05-07-2004

A silver bullet to target all of Australia's salinity problems may never be found, but science is close to providing the answers, Chair of Australia's National Dryland Salinity Program Kevin Goss commented today in Melbourne.

At the launch of a major new salinity management kit - Managing Dryland Salinity in Australia - from a decade of national research undertaken through the National Dryland Salinity Program, Mr Goss said that the program had done much to raise awareness and point realistically to what can be done manage one of Australia's major environmental challenges.

"A decade ago when the National Dryland Salinity Program began, most of us thought of salinity as a problem only for a few unlucky farmers," he said. "Many were convinced that planting more trees would solve that problem - and farmers responded.

"Now its full impact on agricultural production in all States, on roads and urban infrastructure, water quality and natural habitats has been revealed. Full cost is hard to estimate and salinity extent continues to rise, but we are amassing the right weapons for both defence and attack."

Mr Goss commended the partners in the National Dryland Salinity Program, including State Governments and national organisations, on the salinity survival kit provided for land managers and planners.

"However, while there are now economic options for some agricultural areas, there is a critical need for long-term research and development to assist farmers in those areas where such options are seriously lacking.

"The combination of material in Managing Dryland Salinity in Australia for policy makers, catchment managers and agricultural producers that encompasses current research and practical advice from all available sources, not just work undertaken within the program itself, will be invaluable," he said.

"Managing Dryland Salinity in Australia doesn't pretend that the answers are easy, and some profitable options are still being sought, but the investment in this work will be repaid many times over."

Manager of the National Dryland Salinity Program, Dr Richard Price, said a great strength of the program has been its capacity to link leading scientists from many disciplines, hence avoiding the 'tunnel vision' sometimes associated with research. This approach is reflected in the new kit.

"What Managing Dryland Salinity in Australia does tell us is that although we may not yet have identified one single, simple solution, we can achieve success in many instances by integrating tools and adapting them to local situations. Trees alone may not be the answer to salinity, nor is pumping or drainage or growing saltbush everywhere," he commented.

Dr Price said that while many reports had been published on salinity, the winning edge for Managing Dryland Salinity in Australia came from bringing all relevant material together in print, on CD-ROM and accessible on the internet into a once-in-a-generation management kit.

Managing Dryland Salinity in Australia - an overview

Australia's National Dryland Salinity Program and its partners have in 2004 invested in a significant effort to synthesise for the first time salinity management information into a coherent and accessible form. This comprehensive body of knowledge promotes the latest salinity management systems, data, technology and knowledge drawn from a decade of national research and development through a focussed campaign of communication, knowledge transfer and building and supporting networks.

Key products include:

• Dryland Salinity - On-Farm Decisions and Catchment Outcomes - a Guide for Leading Producers and Advisors
• Dryland Salinity and Catchment Management - a Resource Guide and Action Manual for Catchment Managers
• Breaking Ground - Key Findings from 10 Years of Australia's National Dryland Salinity Program
• 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 and organisations and groups skilled in salinity management. These links plus a 'search' facility enable users to readily find the level of detail required. Maps, posters and a glossary of terms also feature on the CD-ROM.

The products compliment the extensive salinity management and communication networks established by the program over the past 10 years, and are supported by a comprehensive website (www.ndsp.gov.au), more than 600 subscribers interacting daily via the Program listserv SALTLIST as well as flagship publications such as Focus on Salt newsletter and Salt magazine.

For further information please contact:

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