Exploring Landholder Willingness and Capacity to Manage Dryland Salinity in the Goulburn Broken Catchment

Abstract

In this article, we explore the socio-economic factors affecting landholder willingness and capacity to manage dryland salinity in the Goulburn Broken Catchment, Victoria. The primary data collection method was a mailed survey to one thousand landholders. The survey generated baseline information on key variables at the land management unit scale that was unavailable from other sources. Data analysis provided a coherent explanation of landholder adoption of best practices that will inform dryland salinity strategy and policy development in the Goulburn Broken Catchment. For example, research findings emphasised the importance of low on-property income as a factor constraining change in land management practices. On the other hand, off-property income and landholder age and family succession were not associated with adoption of best practices. This study proved to be a cost-effective method for gathering data on the socio-economic factors underpinning the poor adoption of best practices in salinity management. Given the increasing importance of dryland salinity, the dearth of socio-economic data and the need to develop sound regional catchment strategies, replication of this work in other catchments is warranted.