I've never before experienced such a high degree of community involvement, working with farmers who were intently watching what we were doing and not just waiting for outcomes. A salinity control strategy being proposed by Dr Hatton is to develop agricultural systems that mimic the hydrological functions of the natural ecosystem, which could even extend to breeding plants that mimic the function of native species, yet produce higher yields. Dr Hatton concedes that hydrologically effective and economically attractive options do not yet exist for most of the salt-affected regions of southern Australia. Dryland salinity is expanding at a rate of three to five per cent annually, and is not expected to stabilise before it affects some 12 million hectares. These targets may be directed toward protecting the highest value assets in the catchment, such as rural towns, infrastructure, and sites of high nature conservation value.
Researchers can provide a toolbox of remedies, with perhaps a different remedy for every catchment.
This approach should also lead to a higher rate of adoption by the farmers and land managers.