05-07-2004

Salinity managers can now access the most comprehensive salinity management resource ever developed following the launch of 'Managing Dryland Salinity in Australia' by the National Dryland Salinity Program and its partners.

More than a decade of salinity know-how has been integrated into the new salinity survival kit. Managing Dryland Salinity in Australia has been specifically designed to assist busy people who need to access the right information quickly. It comprises practical and easy-to-use products that significantly meet the current needs across Australia.

The new resource includes:

• Dryland Salinity: On-Farm Decsions and Catchment Outcomes - a guide for leading producers and advisors;
• Dryland Salinity and Catchment Management - a resource directory and action manual for catchment managers; and
• An interactive CD-ROM that complements the three manuals and contains nearly 200 research reports, the NDSP TechNotes fact sheets and numerous links to on-line resources, organisations abd groups skilled in salinity management.

The impressive Dryland Salinity and Catchment Management directory was prepared to assist strategic level planning and management about dryland salinity, with particular consideration to integrated natural resource management.

It is framed around five vital questions for catchment managers, and each chapter starts by addressing why the particular question is important:

Question 1 - What is the current extent of dryland salinity anf its risk of spread?
Question 2 - What are the causes and processes of dryland salinity?
Question 3 - What are the current and predicted impacts and costs of dryland salinity?
Question 4 - What can we do and how do we measure progress?
Question 5 - How do we integrate with other natural resource management issues?

The second resource, Dryland Salinity:On-Farm Decisions and Catchment Outcomes, is intended as a reference document for proactive farmers who lead (for example) regional Landcare networks and large-scale conservation farming and grazing groups. These farmers influence development of salinity management options, industry research and development programs, and community/government salinity management initiatives.

It will also be useful to experienced extension and commercial advisors who facilitate liaison between such groups, and between the groups and State agencies and regional catchment management organisations. These advisors influence agricultural extension and natural resource management programs and community/government salinity management initiatives.

Both the Catchment Management and the On-Farm Decisions directories carry a comprehensive 'help' section (with web-links to the web-site of each 'helpful' product, agency or organisation) and a glossary.

Copies of both reports are available free of charge by contaction Canprint on freecall 1800 77 6616, mentioning the relevant product code:

Dryland Salinity and Catchment Management (PX040649)
Dryland Salinity: On-Farm Decsions and Catchment Outcomes (PX040651)
Managing Dryland Salinity in Australia - Key Findings, Research Directory and Action Manual from Australia's National Dryland Salinity Program (CD Rom) (EC030652)
Importantly, research into salinity continues after the NDSP as well as support for many of the networks and communication products established by the Program over the past 10 years. The CRC for Pland-based Management of Dryland Salinity has a significant portfolio of research projects and will continue to maintainseveral of the NDSP's successful communication tools including the national publications Focus on Salt newsletter and Salt Magazine; and the e-mail list-serv, Saltlist.


ENDS

For further information please contact:

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