Range Management Newsletter 21/1

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Over the past six years I have sought to write about issues that are important to all of us who are passionate about the rangelands. In this, my final column as President of the Australian Rangeland Society, I seek to recap and build on the many themes that I have presented over the last six years, as one way to proactively shape our future.

NRM IN THE RANGELANDS CONFERENCE – SHAPING OUR FUTURE, 2021

Desert Channels Queensland and the Australian Rangeland Society have combined forces to host the NRM in the Rangelands Conference – Shaping our future, 2021 from 4-8 October. The Call for Papers has opened and registration is available online.

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF RANGELANDS AND PASTORALISTS UPDATE

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists planning is moving ahead swiftly! Australia needs more members in our Regional Support Group to decide how we can best use this proposed International Year to support Australian rangelands and pastoralists

JOURNEY INTO NGADJU COUNTRY – GREAT WESTERN WOODLANDS, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

In November 2020, a group of 40 travelled to the Great Western Woodlands of Western Australia for a cultural exchange between the Ngadju, Noongar and Wadjella people. During the visit many felt concern for the woodlands and associated landscapes in this area and hence the Friends of Ngadju Conservation group was formed.

INTERNATIONAL RANGELAND CONGRESS, ADELAIDE, JUNE 2025 – VOLUNTEERS WANTED

In some exciting news, Australia, through the Australian Rangeland Society, has been successful in its bid to host the XII International Rangeland Congress, to be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre in June 2025. Whilst the Congress is still more than four years away, planning needs to start now and we need help from members.

SPECIAL ISSUES OF THE RANGELAND JOURNAL

While The Rangeland Journal covers a wide spectrum of topics, Special Issues (SI) focusing on specific topics are also published.  These SI comprise collections of papers around a particular theme, or arising from a particular conference, workshop or other forum. There are two SI planned for 2021.

HOT OFF THE PRESS

In this digital age there seems to be an ever-increasing number of outlets to get news and information about what is happening in the rangelands. Here are some interesting articles you may have missed in recent months.

DO GRASSLANDS HAVE A ROLE IN FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE?

William Bond, emeritus professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cape Town, has recently released a short video on Youtube entitled The Untold Story of Grasses and has also developed a website with useful grassland resources.

PHD COURSE: PASTORALISM, CONFLICT AND CHANGE

The University of Copenhagen is running a PhD course for students who are examining and trying to understand how cattle, conflict, environmental change and the wider political economies contribute to shaping the conditions for pastoralism. The course includes lectures from leading scholars on pastoralism, conflict, and change, and offers opportunities for participants to present and discuss their own research and to interact and engage with scholars and students undertaking studies on similar, or related, topics.

AWESOME RANGELANDS PHOTOS REQUIRED

People are far more likely to read a social media post if a photograph is included. Sarah Moles, the ARS Social Media Editor, is always on the lookout for eye-catching rangeland photos to use on the Society’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter feeds. Do you have any photos she could use?

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE – 30 MARCH 2021

The Society currently has 205 active members however a large number still need to renew for 2021. Please do this soon to avoid monthly reminders!

FROM THE EDITOR

Thank you for reading the first Range Management Newsletter for 2021 – I hope you have found the articles of interest.  I would like to remind everyone that the newsletter is now published as an open access document so please share this edition with your friends and colleagues.