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Native vegetation constrains development
25 Sep 2006
Up to 7.5 million hectares, or 14 per cent of farmland surveyed in south-west Queensland, was identified by farmers as likely to be affected by existing restrictions on the clearing of native vegetation. An ABARE survey found that the median cost of forgone development opportunities by broadacre farmers from conserving native vegetation was $150 a hectare. ABARE estimated opportunity cost estimates varied between $26 a hectare and $838 a hectare of potential development land. ABARE surveyed 351 farmers in south-western Queensland to model the opportunity costs of vegetation controls. Farmers surveyed said regulations intended to conserve native vegetation were the most important constraint to development. Of the potential development areas, most were earmarked for improving livestock carrying capacity, with a small percentage of projects aimed at changing land use from grazing to cropping.
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 25/09/06
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