Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/7953
Title: Achieving sustainability in agriculture: lessons from Australia
Contributor(s): Bartel, Robyn  (author); Barclay, Elaine  (author)
Publication Date: 2009
DOI: 10.2495/ECO090551
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/7953
Abstract: The scientific evidence for environmental degradation is overwhelming however, it is sometimes difficult to translate this evidence into government and policy action and even more problematic to use it to generate behavioural change. The dynamics of scientific knowledge and the way it interacts with personal beliefs and social norms are complex and regard must always be had for the sometimes competing forces at work. Presently there are two crises enveloping the globe, one financial and the other environmental, which are forcing us to recognise the relationships between past and present human activities and future lives and landscapes. Humanity is presently facing relatively well-documented threats of climate change, land use conflict, desertification, extinctions, food, water and financial (in)security however we are still lacking some basic information about a critical part of the global system: ourselves. It is this gap which this study addressed, by inquiring into the environmental attitudes and behaviours of Australian farmers. In Australia the impacts of environmental change will be severe as it is already the driest inhabited continent on Earth and its high and unique biodiversity is especially susceptible to even minor perturbations in conditions. Impacts on food production will also be severe as approximately 60% of Australia's land surface is under agriculture and Australia exports two-thirds of what it produces.
Publication Type: Conference Publication
Conference Details: ECOSUD 2009: 7th International Conference on Ecosystems and Sustainable Development, Chianciano Terme, Italy, 8th - 10th July, 2009
Source of Publication: Ecosystems and Sustainable Development VII, p. 601-608
Publisher: WIT Press
Place of Publication: Southampton, United Kingdom
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 050299 Environmental Science and Management not elsewhere classified
189999 Law and Legal Studies not elsewhere classified
160499 Human Geography not elsewhere classified
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 949999 Law, Politics and Community Services not elsewhere classified
960799 Environmental Policy, Legislation and Standards not elsewhere classified
969999 Environment not elsewhere classified
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: E1 Refereed Scholarly Conference Publication
Publisher/associated links: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/09-conferences/ecosud-2009.html
Series Name: WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment
Series Number : 122
Appears in Collections:Conference Publication

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