Understanding landholder values and intentions to improve remnant vegetation management in Australia: The Box-Ironbark case study

Forest cover has been reduced from 10 to 5% of the area of the Australian c ontinent, with woodlands ecosystems reduced from 23% to 15% of their cover prior to European settlement. Clearing has been accompanied by a dramatic l oss of biodiversity. Protected areas on public land cover only 6.5% of Aust ralia and are fragmented and do not represent pre-European ecosystems adequ ately. Research reported in this paper investigated the quality and extent of Box-Ironbark woodland ecosystem remnants (BIR) on private land, how land holders valued their BIR, and their plans to manage BIR, particularly in re gards to clearing. Most landholders managed BIR and indicated a strong util itarian value to them. The habitat and wildlife values of BIR were also hig hly regarded. A large majority of landholders indicated they would not clea r BIR. These and other results provide important information fur those atte mpting to improve the conservation of biodiversity on private land in Austr alia.