Quantifying production–environment tradeoffs for grazing land management — A case example from the Australian rangelands

Abstract

Contemporary management of Australian rangeland grazing enterprises is characterised by concurrent processes of a continuing intensification of land management practices and simplification of landscape ecological processes. This dual characteristic is associated with increasing levels of potential conflict between land management practices that promote improved economic performance of these enterprises at the apparent expense of the ecological health of the landscape; and vice versa. A framework is described for assisting private range managers to make an assessment of prospective production and environmental tradeoffs for a range of rangeland management practices. Two examples of the application of the framework are presented – tree clearing and riparian fencing – both using case studies of rangeland livestock enterprises that are located in two regions of the northern Australian rangelands.