureau, Nagqu 852100, Tibet Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China. D National Climate Centre, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, People’s Republic of China. E Corresponding author. Email: xuhm@cma.gov.cn Abstract The trend in condition of alpine grasslands from 1981 to 2004 in different topographic regions and with different intensities of human activity in Northern Tibet was analysed by using remote sensing data and geographic information system techniques. The results of this study showed that the condition of the alpine grasslands in 2004 varied throughout Northern Tibet. The changes in condition over this period of most of the alpine grasslands (76.7%) were without any significant trend, whereas a larger portion of the remaining area showed significant recovery then underwent significant degradation. Where significant degradation did occur it was mostly on the steeper slopes whereas significant recovery was mostly on the flatter areas (<1° slope). As a result of strong solar radiation, high temperature, drying effects and more grazing activities, alpine grasslands on the sunny slopes had a greater potential for degradation. The special geographic location of Northern Tibet (with an average elevation of 4500 m.a.s.l.) means that alpine grasslands are mostly confined to an elevation ranging from 4500 to 5500 m, where both human and grazing activities were mostly migratory from 1981 to 2004. As a result, by far the majority of the alpine grasslands (90.4%) had either no significant degradation or some or significant recovery between 1981 and 2004. A greater proportion of alpine grasslands at high elevations (above 5000 m) had a significant trend of degradation than at lower elevations. The negative impact of residential areas on alpine grassland condition was smaller than that of roads. Additional keywords: grassland degradation index (GDI), remote sensing and GIS, topography, trend coefficient. The Rangeland Journal 32(2) 165–173 doi:10.1071/RJ08061 Submitted: 5 November 2008 Accepted: 11 February 2010 Published: 30 June 2010 From productivism to multi-functionality in the Gascoyne–Murchison Rangelands of Western Australia Michael Hughes A B and Roy Jones A A Curtin Sustainable Tourism Centre, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia. B Corresponding author. Email: m.hughes@curtin.edu.au Abstract A sustainability assessment of the Western Australian (WA) rangelands identified a range of issues associated with regional economic decline typical of many marginal rangeland regions in Australia. As part of a regional rejuvenation strategy, the WA state government purchased selected pastoral lease properties for incorporation into the conservation estate. It was intended as a means of land-use transition from mono-functional productivism to multi-functionality incorporating protection of significant rangeland bioregions and development of tourism. A 1-year project was conducted to assess the issues relating to this transition. Archived information was obtained from government relating to the characteristics of the lease properties at the time they were purchased. Site visits were undertaken to purchased leases acquired by the government as well as neighbouring leases. During site visits, interviews with pastoralists and purchased lease managers were conducted. A series of facilitated community discussion groups in the region was held to ascertain the views of landholders and managers, government representatives, indigenous interests and commercial operators in the region. This paper describes how the transition to a combination of protection and consumption exchanged one set of problems for another. This was due partly to the intrinsic character of the land, in terms of previous overgrazing, isolation, large distances, and limited infrastructure and services. More importantly, the top-down approach to land transition failed to allocate adequate management resources to replace those lost when the former pastoral leaseholders left. The consequences of inadequate management included theft and rapid degradation of assets, inadequate control of pests and weeds; inadequate fire prevention management and poor communication between the government and other stakeholders over management decisions. This paper discusses the dynamics of this WA rangeland transition with reference to the multi-functional rural transition concept. Additional keywords: land use, management, protection, rural transition, tourism. The Rangeland Journal 32(2) 175–185 doi:10.1071/RJ09079 Submitted: 26 November 2009 Accepted: 17 February 2010 Published: 30 June 2010 Forb responses to grazing and rest management in a critically endangered Australian native grassland ecosystem Heidi C. Zimmer A B, Vivienne B. Turner A, Jaimie Mavromihalis A, Josh Dorrough A and Claire