What are the main environmental challenges facing Australias sheep and wool industry?
A survey of natural resource management undertaken by ABARE in 1999 identified a number of environmental issues affecting the sheep and wool industry. These included: • land degradation in the form of weed infestations • protection of wildlife habitats and remnant vegetation • soil loss from wind erosion and loss of soil structure A review of available literature on the Australian wool industry has highlighted the following issues in environmental management: • feral animals (pigs, foxes, wild dogs) and other native and exotic animal and plant pests • land management of particularly improved pasture systems on issues such as the quality, quantity and stability of plant species within the grazing system • the need for effective management of woody vegetation to prevent loss of biodiversity and dryland salinity • nutrient management due to soil loss • weed and pest control • chemical residues The figure below indicates the types of land degradation and the proportion of sheep farms affec
