19-02-2002

The future direction of investment in dryland salinity research and development is to be determined over the next eight months as part of a major evaluation of Australia's National Dryland Salinity Program (NDSP).

Speaking at the 8th National Productive Use and Rehabilitation of Saline Lands (PUR$L) Conference currently being held in Fremantle, Western Australia, NDSP National Manager Richard Price said the evaluation would identify new opportunities for salinity research, building on 10 years of landmark work already completed by the Program.

'The Program's current phase has broadened the national research focus to encompass industry, engineering, policy, local government, environmental and regional dimensions integral to addressing dryland salinity in a comprehensive fashion,' he said.

'The current phase concludes in June 2003. With the close of the NDSP imminent, and with new levels of commitment focussed upon addressing dryland salinity widely apparent, it is timely to ask the question, 'where to from here?''

Mr Price said the NDSP was currently consulting with government, industry and the research community, exploring what the next generation of dryland salinity research in Australia would entail.

'There are still areas of research that require a concerted and co-ordinated approach, he said. 'For example, there is a limited understanding of the interaction between salinity and biodiversity and what can be done to restore ecosystem function. Furthermore, the nation's pool of expertise remains limited, requiring a process to facilitate shared learning, training and information exchange.'

Mr Price said understanding productive uses of saline lands had been a major outcome of the current investment phase for the program, assisting governments and communities to understand the very real concept of 'living with salt' in areas already seriously affected by dryland salinity.

'The challenge for new industries is to prove that they are not likely to worsen the symptoms of a degraded system, and can in fact play a part in improving its intrinsic health while meeting the social, economic and environmental goals of individuals and society,' he said. 'If industries cannot meet this requirement, then they are not deserving of public support.'

Mr Price said the emergence of new industries was unlikely to occur without fresh attitudes towards 'landscape rediscovery' and new perspectives on the role of industry development.


The eight-month evaluation of the NDSP is being undertaken by the Centre for International Economics. 

The National Dryland Salinity Program (NDSP) is Australia's lead knowledge broker of research, development and extension efforts to combat the risk of dryland salinity to our land and water resources.

ENDS


Further information:

Please contact Land & Water Australia
Email: land&wateraustralia@lwa.gov.au
Phone: 02 6263 6000