Principles from Australia's Rangelands
Edited by J. Ludwig, D. Tongway, D. Freudenberger, J. Noble, K. Hodgkinson

Excerpt from Introduction:
"The aim of this book is to provide a fresh look at how to understand rangelands by building a rational framework based on landscape ecology, and upon which the impacts of many uses of rangelands can be assessed. Understanding rangelands as landscapes that function in predictable ways is the key to achieving sustainable management.

"Our approach is to view rangelands as landscape systems. We will demonstrate that these landscapes are highly organised and that this structure functions to conserve scarce water and nutrients. Our theme is that having a better understanding of this resource conservation function, and how it operates (its ecology), can lead to a better management of rangelands, whatever their value for a given use..."

Contents:

• Foreward
• Preface
• Landscape Function
  • A Landscape Approach to Rangeland Ecology
  • The Conservation of Water and Nutrients within Landscapes
  • Production Pulses and Flow-ons in Rangeland Landscapes
  • Consumption, Regulation and Off-take: A Landscape Perspective on Pastoralism
• Landscape Dysfunction
  • The Nature of Landscape Dysfunction in Rangelands
  • Colour Plates
  • Causes and Consequences of Landscape Dysfunction in Rangelands
• Landscape Function and Responsive Management
  • A Landscape Perspective on Rangeland Management
  • Management for Production and Conservation Goals in Rangelands
  • The Rehabilitation of Landscape Function in Rangelands
• Rangeland Landscapes
  • Towards a Sustainable Future for Rangelands
• References
• Index