Moxham A A Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment, PO Box 137, Heidelberg, Vic. 3084, Australia. B Corresponding author. Email: Heidi.Zimmer@dse.vic.gov.au Abstract Worldwide, temperate grasslands have been extensively cleared for agriculture and urban expansion and the ‘Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain’ in south-eastern Australia has recently been listed as critically endangered. Because of land clearing, these grasslands now occupy <1% of their original distribution and much of the remaining grassland continues to be grazed by livestock. Although forbs (wildflowers) constitute most of the floristic richness in natural grasslands, few experimental studies have focused on their responses to strategic livestock grazing and rest. This paper reports on the outcomes of five grazing and rest management regimes imposed for 4 years at three sites on the Victorian Volcanic Plain. Seasonal grazing and rest management regimes resulted in significantly different native and exotic forb frequencies, but not richness. Native perennial and exotic annual forb frequency was higher when management incorporated grazing and rest periods (14 and 16% deviance explained), particularly with spring rest from grazing. However, the most important influence on native perennial and exotic annual and perennial forb frequency (46, 58 and 41% deviance explained) and native perennial and exotic annual species richness (62 and 35% deviance explained) was site. Differences among the three sites included soil, rainfall, size of remnant, presence of small burrowing mammals, management history and consequent species assemblages. Despite differences among sites, the results indicate that native perennial forb frequency may be increased using management regimes that incorporate both grazing and rest. However, targeted management may be necessary to reduce exotic annual forbs, also promoted by grazing with seasonal rest. Additional keywords: native pasture, south-east Australia, strategic grazing, Victorian Volcanic Plain. The Rangeland Journal 32(2) 187–195 doi:10.1071/RJ09069 Submitted: 3 October 2009 Accepted: 8 March 2010 Published: 30 June 2010 Economics of reducing methane emissions from beef cattle in extensive grazing systems in Queensland John Rolfe Centre for Environmental Management, CQ University, Qld 4720, Australia. Email: J.Rolfe@cqu.edu.au Abstract Beef cattle contribute ~7% of anthropocentric greenhouse gas emissions in Australia through the release of methane into the atmosphere. Cattle in northern Australia produce more methane per unit of beef produced because tropical grasses are generally of poor quality and elicit slower average growth rates. In this paper the level of emissions from different herds and some strategies to reduce emissions are estimated with a daily time-step model. The results indicate that few options exist to reduce methane emissions from extensive grazing systems without reducing beef production. Options to improve production or feed conversion efficiencies can generate lower levels of emissions per kg of beef produced, but can be expected to lead to increased livestock numbers and higher overall methane emissions. A woodland grazing case study from central Queensland suggests the opportunity cost of reducing each kg of methane emissions by reducing stocking rates ranges from 1.0 to 1.2 kg of liveweight beef production. A price of $23 per t of carbon dioxide equivalent would indicate that opportunity costs (ignoring fixed costs of production) of reducing emissions by adjusting stocking rates would range between $0.39 and $0.49 per kg of beef produced. Additional keywords: agriculture, greenhouse, livestock, rangelands. The Rangeland Journal 32(2) 197–204 doi:10.1071/RJ09026 Submitted: 18 May 2009 Accepted: 22 March 2010 Published: 30 June 2010 Native grasslands in the PlainsTender incentive scheme: conservation value, management and monitoring Heidi C. Zimmer A B, Jaimie Mavromihalis A, Vivienne B. Turner A, Claire Moxham A and Canran Liu A A Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment, PO Box 137, Heidelberg, Vic. 3084, Australia. B Corresponding author. Email: Heidi.Zimmer@dse.vic.gov.au Abstract The native grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain, in south-western Victoria, Australia, is a critically endangered community. Much of the remaining grassland exists on private land, where it is grazed by livestock. The impacts of two grazing management strategies, implemented under the PlainsTender incentive scheme, were monitored at 18 on-farm native grassland sites for 4 years. The management strategies were (1) excluding grazing during spring, or (2) flexible grazing and resting. Maintenance of >70% vegetation cover was required under both strategies. Generalised least-squares (repeated-measures) modelling