ABSTRACT
It is acknowledged that present trends towards uniformity in rangeland and pasture management deplete the diversity of both habitats and species composition. Heavy grazing not only encourages soil erosion, but also a selective increase in unpalatable and poisonous species, so correct stock levels of the pastures are essential for a sustainable yield.
This paper is a plea to rangeland managers to consider at an early stage the wildlife and environmental impact of their policies. Initial analysis of the flora and mapping of the vegetation should be accompanied by regular monitoring of the area to detect deleterious changes, such as salinity and floristic degradation. This would involve plant taxonomists who will be familiar with the plants and aware of the literature on the flora, as well as be able to conduct their own research where studies are lacking. To this extent nature conservation is seen as a logical extension of good husbandry. The maintenance of biological diversity is considered to be beneficial to both stock and the environment, for example by creating a buffer against the effects of climatic change, and the retention of woody species wherever possible.
