How Will Graziers Adapt To Climate Change?
AUSTRALIA - The challenges and opportunities for northern Australia’s cattle graziers as a result of climate change is the focus of a large-scale CSIRO telephone survey which started this week.
13 April 2010
2 minute read
“We will be asking how graziers in the Northern Territory and Queensland are currently coping with climate variability and their plans for the future,” said CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship researcher, Dr Nadine Marshall.
“We aim to learn more about their circumstances, strengths and weaknesses and then observe how they deal with climate change impacts over time.
“Ultimately, we want to establish what makes for successful adaptation and assist industry and government to develop effective plans for maximising the capacity cattle graziers have to adapt to environmental changes.”
CSIRO researchers will be telephoning graziers around Alice Springs, the Kimberley District, Victoria River District and Fitzroy River Catchment area in the Northern Territory, and the Maranoa Balonne and Gulf of Carpentaria regions in Queensland.
“Through the survey, graziers will have the opportunity to talk about their realities and needs, providing information to help industry and government to design future adaptation planning that’s appropriate and useful to graziers and the grazing industry,” Dr Marshall said.
The survey is an important part of a project examining if and how primary industries are responding to climate change. The project aims to gather information about the economic factors, social conditions and support required for primary industry businesses, communities and sectors to significantly change their practices in response to climate change.
Other farmers and agriculturalists involved in the project include those from wine, grain, fisheries, dairy, sugarcane, peanut, rice and livestock enterprises as well as mining and two rural community groups.
“By using case studies from a range of different industries and communities, the project team is hoping to promote an exchange of ideas and understanding of if, why, when and how resource managers adapt and transform their practices,” Dr Marshall said.
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