revealed a significant correlation between plant functional group cover and management. However, this correlation was present at the outset of the study and was maintained for the duration of monitoring. Sites rested from livestock grazing in spring had higher native and exotic grass cover, while exotic forb cover was higher at sites where grazing was managed flexibly. Native and exotic grass cover varied significantly from year-to-year under both management strategies; we attribute this to variation in rainfall, particularly drought in the second year. A key outcome of this study was the recognition that high conservation value native grasslands, i.e. large (≥100 ha) and intact (≥36 native species), are being managed successfully on private land, using a range of conservative livestock grazing strategies. Additional keywords: ecomarket, native pasture, secondary grassland, livestock grazing, spring rest, Victorian Volcanic Plain. The Rangeland Journal 32(2) 205–214 doi:10.1071/RJ09073 Submitted: 5 November 2009 Accepted: 13 April 2010 Published: 30 June 2010 Spatial and temporal variation in precipitation at the start of the rainy season in tropical Australia S. T. Garnett A C and G. Williamson A B A School for Environmental Research, Institute for Advanced Studies, Charles Darwin University, NT 0909, Australia. B School of Plant Science, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia. C Corresponding author. Email: stephen.garnett@cdu.edu.au Abstract The patterns of rainfall early in the rainy season vary substantially across northern Australia, even in sites with the same annual average. This has biophysical and economic implications in terms of land and infrastructure management, resource availability and capacity, and access. Daily patterns in long-term rainfall records in Australia north of 23°S subject to regular monsoonal rainfall were compared with threshold levels for dryland and wetland seed germination, initiation of the growing season, patterns of gaps between early storms and the heaviness of the first falls, correlations between thresholds, spatial variation in correlation with the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and temporal trends in mean threshold dates. The earliest rains sufficient to cause seed germination or generate fresh fodder occur in the north-west of the Northern Territory with the average date being later to the south, east and west. Initial falls of the rainy season are heaviest, however, on Cape York Peninsula so that the time between first falls and saturation is shortest in the east. The probability of extended gaps between rainfall events increased from north to south. When the SOI is taken into account, no change in timing could be detected at the few sites with records of sufficient duration. However, because of changes in SOI frequency, rains are tending to start earlier in the drier parts of the north and north-west and later in the east. This may be because anthropogenic climate change is resulting in fewer classical El Niño Southern Oscillation events and more frequent El Niño Modoki climate anomalies. Additional keywords: climate change, El Niño Modoki, North Australia, rainy season. The Rangeland Journal 32(2) 215–226 doi:10.1071/RJ09083 Submitted: 20 December 2009 Accepted: 18 May 2010 Published: 30 June 2010 A review of sampling designs for the measurement of soil organic carbon in Australian grazing lands D. E. Allen A, M. J. Pringle A, K. L. Page A and R. C. Dalal A B C A Department of Environment and Resource Management, 80 Meiers Rd, Indooroopilly, Qld 4068, Australia. B Land, Crop and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia. C Corresponding author. Email: Ram.Dalal@qld.gov.au Abstract The accurate measurement of the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock in Australian grazing lands is important due to the major role that SOC plays in soil productivity and the potential influence of soil C cycling on Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. However, the current sampling methodologies for SOC stock are varied and potentially conflicting. It was the objective of this paper to review the nature of, and reasons for, SOC variability; the sampling methodologies commonly used; and to identify knowledge gaps for SOC measurement in grazing lands. Soil C consists of a range of biological materials, in various SOC pools such as dissolved organic C, micro- and meso-fauna (microbial biomass), fungal hyphae and fresh plant residues in or on the soil (particulate organic C, light-fraction C), the products of decomposition (humus, slow pool C) and complexed organic C, and char and phytoliths (inert, passive or resistant C); and soil inorganic C (carbonates and bicarbonates). Microbial biomass and particulate or light-fraction organic C are most sensitive to management or land-use