The Impact of the Changed Financial Environment on Rangeland Management and Ownership Structures.

Abstract

The dramatic change in the western world's economic environment is characterised by lower inflation, unserviceable indebtedness, lower commodity prices, greater environmental awareness and a complete readjustment of values and bank lending policies as an era of greater financial conservatism develops. An understanding of this historic turning point in economic developments, especially in Australia, brings into question many established concepts of management of our agricultural resources. This paper questions whether these changes demand a more dramatic rethink of the management of our western lands to ensure that the economic imperative of profit (the driving force for private occupancy of pastoral areas) can sit comfortably with the environmental responsibility being increasingly demanded by society.