Research Project
Researchers: Professor Romy Greiner (Managed by, Key Researcher)
Full description
Australia’s northern tropical savannas cover around a quarter of the continent. The majority of savannas are managed by the grazing industry whose primary business activity is grazing of native pastures for cattle production.
Since pastoralists manage vast tracts of land, the decisions of each land manager can have long-ranging impacts for the region’s natural assets, including biodiversity. Tropical savanna ecosystems are underrepresented in the formal reserve system. Consequently, the contribution by pastoralists and graziers to biodiversity conservation is pivotal.
Increasingly, there are financial opportunities for pastoralists and graziers to diversify their enterprises to include carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. This research explores:
- The extent to which pastoralists and graziers would be willing to participate in voluntary biodiversity conservation programs.
- The influence that social and economic factors have on willingness to participate.
- Pastoralists’ and graziers’ preferences for contractual features and conditions.
● How will this research help?
In the long term, strategic on-farm conservation programs could both; successfully complement the national reserve system for northern Australia; and increase grazing industry viability and resilience.
This research will help to articulate the position of the grazing industry about both paid and voluntary on-farm conservation. It will identify the potential economic benefits for the grazing industry from participating in on-farm conservation, such as
establishing new markets delivering environmental services for the government, corporate and philanthropic sectors.
It will help policy makers to understand; the key factors influencing pastoralists’ and graziers’ decisions about on-farm conservation; how to engage the grazing industry in on-farm conservation programs; and how financial incentives and supporting conditions can be used to increase participation.
● Project activities
Researchers are working with industry associations and regional natural resource management groups to develop the research methodology and set up meetings with pastoralists and graziers.
At the meetings, pastoralists and graziers will; complete a survey, which explores the choices pastoralists make when they are presented with different conservation options, financial incentives and contract conditions; and discuss the way in which decisions are made about biodiversity conservation, including financial and risk management considerations.
The researchers will discuss the survey and discussion results with industry and regional stakeholders and explore ways to engage pastoralists and graziers in on-farm conservation programs. They will make recommendations about the most effective and efficient designs for voluntary on-farm biodiversity conservation programs, and how to implement them.
● Research outputs
The project began in July 2011 and will conclude in December 2014.
Key expected outputs and outcomes are
› Research method developed in consultation with key stakeholders.
› Industry workshops, presentations and targeted communications.
› Improved understanding at the business scale about pastoralists’ and graziers’ motivations and preferences affecting land management.
› Improved understanding of the potential benefits for pastoralists and graziers from diversifying into biodiversity conservation.
› Improved understanding of the potential supply of paid biodiversity conservation services across the pastoral industry.
› Investigation of how different policy mechanisms can help pastoralists and graziers may benefit biodiversity conservation in grazing areas.
› Recommendations about how strategic on-farm biodiversity conservation programs can complement northern Australia’s national reserve system.
● Who is on the team?
Professor Romy Greiner and Dr Julie Ballweg are both environmental economists with Charles Darwin University.
● Where is the research happening?
The research is happening across the tropical savannas of northern Australia. Case study areas are being identified in collaboration with industry associations and regional NRM groups, taking regional needs, research priorities and willingness to participate into consideration.
- Local : CDU-Activity-0007