Understanding Landholder Values and Intentions to Improve Remnant Vegetation Management in Australia: The Box-Ironbark Case Study

ABSTRACT

Forest cover has been reduced from 10 to 5% of the area of the Australian continent, with woodlands ecosystems reduced from 23% to 15% of their cover prior to European settlement. Clearing has been accompanied by a dramatic loss of biodiversity. Protected areas on public land cover only 6.5% of Australia and are fragmented and do not represent pre-European ecosystems adequately. Research reported in this paper investigated the quality and extent of Box-Ironbark woodland ecosystem remnants (BIR) on private land, how landholders valued their BIR, and their plans to manage BIR, particularly in regards to clearing. Most landholders managed BIR and indicated a strong utilitarian value to them. The habitat and wildlife values of BIR were also highly regarded. A large majority of landholders indicated they would not clear BIR. These and other results provide important information for those attempting to improve the conservation of biodiversity on private land in Australia.

KEYWORDS:

• Remnant vegetation
• landholders
• values
• Box-Ironbark forest
• private land management
• biodiversity management
• Victoria
• Australia