SUSTAINABLE GRAZING MANAGEMENT - GRAZIERS PERSPECTIVES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PASTURE MANAGEMENT IN THE MARANOA REGION, SOUTH QUEENSLAND

Evidence of land degradation in Australia's pastoral areas suggests th at some current grazing management systems are not sustainable. In the Maranoa region of southern Queensland there were no guidelines for su stainable pasture utilisation, but local landholders possessed a wealt h of knowledge about management practices gained from years of practic al experience. The Local Consensus Data technique was adapted to docum ent local graziers' recommended management practices for profitable pr oduction with minimal degradation of the natural resources. Groups of experienced graziers defined best pasture management practices, stocki ng rates and living areas necessary to achieve sustainable land use fo r the 5 pasture land types in the Maranoa. Many graziers run more live stock than the recommended levels of stocking. Of major concern are th e number of properties smaller than the area considered necessary to a pply sustainable management practices and the proportion of properties with stocking rates above those recommended. These constraints limit the adoption of technologies and are the most important determinants o f sustainable land use in the Maranoa.