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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 31(1)

Land condition monitoring information for reef catchments: a new era

R. A. Karfs A E , B. N. Abbott B , P. F. Scarth C and J. F. Wallace D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, PO Box 1085, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia.

B CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Davies Laboratory, PMB Aitkenvale, Qld 4814, Australia.

C Department of Natural Resources and Water, QCCA Building, 80 Meiers Road, Indooroopilly, Qld 4068, Australia.

D CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences, PMB 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: robert.karfs@dpi.qld.gov.au

The Rangeland Journal 31(1) 69-86 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ08060
Submitted: 4 November 2008  Accepted: 10 February 2009   Published: 26 March 2009

Abstract

Land condition monitoring information is required for the strategic management of grazing land and for a better understanding of ecosystem processes. Yet, for policy makers and those land managers whose properties are situated within north-eastern Australia’s vast Great Barrier Reef catchments, there has been a general lack of geospatial land condition monitoring information. This paper provides an overview of integrated land monitoring activity in rangeland areas of two major Reef catchments in Queensland: the Burdekin and Fitzroy regions. The project aims were to assemble land condition monitoring datasets that would assist grazing land management and support decision-makers investing public funds; and deliver these data to natural resource management (NRM) community groups, which had been given increased responsibility for delivering local environmental outcomes. We describe the rationale and processes used to produce new land condition monitoring datasets derived from remotely sensed Landsat thematic mapper (TM) and high resolution SPOT 5 satellite imagery and from rapid land condition ground assessment. Specific products include subcatchment groundcover change maps, regional mapping of indicative very poor land condition, and stratified land condition site summaries. Their application, integration, and limitations are discussed. The major innovation is a better understanding of NRM issues with respect to land condition across vast regional areas, and the effective transfer of decision-making capacity to the local level. Likewise, with an increased ability to address policy questions from an evidence-based position, combined with increased cooperation between community, industry and all levels of government, a new era has emerged for decision-makers in rangeland management.

Additional keywords: Australian rangelands, Burdekin and Fitzroy regions, land condition monitoring, natural resource management, remote sensing.


Acknowledgements

This work was conducted through financial support received from NRM regional bodies the Burdekin Dry Tropics and the Fitzroy Basin Association, in collaboration with Queensland Government Departments Primary Industries and Fisheries, and Natural Resources and Water, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. The authors acknowledge the contribution of project members Terry Beutel, Tim Danaher, Chris Holloway, Jeff Milne, Justin Perry and Kim Pritchard, and statistical analysis by Angela Reid as well as the support from other staff members in our respective agencies. The paper was considerably improved by the comments from John Ludwig and an anonymous reviewer. Lastly, thanks to the many Burdekin and Fitzroy region landholders who we visited, their hospitality and views on local land condition were greatly appreciated.


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