The Society for Conservation Biology in USA published a report by AWS on 5 August 2008, that describes how kangaroos could be utilised to help reduce Australia's methane emissions. It proposes that eating more kangaroos in lieu of cattle and sheep will help slow climate change. Download

A popular version 'Roo diet placed on the Greenhouse menu' has been published by Australasian Science and can also be downloaded.

On 30 Sep 2008 the Garnaut Climate Change Review Final Report referred to the study in Chapter 22 and there was considerable media interest in follow up.

We have also prepared an opinion piece on the ABC Web Site Eating kangaroos could reduce emissions. It had the opportunity to comment and respond.

The Sydney Morning Herald led the follow up in an article by James Woodford. Other considered journalism can be found by Matthew Warren from The Australian.

The study in Conservation Letters showed that on the rangelands where the kangaroo industry exists, an increase in the kangaroo population to 175 million with a 30 percent reduction in total cattle and sheep populations by 2020 would lower Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by 3 percent, or 16 megatons.

Livestock produce large amounts of the greenhouse gas methane. Sheep and cattle constitute 11 percent of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Kangaroos, however, produce relatively little methane because they are not ruminants.

In the press release that accompanied the report, Dr George Wilson was quoted as saying that “Increasing kangaroo numbers to produce the same amount of meat as cattle by 2020 would provide substantial conservation benefits."

Methane has a warming potential over a 100-year time frame 21 times higher than that of CO2 and is a principal contributor to global warming. With a shorter lifetime in the atmosphere of 8 - 12 years compared to 100 years for CO2, reducing methane emissions is an attractive short-term target.

“Currently, farmers have few options to reduce the contribution that livestock make to greenhouse gas production. However, low-emission kangaroo meat will provide an option to avoid emissions permit fees and have a positive global impact.”

“Although we are proposing an increase in kangaroo numbers, from the current about 30 million and growth in the kangaroo harvesting industry, the net planned effect is for a lower grazing impact. This means there will be less damage from hard-hoofed livestock and maintenance of kangaroo and other wildlife habitat.

Trials are underway to test collaboration between farmers in the sustainable management of free-ranging species. (see below SWE trials) According to Dr Wilson “when landholders value a wildlife species populations increase and the conservation status of the species becomes more secure. This has been the case for similar iconic species such as springbok in South Africa, red deer in Scotland, and bison in USA.”

See full article at Conservation Letters web site and opportunity to download text.

Other articles have appeared in Australiasian Science Roo diet placed on the Greenhouse menu

AWS is examining the scope, options and opportunities for Innovation in Indigenous Rural Enterprises and in particular ways of increasing wildlife preferred by Indigenous Australians on their land. It describes how increased investment in rural research and development would help to address Indigenous disadvantage. It identifies current research activities, collaboration and initiatives of Indigenous research as well as funding providers. It proposes a new program and suggests that innovation in Indigenous Australia could underpin improvements in sustainable natural resource use, wealth creation, economic self sufficiency and make Indigenous rural communities more prosperous.

The Sustainable Wildlife Enterprise (SWE) trials have been developed as a component of the Rangelands and Wildlife Subprogram of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. One trial has been set up in the Maranoa catchment north of Mitchell, another at the junction of the Darling and Murray Rivers.

Another near Broken Hill NSW is being run by the FATE program of the University of NSW. They are trialling conservation through commercial use and giving landholders the opportunity to benefit from the value of wildlife as an incentive to restore natural systems. After three years the trials have begun to show the promise that commercial value of wildlife can act as an incentive to engage landholders in wildlife management, conservation of biodiversity, maintenance and even restoration of on-farm wildlife habitat.

Wildlife conservation through commercial utilisation, whether consumptive or non-consumptive, has shown overseas to give a number of favourable outcomes. These include improved farm viability, reduced land degradation, enhanced biodiversity, ongoing ecosystem services, and broad social and economic community benefits. Wildlife-based tourism and commercial use of native plants and animals can be an incentive for biodiversity conservation and landscape rehabilitation.

For more detailed information view the brochures and trial reports.

A Plan for Kuka Kanyini - looking after game animals - on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands of northern South Australia.

The Wildlife Plan describes ways of increasing preferred species for both animals and to a lesser extent plants. It compiles information from a variety of sources and presents maps. It also makes suggestions about land management and zoning that seek to be consistent with cultural practice and sustainable use of resources. It makes connections between enterprise development, health and welfare, training and education and land management while seeking to integrate them.

A steering committee of Anangu met on several occassions and guided preparation. The report, which is supported by a video in Pitjantjatjara, identifies opportunities for giving wildlife and land management the higher priority Anangu say it should have.

For more detailed information view the AWS publications and reports for the APY regional wildlife management plan.

A feasibility study for Portee Station on the Murray River on ways of enabling the natural behaviour of hairy-nosed wombats and red kangaroos to be seen by visitors up close without disturbing them. Plans were developed for enabling night-vision equipment, remote cameras and fibre-optic technology to access wombat burrows. Images of kangaroos coming into water will be broadcast on screens and loudspeakers for guests staying at Portee.

The experience will be a major attraction for guests to Portee and the area. It will be supplemented with ground tours by vehicle and walking tours to view habituated animals. The venture could lead to the construction of a Visitors. Centre to accommodate larger numbers of day participants. The images willalso be made available for viewing over the internet.

For more detailed information view the AWS Portee Feasibility report

A plan of management for an Aboriginal pastoral lease between Alice Springs and Uluru National Park with significant conservation value and tourism potential. It is a proposed Indigenous Protected Area that will support both biodiversity conservation and human communities.   This plan outlines the natural and cultural resource base, land management operations, sustainable development opportunities, training and education and collaborative relationships and partnerships.

An area around the Wilpiya range will be fenced off as a wildlife sanctuary, and after feral animals are controlled, endangered species will be released into the area. A small cattle herd will be run on an area to the southeast of the homestead, and the income from this will offset some of the management costs and promote conservation programs. Angas Downs provides a valuable training resource for Aboriginal communities, and will help to maintain Aboriginal culture, create employment opportunities, and improve health and welfare. Angas Downs also provides a valuable cultural resource for Aboriginal communities to carry out traditional ceremonial business, and over the past three years this has been happening.

For more detailed information view the Angas Downs Management Report.

Integrating Environment Management Systems into agriculture and enabling land holders to benefit from sustainable production while meeting regional natural resource management targets. Program management for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.