Regional Priority Setting in Queensland: A multi-criteria evaluation framework.

Consultancy report for the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines.audit;Australia;Queensland;natural resources; mines

Concepts of Landscape Redesign - A Background Paper

A recent report prepared for the Australian Conservation Foundation and National Farmers Federation states that there is a need for the development of new production systems that are in tune with the needs of the natural environment. It is this need that has prompted the concept of landscape redesign, a challenge to develop profitable and environmentally sustainable land use options that help attain desired future landscapes. Natural resource managers are only starting to grapple with how Australian landscapes can be managed, or where appropriate redesigned, to achieve improved outcomes. There are many unanswered questions relating to landscape redesign. These represent the range of unknowns that need to be addressed to permit effective scientific research, policy formulation and on-ground change. These questions resurface throughout the remainder of this paper.Australia;landscape;natural resource management;agriculture

An Economic Analysis and Cost Sharing Assessment for Dryland Salinity Management: A case study of the Lower Eyre Peninsula in South Australia

Report to Primary Industry and Resources SA. This report has 2 components. Firstly, it discusses issues relating to cost sharing for dryland salinity management. Secondly, it presents an economic analysis and cost sharing assessment of six dryland salinity management options for the Lower Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. The report includes a benefit-cost analysis of revegetation to control salinity.Australia;dryland;salinity;economic analysis;cost sharing;revegetation

ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF DRYLAND SALINITY FOR GRAINS INDUSTRIES

This paper explores some possible economic impacts of worsening salinity severity and extent in the grains industry across Australia. It also looks at the potential to increase agricultural profits through remediation. The analysis is based on a spatial model of agricultural profits and salinity related crop/pasture yield losses. It is estimated that grains industry farming profits across Australia would rise by an upper limit $138 million per year were salinity costlessly removed from the landscape. It is also estimated that the present value of grains industry profit losses from worsening salinity extent and severity over the next 20 years is$237 million. These amounts can be considered against the costs of repair.Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Value of Returns to Land and Water and Costs of Degradation Vol 1 of 2

Volume 1 (Main Report), Consultancy report for the National Land and Water Resources Audit, Theme 6.1. This report presents new datasets developed through the National Land and Water Resources Audit that relate to economic aspects of natural resource management in Australia. There is a focus on resources used to support agriculture and resources impacted by agriculture. Consistent with protocols used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics, the database provides a new capacity to integrate natural resource information in Australia. The datasets are primarily built for the 1996/97 financial year, the year of an agricultural census.audit;Australia;natural resource management

Value of Returns to Land and Water and Costs of Degradation - Executive Summary only

Executive Summary only, Consultancy report for the National Land and Water Resources Audit, Theme 6.1. This report presents new datasets developed through the National Land and Water Resources Audit that relate to economic aspects of natural resource management in Australia. There is a focus on resources used to support agriculture and resources impacted by agriculture. Consistent with protocols used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics, the database provides a new capacity to integrate natural resource information in Australia. The datasets are primarily built for the 1996/97 financial year, the year of an agricultural census.audit;Australia;natural resource management

Supporting Decisions: Understanding natural resource management assessment techniques

Report to the Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation. This document presents a review of NRM decision support techniques. It draws upon previous studies in the fields of management science, operations research, environmental economics and natural resource management. The objectives of the document are to: Explain the workings of the more significant (representative) methods of NRM decision support (including the latest developments); Discuss how these decision support methods may influence the outcome of NRM decisions; and Provide practicing NRM decision makers with guidance for choosing which methods to apply.Australia;natural resource management;assessment;decision support;

Controlling clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile infection causes colitis and is closely associated with the use of antimicrobials, probably due to disruption of the normal bowel flora. Avoiding inappropriate antimicrobial use is the most important way to prevent this potentially life-threatening infection. Emergent hypervirulent variants of C. difficile are associated with increased transmission, morbidity and mortality and have caused epidemics in North America and Europe. Cases have also been reported in Australia so intensified surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship is more important than ever. While any antimicrobial can precipitate C. difficile, fluoroquinolones, clindamycin and cephalosporins are particularly implicated. Other drugs, such as proton pump inhibitors, have also been associated with an increased incidence of C. difficile. Severe disease is managed in hospital. For non-severe disease, treatment generally includes supportive measures and treatment with oral metronidazole. Relapse is common