The report explains and justifies the value of material flow analysis as a method to inform natural resource management at the regional level. It further develops material flow analysis methodology as a heuristic basis upon which to develop strategies to foster rural revitalisation. Also, it resolves some long-standing dilemmas concerning data collection and reconciliation at the regional level by presenting a new approach to the determination of bioregional and systems boundaries. The report develops some methodological concepts to facilitate bioregional planning, and demonstrates how metabolic mapping might be further developed and applied more broadly in policy development and community decision making.

This report summarises the results of the project Economics of remnant native vegetation conservation on private property. The project ran from June 1996 to November 1999 The main project objectives were to: 1. identify and characterise the remnant native vegetation (RNV) on private land in the study areas (North-east Victoria and the Murray catchment in New South Wales); 2. estimate the market economic value of these remnants; 3. estimate the non-market economic value associated with these remnants; and 4. recommend mechanisms by which the values identified in objectives 2 and 3 could be translated into policies and incentives for remnant vegetation conservation.

Australian Agriculture Assessment 2001 reports on landscape processes, soil, nutrient and water movement and serves as a key input towards improved land and water resources management.

For the 2007/08 Defeating the Weed Menace program (DWM), we proposed to build and test a prototype robotic aircraft and surveillance system to detect aquatic weeds in inaccessible habitats. The know-how and technology is not new: we have been working on such systems for the aerospace industry for over a decade. However, a new application of the technology and the different test environment meant we had to devise new technologies and approaches.

This report outlines and analyses the Far North Queensland Citizens' Jury (FNQCJ), which attempted to replicate the ideals of deliberative democracy in considering future management options for the Bloomfield eld Track, a controversial road between Cape Tribulation and the Bloomfield eld River in the far northeast of Australia.

Rangelands-Tracking Changes defines the key attributes of a comprehensive monitoring, assessment and reporting program for Australia's rangelands. It outlines information on how to provide regular Australia-wide reports on changes in social, environmental and economic aspects of Australia's rangelands. This information will assist managers make decisions. The proposed Australian Collaborative Rangeland Information System provides a model for governments to work together to implement the monitoring, assessment and reporting program.d development of the information system and its application in supporting natural resource management decisions.

This report is concerned with a best practice framework for environmental flow assessments in Australia. It attempts to rationalise the different approaches and holistic methodologies developed and/or applied in Australia and to suggest the most appropriate contexts for their use.

Project objectives: To benchmark the distribution efficiency (DE) of the various components of a small, open channel gravity irrigation system and irrigation return flows from farms to the surface drainage system. To develop strategies to overcome water losses in the distribution system, including the implementation of smart systems for improved channel operations, system planning and services to improve the integration of distribution systems and farm systems, measure the improved DE and document the environmental benefits that result. To improve the distribution efficiency of a small open channel gravity system by 5% over 10 years, and hence meet the future increases in demand.

In April 2000, the RAAL R&D Program commissioned a Scoping Study to identify and scope the possible contribution of breeding, selection and biotechnology to develop new varieties of crop and pasture plants to help reduce deep drainage of water and nitrogen. The Scoping Study aimed to use current understanding and experience in breeding, selection and biotechnology to explore how a range of functions and characteristics could be incorporated into crop and pasture species so as to control deep drainage and nutrient leakage. Scientists involved in plant improvement were invited to develop a brief paper scoping the various opportunities in terms of cereals, oilseeds, grain legumes, pasture and fodder plants, other new crops and pasture species.

Submerged water plants (aquatic macrophytes) are a desirable component of shallow lakes and wetlands, and management activities should be directed to ensure their continual presence. * Aquatic systems dominated by submerged aquatic plants are resilient to low levels of nutrient enrichment, but higher loadings lower the resistance of shallow lakes to events that can result in the catastrophic and very rapid (greeater than 4 months) loss of these valuable plants. * As nutrient loads increase it becomes more likely that submerged water plants (macrophytes) will disappear and be replaced by algae and phytoplankton. These new species can be more problematic (e.g. in producing odour, health and taste problems) than the original species. * Management actions should aim to maintain submerged water plants because they protect against algal blooms and: * provide habitat and refuge for zooplankton which graze on algae; * reduce light available for algal growth; * produce compounds which inhibit algal growth; and * reduce nutrients available for algal growth. * Harvesting of submerged macrophytes when nutrients in the water column are high, may increase the likelihood of algal blooms and prevent the re-establishment of submerged aquatic plants.