Pastoral land degradation: the Fitzroy as a case study

Authors

Alan L. Payne
Ronald B. Hacker

Keywords

Soil degradation, Rangelands, Rangeland soils, Fitzroy River region (W.A.), Western Australia

Disciplines

Environmental Monitoring | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Sustainability

First Page Number

70

Last Page Number

72

ISSN

0021-8618

Abstract

When large numbers of domestic livestock are superimposed on native vegetation in semi-arid and arid areas of the world, the ecological balance inevitably changes. In extreme cases these changes include such degradation as drastic losses of vegetation and active soil erosion. Areas affected in this way are unproductive for most purposes.

Western Australia's Fitzroy River valley has deteriorated in this way. Today, this once-­productive grazing country is so degraded that it has become a matter of concern to Governments, the pastoral industry and others.

This article gives a brief history of land degradation in parts of the Fitzroy River valley, and outlines methods of rehabilitation.

Recommended Citation

Payne, Alan L. and Hacker, Ronald B. (1983) "Pastoral land degradation: the Fitzroy as a case study," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 24: No. 2, Article 9.
Available at: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol24/iss2/9