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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 30(3)

Summative evaluation of climate application activities with pastoralists in western Queensland

D. H. Cobon A B G , K. L. Bell A , J. N. Park C D and D. U. Keogh E F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Climate and Systems Technologies, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, 203 Tor Street, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.

B Present address: Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence, Environmental Protection Agency, 203 Tor Street, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.

C Climate and Systems Technologies, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Landsborough Highway, PO Box 519, Longreach, Qld 4730, Australia.

D Present address: 166 Kingfisher Street, Longreach, Qld 4730, Australia.

E Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 203 Tor Street, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.

F Present address: International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia.

G Corresponding author. Email: David.Cobon@climatechange.qld.gov.au

The Rangeland Journal 30(3) 361-374 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ06030
Submitted: 27 June 2006  Accepted: 6 October 2008   Published: 30 October 2008

Abstract

Survey methods were engaged to measure the change in use and knowledge of climate information by pastoralists in western Queensland. The initial mail survey was undertaken in 2000–01 (n = 43) and provided a useful benchmark of pastoralists climate knowledge. Two years of climate applications activities were completed and clients were re-surveyed in 2003 (n = 49) to measure the change in knowledge and assess the effectiveness of the climate applications activities. Two methods were used to assess changes in client knowledge, viz., self-assessment and test questions. We found that the use of seasonal climate forecasts in decision making increased from 36% in 2001 (n = 42) to 51% in 2003 (n = 49) (P = 0.07). The self-assessment technique was unsatisfactory as a measure of changing knowledge over short periods (1–3 years), but the test question technique was successful and indicated an improvement in climate knowledge among respondents. The increased levels of use of seasonal climate forecasts in management and improved knowledge was partly attributed to the climate applications activities of the project.

Further, those who used seasonal forecasting (n = 25) didn’t understand key components of forecasts (e.g. probability, median) better than those who didn’t use seasonal forecasts (n = 24) (P > 0.05). This identifies the potential for misunderstanding and misinterpretation of forecasts among users and highlights the need for providers of forecasts to understand the difficulties and prepare simply written descriptions of forecasts and disseminate these with the maps showing probabilities.

The most preferred means of accessing climate information were internet, email, ‘The Season Ahead’ newsletter and newspaper. The least preferred were direct contact with extension officers and attending field days and group meetings. Eighty-six percent of respondents used the internet and 67% used ADSL broadband internet (April 2003). Despite these findings, extension officers play a key role in preparing and publishing the information on the web, in emails and newsletters. We also believe that direct contact with extension officers trained in climate applications is desirable in workshop-like events to improve knowledge of the difficult concepts underpinning climate forecasts, which may then stimulate further adoption.

Additional keywords: changed knowledge, grazier, quantitative data, ranchers, seasonal climate forecasting.


Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the pastoralists who participated in the survey. The Natural Heritage Trust and Land Water and Wool Climate subprogram provided financial support. Ron Hacker and Ian Watson provided insightful comments on an earlier draft. Sunil Dutta provided insightful comments and assisted with statistical analysis.


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