Despite past changes, Australia is in better condition than other continents. As custodians of Australia's environment, we have failed so far. We have not adequately considered the implications of our actions, and so our biological diversity is declining. Private land mangers are vital to conservation. Reserves by themselves will never be adequate so a sustainable future depends on the efforts of private land managers.
Little fragments have big problems.
We have fragmented our natural vegetation with agriculture and urban development. The challenge now is to manage all the individual fragments together with the rest of the land, if their diversity is to survive. We must manage at national, regional and local levels. We manage land at the local level but what we do there must be consistent with regional and national goals. All levels must contribute to decision-making.