Range Management Newsletter 17/1 | Australian Rangeland Society

FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the first issue of the newsletter for 2017.

In this edition, I wish to issue a challenge for all of us to take the conversation on rangelands to the world. There is a lot of media and political attention on the Outback and regional Australia, and I believe the timing is right for us to really engage through social media.

NOTICE OF THE 2017 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY

The Society’s AGM will be held on Monday 22 May 2017. Read more to find out what will be discussed and how you could be involved.

19TH BIENNIAL ARS CONFERENCE 2017 – ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS CLOSE VERY SOON!

The 19th Biennial Conference of the Australian Rangeland Society will be held in Port Augusta, South Australia from 25 to 28 September 2017. Abstracts for conference presentations must be received via the online abstract submission portal by 17 March 2017.

TALK TO US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Here’s a few tips for joining ARS conversations online.

NEW CONTACT DETAILS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN RANGELAND SOCIETY

ARS Council has adopted new email addresses so that your queries and comments can be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

CHANGING PERSPECTIVES OF DRYLANDS: FAR WEST NSW RESPONSES TO LAND DEGRADATION AND SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT

Land degradation is one of the world’s most widespread and significant environmental issues. However, degradation’s broad definition as a decline in the productivity or complexity of land makes it a notorious issue to assess and measure. In our research study, we analysed the current global political and scientific understandings of land degradation particularly in arid and semi-arid areas, and compared it to local knowledge within a case study region, the far west of New South Wales.

INCREASING PERENNIAL GRASSES USING LOW-COST MINIMUM-DISTURBANCE TECHNIQUES

This study was carried out in moderately degraded rangelands in the Cobar district of north-west New South Wales, on sites characterised by reduced numbers of perennial grasses leading to low productivity and damaging erosion. The aim of the study was to determine whether seed of pastorally desirable perennial grasses, already existing in the landscape, was adequate to support regeneration of perennial grasses, and whether regeneration could be enhanced by low-cost minimum-disturbance changes to the landscape. The strategy was to harness natural processes already operating in the environment (mainly wind and running water) to disperse the available seed over large areas and to implement low-cost strategies to promote germination and survival of seedlings.

ARS STUDENT AWARD WINNERS FROM THE 2016 IRC

At the Xth International Rangeland Congress held in Saskatoon, Canada in July 2016, the ARS awarded 8 prizes for Student Posters presented at the Congress. In this article, some of these winners tell us a little about themselves and their research projects and interests.

COUNCIL ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN RANGELAND SOCIETY FELLOWSHIP FOR DR MARGARET FRIEDEL

Dr Margaret Friedel is an outstanding Australian rangeland scientist. Her appointment as a Fellow of the Australian Rangeland Society recognises her distinguished contribution to the development of Australian rangeland science and management, to the growth and success of the Australian Rangeland Society, and to the careers of many fellow workers and rangeland managers over the past 40 years.