Shrub Encroachment in Woodlands (173 KB)
Around 40 years of observations are summarised to identify how woodlands develop and function, and how they respond to land use impacts. Key deficiencies in knowledge are identified.

Kick 10% of Farmers off their Land: ! or ? (112 KB)
The paper examines the social reasons for the occurrence of land degradation under agriculture, and the basic system constraints that produce it. The basic changes needed to improve agriculture and the environment are identified.

Global Implications of Soil Organic Matter (150 KB)
The suggestion that sequestering carbon in soil organic matter creates a financial cost through the need to replace co-sequestered nutrients is examined. The natural supply of nutrients to vegetation is elucidated and the impacts of land use practices such as fertiliser application are outlined. The global warming implications of these impacts on soil organic matter and the development of vegetation are discussed.

Controls on the Development of Vegetation (240 KB)
A positive feedback mechanism is identified whereby the development of vegetation depends on its level of development. The implications for land use impacts such as global warming are identified.

Structural Classification of Vegetation (update) (200 KB)
Structural vegetation classifications were developed to identify relationships between vegetation and the environment. They have increased in importance with global warming as vegetation structure is significant for levels of carbon sequestration and potential rates of CO2 fixation. Anomalies in the scheme most used to classify Australian vegetation are identified and the scheme developed to increase applicability and remove anomalies without increasing complexity.

Degradation of Farming Systems (185 KB)
Historically societies have risen and fallen with their ability to produce quality food. Most current societies, but particularly the most industrialised, are experiencing a decline in health that mirrors the decline in agricultural systems. Crop productivity has increased but the environmental condition of agricultural regions has declined to the point of desertification. The decreased rainfall and increased temperatures associated with desertification are features of global warming.

While farmers have remediated degraded lands and developed viable systems these developments have been marginalised as the benefits are not explainable with existing knowledge. The systems are examined to identify the basic requirements for agriculture to be viable. The significance is discussed in relation to global warming.

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