Veld management and research philosophy in arid Australia

Abstract

The arid rangelands (veld) of Australia which comprise almost 75 per cent of Australia are described in terms of area occupied, climate, topography, vegetation types, and history of settlement by man. The effect of climatic constraints on economic factors is considered and the various alternatives to the predominantly livestock usage are discussed on the basis of relative areas occupied and economic value to the nation. The sheep and cattle industries are described in terms of livestock types, variability of production in space and time, management and labour inputs, and the constraints of the leasehold land tenure system. The need for research is highlighted, and the research approach in terms of philosophy, organisation and implementation of findings is discussed. It is shown that the approach needed for resource management in the arid rangelands is radically different from that used in the more humid regions. The scale of operation (ranches measured in thousands of Km² rather than thousands of hectares), and the reliance in Australia on market forces external to the country make for sharp contrast with the situation in southern Africa.

Uittreksel

Die ariede weiveldstreke van Australië beslaan bykans 75 persent van die totale landoppervlakte en word beskryf in terme van oppervlakte bewoon, klimmt, topografie, veldtipes die geskiedenis van nedersettings deur die mens. Die effek van klimaatsbeperkings op ekonomiese faktore, asook die verskeidenheid alternatiewe vir die pre‐sominante gebruik van vee word bespreek op die basis van relatiewe oppervlaktes bewoon en ekonomiese waarde vir die Australiese volk. Die skaap‐en beesbedrywe word bespreek in terme van veltipies, varieerbaarheid van produksie in ruimte en tyd,be stuur en arbeid en die beperkings in die stelsel van grondverhuring. Die navorsingprioriteite word beklemtoon en die navorsingsbenadering met betrekking tot filosofie, organisasie en implementering van bevindings word bespreek. Die radikale verskil in benadering tot hulpbronbenutting in die arbiede weiveldstreke teenoor die meer humiede streke word aangedui. Die skaal waarop gewerk word (plaasgroottes word gemeet in terme van km² eerder as in hektare) en die afhanklikheid van die Australiese mark op eksterne invloede, lei tot ‘n skerp kontras met die situasie in suidelike Afrika.