Environmental motivation and monitoring by landholders in north-east Victoria: fact, fantasy and future implications for catchment management

Abstract

This paper reports on the social and business profiles of 39 landholders (in three groups) in north-east Victoria, participating in an Environmental Management Systems (EMS) project, and their motivations for participating in EMS. The level and type of record keeping, formal monitoring, use of electronic technology, and interest or capacity to monitor their environmental performance were also assessed because this is a crucial part of the EMS process and one that research has not reported on to date. Landholder participation in EMS was mostly for reasons of wanting to better account for sustainability issues in farm management. Most participants recorded rainfall, soil test results, production measures and chemical use (in total 69–97%); however, 31% kept no chemical records. Few kept records of remnant native vegetation, pasture management, weeds, pest animals or native fauna. Electronic record keeping systems were used by 26% of participants. Almost all owned a computer and over 70% used the internet and email. To assess interest and capacity to monitor environmental performance, participants were introduced to a water balance calculation tool (this being a locally relevant issue) and asked to calculate their own values. Most participants needed two to three visits to gain confidence to perform the calculations and most did not view the tools as being of much relevance. This was in strong contrast to previous work carried out in the southern Riverina of New South Wales. We conclude that environmental monitoring is more important for catchment management authorities (CMAs) and state agencies than for landholders. If CMAs are to assess how on-farm actions lead to improved environmental performance, there is a need to collect information remotely, invest in monitoring or provide incentives for farmers. There appears to be insufficient record keeping and monitoring by landholders to trace chemical residue problems. This, in addition to a lack of environmental monitoring, means that farmers in north-east Victoria cannot substantiate either ‘clean’ or ‘green’ claims. Future work should focus on awareness and education in natural resource management, as well as improved record keeping and monitoring. Some form of recognition will be needed if the majority of farmers are to participate in environmental programs. Introductory EMS training provides a means of improving business outcomes, documentation and improving environmental management.