change; resistant organic C and soil carbonates are least sensitive. The SOC present at any location is influenced by a series of complex interactions between plant growth, climate, soil type or parent material, topography and site management. Because of this, SOC stock and SOC pools are highly variable on both spatial and temporal scales. This creates a challenge for efficient sampling. Sampling methods are predominantly based on design-based (classical) statistical techniques, crucial to which is a randomised sampling pattern that negates bias. Alternatively a model-based (geostatistical) analysis can be used, which does not require randomisation. Each approach is equally valid to characterise SOC in the rangelands. However, given that SOC reporting in the rangelands will almost certainly rely on average values for some aggregated scale (such as a paddock or property), we contend that the design-based approach might be preferred. We also challenge soil surveyors and their sponsors to realise that: (i) paired sites are the most efficient way of detecting a temporal change in SOC stock, but destructive sampling and cumulative measurement errors decrease our ability to detect change; (ii) due to (i), an efficient sampling scheme to estimate baseline status is not likely to be an efficient sampling scheme to estimate temporal change; (iii) samples should be collected as widely as possible within the area of interest; (iv) replicate of laboratory analyses is a critical step in being able to characterise temporal change. Sampling requirements for SOC stock in Australian grazing lands are yet to be explicitly quantified and an examination of a range of these ecosystems is required in order to assess the sampling densities and techniques necessary to detect specified changes in SOC stock and SOC pools. An examination of techniques that can help reduce sampling requirements (such as measurement of the SOC fractions that are most sensitive to management changes and/or measurement at specific times of the year – preferably before rapid plant growth – to decrease temporal variability), and new technologies for in situ SOC measurement is also required. Additional keywords: rangeland, soil organic matter, spatial variability, temporal variability, geostatistics, soil carbon stocks The Rangeland Journal 32(2) 227–246 doi:10.1071/RJ09043 Submitted: 3 July 2009 Accepted: 20 May 2010 Published: 30 June 2010 Dealing with drought: social implications of different smallholder survival strategies in semi-arid rangelands of Northern Patagonia, Argentina Marcos H. Easdale A C and Heber Rosso B A Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche, Grupo de Sistemas de Producción, Economía y Sociología Rural, Modesta Victoria 4450 (8400) Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina. B ENTE para el Desarrollo de la Línea y Región Sur, Programa Ganadero, Ñorquinco, Río Negro, Argentina. C Corresponding author. Email: measdale@bariloche.inta.gov.ar Abstract Drought is a constant part of rangeland dynamics in arid and semi-arid regions, and has enormous impacts on extensive livestock production by reducing outputs as well as by generating short-term farm decapitalisation (e.g. when livestock die). Since rural people rely on animal husbandry for their livelihood, productive losses become a social problem. Approaches to deal with drought have generally been focused on the livestock–range management linkage, with many suggestions originating from different disciplines. However, fewer efforts had been made to understand the adaptive capacity of households to cope with drought, through changing from on-farm to off-farm approaches. We assessed the implications for household gross income of different smallholder survival strategies, in the context of a severe regional drought. Three strategies were selected: (i) social networks involving partnerships, (ii) income diversification, and (iii) farm production diversification. While drought impacted homogeneously on the production indicators among the different strategies, differences were apparent in household economic performance. Better prices obtained from associated sales and off-farm income strategies registered better household gross income levels. For these cases the effect of drought on farm productivity could be decoupled from household income. Results provide new insights in understanding the social impact of drought on rangelands, challenging current ideas about how governments can support poorest and most vulnerable farmers in rural arid and semi-arid regions. Additional keywords: adaptability, diversification, off-farm income, partnership, social networks. The Rangeland Journal 32(2) 247–255 doi:10.1071/RJ09071 Submitted: 31 October 2009 Accepted: 21 May 2010 Published: 30 June 2010
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